The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-04-21
PowDERLY APPEALS Fon AID.
Members of the Order iR the south
west in need of financial Help.

Master Workman Powderly has
addressed the following circular to
the members of the Knights of La
Dor:
To tie Order Wherever Found,
Greeting.
You have read of the great strike
on the Gould lines OF railway in the
Southwest. 1t makes but little diff
ference now whether the men
OF the South west acted wisely or not.
Let US pass that part of the affair
over, for it too has passed into his
tory. The General Executive Board
of the Order attempted to settle the
trouble and restore harmony. Agree
ments were made with them by Jay
Gould, but when the board reached
ST. Louis Hoxie would not treat
with them. Not that alone, but he
positively refused to employ Knights
of Labor, whether they had been ac-
tive in the strike or not. 1t now be-
comes the part of every man aud
woman in the Order to take up the
fight ofthe men of the Southwest,
and assist them to the full extent of
their means.
They have been idle for nearly
two months. They have had a most
trying ordeal to go through and are
in need of funds. 1t requires no
eloquence or rhetoric to plead the
cause of these suffering people.
They require aid, and it becomes
our duty to extend that aid as quick
ly as possible for Us to do so. Send
every dollar you can spare to the
General Secretary and Treasurer,
who will at once forward it to the
men at St. Louis for distribution.
Remember, the men out there do
not ask for charity /; they do not ask
at all. 1t is your Executive Board
that makes the appeal in their be-
halt. He who gives quickly gives
doubly. Act at once. Another ap-
peal may be sent to you, and we ask
Of you TO prepare for it now.
We must be judged by u ac-
tions in this matter. Do not pass
resolutions condemning capital, for
we are not fighting capital. Do not
antagonize the contest we have be-
fore US. Let us make a friend of
every man who has suffered through
monopoly. This battle against the
man who represents monopoly must
be fought out maniully. Watch his
actions everywhere. Keep an eye
on the doings of Congress. Urge the
committee that has been appointed
to do its duty ~fearlessly. Strength
en- their hands and give them every
aid. In conclusion let US again ask
that you send at one every dollar
you can at present raise to uphold
the men who are now out along the
lines of the Southwest system of the
Gould Railway. Do not delay, and
at the same time make ready to
bring the whole power of the Order
to bear upon the man who wrecks
railroads, homes, fortunes, and lives,
in his greed for gold.
Let US determine to have it go in
to history that the men of 1886
struck as grand a blow for liberty as
the men of 1776. The men Of 1776
broke the power Of monarchy and
dethroned the king. The power
which they wrested from the hands
of a king was not so great a that
which is now held by one man, who
through the corrupt use of money,
has brought manufacturers and
workmen to ruin. The power of the
king has passed away. The power
Of wealth is passing away, and it
must now be determined whether
the man shall rule or whether lile=
climate wealth shall rule.
ISigned] T. V. PowDERLY,
General Master Workman.