The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-17
it was. Every man on the jury had ! piece d

Beaumont thinks that the courts are more sup
pie tools OF capital than were the lahorers.
Inc preference many workingmen have for labor
organizations other than that of the knights Of
Labor-for trade unons-has been pointed as d
straw showing the lack of wisdom in vesting so
much power In single officer or the executive
board Virtually, the general master workman
controls over million men, and may order
them out or employment moments notice,
without provision warning Trades-unions
are independent bodies. But there seems to be
no desire to depreciate the one-man power, and
the chances are that instead of relieving the
general master workman of influence his arms will
be heightened and strengthened.
Mr. Powderly has missed magnificent oppor
tuEity Of solidifying himself with the newspaper
representatives here. About twenty of them
have been on the outside and quite as many
the inside of the convention during the past two
weeks. Instead of evincing sympathy for those
who were on the outside. and showing dsposi-
ton to be accommodating, there has been a lack
OF system, courtesy and discretion, for which
the hundreds of thousands of knights at their
homes, who had not the fortune to be selected to
come here as delegates but who wanted TO read
the proceedings from day 70 day can blame the
general master workman He has refused to
extend the courtesies usually granted repre-
sentatives of the press, and by refusing those on
the outside the routine information and permit
ting those on the inside to make verbatim re-
ports, has Disseminated against honorable jour
naEsts and legitimate labor. The most
aggravatng feature Of it all has
been the seclusion of this officer from
the press representatives and the cold
shoulder extended to them professionally as we'll
as socially. 1t can only be explained by those
the ground in the statement of Mr.. Powderly
on a number of occasions that the press of the
country is controlled by monopolists and that
their hands are against the knights and their
cause. MIR. Powderly has had splendid oppor-
tunity to make warm and sincere personal
friend OF every newspaper representative here,
without injury to mis- organization and without
Inconvenience
To one who has studied the character of these
delegates ard their work here for fortnight il
is clear t. + the organization will eliminate
al coliateral Ssues, such as politics and religion,
from their operations they can have an influence
in time which will control almost every interest
or the world. There is scarcely anything that
cannot be aft ed by labor But if these things
are not ted it is equally plain that the
knights cor cannot survive the buffetings
OF many ,Dre seasons It is awful battle
labor has to make. Capital is a strong bold and
cunning combatant aggressive and watchful III
the laborer would make all of his strength fels
he will concentrate it. He will also substitute
steady pressure and frmness for intimidation,
and Skill and thought for force.
Mr.. Powderly Confesses to Being n Socialist.
Richmond Special in Pittsburg Despatch.
While Mr.. Powdery was giving out his moiety
of news to the correspondents at noon to-day,
some one remarked that New York paper had
spoken favorably of the general master workman
in connection with his letter on negro equality
They do that sometimes and sometimes they
do not" said Mr.. Powderly. II have been called
Anarchist, Socialist, Communist, robber and
murderer, though | never preached anarchism,
socialism or communism, and never robbed OF
murdered anyb body"
One of those present suggested that ali Anarch-
lists were not agreed in the methods
THAT is trne. said Mr.. Powderly. Zone of
my most intimate friends is Mr.. Joseph Labadle,
of Detroit who is disciple of anarchism, but is
opposed to allyiolent methods"
But Mr.. Labadie has said in John Swinton's
Paper that you Socialist, and that you
were member of the socialist labor party in
Scran son,' remarked the correspondent
Trey elected me and gave me a card of mem
bership," answered Mr. Powderly, 'sbut was
never active member"
"But is not the platform of the Knights of La
Dor socialisticP continued your correspondent.
Certainly it is, in some measure" replied the
general master workman. 'All progressive peo-
pie nowadays Socialists in some sense. and
no one can be otherwise unless he goes like
crab, backward"
And with that the chief of the Knights went to
his dinner. Well, that was quite enough for one
occasion. It is probably the first public admis-
sion made by the. general master workman of
the order that the platform of the knights is
OaseO Oh sociansti. asheu an intimate Irlonu
of Mr.. sPowderly how he could harmonic this
confession of that gentleman with his not infre-
quent references to anarchism and socialism as
though they were one, and altogether objection
able
''Mr. Powdery refers to methods when he
speaks and not to principles. He uses the
words for his condemnation because the general
public have misconstrued them as terms sug-
gestive of violence and recklessness without
definite purpose. We're he to denounce social
ism a principle, he would only stultify him
self, and declare his antagonism to the principles
of the order he is sworn to champion and of
which he is now the official head l am glad he
has made his position clear in this matter, for
his vague way in referring to socialism has
cooled the ardor as Knights of many of the most
able and earnest men in the order"