The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1886-10-14
GENERAL MASTER WORKMAN POWDERLY.
His Annual Address to the Knights Of Labor.

At the present session in Richmo nd, Va,
OF the General Assembly OF Knights OF
Labor, General Master w orkman Powderly
delivered his animal address, as follows:
The most eventful and trying year of our ex-
istence as an order has ended. Ii we are guided
by the experience of the past and act accord
fngly, we can place the order upon footing so
safe aud sure that no assaults from its enemies
can iujure it. If we are not guided by that ex-
perience IL we tail to read Alright the signs of
the times, and we close this general assembly
without having improved on the past, we Will
fail to properly represent those VINO sent us
here: In year I.O6S assemblies have been
organized. The members SO suddenly
brought together could not be properly assimi-
lated. Thousands have been attracted toward
the order through mere curiosity; others nave
come for purely selfish motives: while the great
bulk Of our new recruits have joined us for the
good that they could do. Quite a few have en-
tered our order for the purpose OF redresstng
existing wrongs. and, before waiting to learn
a"ythn2 concerning the duty OF the Knight to
the order have plunged INTO rash ana ul-con-
sidered strikes. 1t is an established fact that
men who We're employed by detective agencies
stood up on the floor of the last general assem-
bly,, made intlain matory speeches urging the
to deeds OF violence, and urged that the
property of the street car companies be de-
stroyed. 1t was only the good sense OF the men
that prevented such outrageS from being perpe-
trated, although these agents OF a netar1ous spy
system induced ssme desperate men to blow up
the cars upon the streets of st. Louis. For
these outrayes the order was in no way respon-
sible. The st. Louis car troubles were but the
beginning of the tidal wave OF strikes and boy
colts which swept over the country, and which
strained the strength and resources of your gen
eral officers almost beyond their powers OF en-
durance 1t has been asserted that condemned
the Missouri Pacific men while they were on a
strike. No such statement ever escaped my
lips. That the men Of the Southwest suffered
wrongs is true: they were many and grievous;
and it is my firm belief that the railway COM
panies, with a full knowledge of what these
grievances were, precipitated the night them
selves at time when it would appear to the
world that the strike was tor an insignificant
cause.
THE EIGHTH HOUR STRIKE,
which took place May l. not successful ex-
cept in cases where EMPLOYERS and employees
were acting in harmony. or where employers
were willing to adopt the plan. In
many cases the system of working long
hours has been revived The Federation OF
Trades recommended the 1st Of May, but adopted
or suggested no definite pan by which the short
hour system could be lnaugurated. / cautioned
our members against rushing into this move
ment. had the right to do it. and am firm in
the belief that had not done great loss would
have been entailed upon vast numbers of our
assemblies. What said in my secret circular
of March Is has been severely criticised, and l
have been accused of opposing the eight-hour
movement. No statement ever was further from
the truth. A reduction of the hours of labor Is a
necessity and sooner or later must be had, but
we must not forget that in many places the ten
hour plan has not been adopted yet. The very
discussion of the sudden introduction Of the
elgnt-hOur plan injured business, so mucn so
that in many places men were reduced to half
time or thrown out of employment altogether.
Millions of dollars worth of work left
undone because Of the uncertainty in regard
to taking contracts in making engagements
to perform work Never was it more
clearly demonstrated that An injury to one is
the concern of all than III the movement | am
speaking Of Before the eight-hour plan is
adopted, the Knights of Labor and the trade
unions of America must lay aside their jeal
ousies and differences, come together name
61V on
adopt the plan of action, which must be gradual
and such will not intiict injury upon either
employer or workman Before short-hour
system that will be OF any benefit to mankind
can be inaugurated, the relation which the work.
man bears to the labor saving machine must
undergo a radical change. Shorten the hours of
labor under our present system and the streets
will not be emptied of their idle thousands.
More machines will be erected and more chill
assertion that the advocate OF short hours de-
sires to stop production is false. 1t is to make
production gradual healthy and have it keep
sumner, keeping all men employed.
so that idleness will disappear and the
producer remain a consumer TO his fullest ca
pacity, that we desire shortening of the hours
Of labor. Visit our large and small factories and
you find that the mechanic OF the past Is but the
feeder of the machine of the present. We already
hear of machines in course OF perfection which
will set the tN pc and mould the cigars faster
than human hands can do the work: and cleo
tricity will soon take the throttle lever from the
hand of the man who runs the locomotive. The
day will soon dawn when these agencies will be
doing their work: and when that day does come
stand face to face with the alternative of asking
for charity or the adoption OF the calling of the
street scavenger. When that day comes, the
man who now seeks to array labor against labor
in asserting that the $50 day man should not
move in the same society circles with the man
who works for 81 day" will either seek to crowd
the 81 day man out OF his place or accept the
crumbs OF charity to sustain life History will
repeat itself, and the fight for existence will be
waged with unreenting fury
WHAT IS THE REMEDY?
The machine must become the slave of the
man, instead of keeping the man in attendance
ON and subordinate to the machine plan of
cooperation through which the workman may
control the machine he operates must one day
supersede the present system. To properly map
out such plan requires more time than have
had or am likely to have at my disposal. l can
only cooperate with others in the work.
The thirteenth article in our declaration of
principles reads, The prohibition, by law, of
he employment of children under fifteen years
of age in workshops mines and factories" The
end sought for in carrying this declaration into
effect is not that the child may live in idleness;
1t is not that more adults may be employed 1t
is that the child of the poor man may be enabled
to acquire an education TO- equip him for the
and citizen. With an education all things are
easy of accomplishment; without 1t, hope itself
almost dies, and liberty is a farce. In our or
carnations Of labor. and it has been so from the
beginning, we take up the work OF reform when
the subject is advanced in years-the new men,
Der must be above sixteen years before we admit
him. We attempt to drive from his mind the
false ideas gathered in from the workshop or,
possibly the street corner. His habits are
formed, and the work that should have been
begun at seven years we take up at twenty or
later on in life II the principles of the Knights
of Labor are right, and few men question them.
we should ZACH them to the young. 1t should
be part of the duty of every assembly to ascer-
tain the number Of children who do not attend
school in its vicinity learn what the causes are,
n MI f,h nxy fhnyy,
sword may strike the shackles from the limbs Of
the slave but its education and organ
ization that make of him a free man. He is
still a slave whose limbs alone have been freed
ask that special committee on education be
appointed to prepare and recommend to this
general assembly plan for the better education
unions in which certain Of our members and as
semblies have been engaged was greatly magni-
fled and distorted: There were mistakes made
on both sides. Some OF our organizers have
been so Jealous in their way OF organizing that
they have encroached upon the prerogative OF
other associations. and on several occasions the
rights OF our members have been
SERIOUSLY INTERPRETED WITH
by members of trade unions. For the future
recommend that all matters likely to create
breach OF the peace between our order and any
other be at once submitted to the executives OF
both organizations This plan has worked we'll
In every new case called to my attention since
the Cleveland session, and 1t is worthy OF
adoption. More trouble has been caused us by
men who profess to be members OF the Knights
of Labor than by members of trade unions. I
respect the man who, being member OF . trade
union. does everything honorable IN his power
to defend and perpetuate his organization but
for the Knights OF Labor who would even at
tempt to subordinate our order to any other ]
have nothing but contempt. In my estimation,
there IS but one place for such man. and that
Is on the outside of tho order II the represent
atives of the trade unions and Of our order come
together. and both are sincere in their devotion
to their respective organizations, an honest and
satisfactory solution Of every difficulty can be
arrived at. have never. during the seven years
that have served as general master workman
made member OF this order a subject OF per-
sonal or public criticism Or abuse. Such treat
ment has not been accorded to me. Whether
the intention was to have me reply through the
public press do not know, but have made it o
rule never to speak In criticism harsh or other
wise OF man. except when standing face to
face with him. And have As studfously re-
Trained from replying to or denying attacks or
accusations against me, except in the presence
Of those who made them. When called upon to
defend the order or It's principles, have at
tempted to do so. have been accused OF dis
playing lack Of nerve, Of want OF backbone"
and of being too weak . man to lead strong
movement" I have never replied to these