The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-10-14

The day will soon dawn when these agencies
will be doing their work; and, when that day
does come. the mechanic, now so proud OF his
calling, will stand face 10 face with the alterna-
tive Of asking for charity, the adoption of the
calling of the street scnvenger. When that day
comes. the man who now seeks 70 array labor
against labor IN asserting that the - IA day man
should not move in the same society circles
with the man who works for IL aday" will either
seek 20 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 ex-
istence viii be waged with unreenting fury.
The machine must become the slave of the
man, instead OF keeping the man in attendance
on and subordinate to the machine. A plan OF
cooperation through which the workman may
control the machine ne operates must one day
supersede the present rystem. To properly
map out such plan requires more time than
have had or am likely to have at my disposal.
can only cooperate with others in the work.
Tho thirteenth article i'm our declaration OF
principles reads: THE prohibition by law of the
employ ment 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 I;
IL is not that more adults may be employed.
IL is that the child OF the poor man
may be enabled 70 acquire an education TO equip
him for the duties which will in future fall upon
him as man and citizen. We cannot afford to
pass this question by and legislate on some
SIMPLE question OF trade discipline. Tie ques-
ton OF child-labor and education is the most
important that come before us now or at
any other time. With an education all things
u,
itself almost dies, and liberty is farce.
In our organizations Of labor-and il has been
so from the begnning-we take up the work Of
reform when the subject is advanced in years
the new member must he above 16 years before
we admit him. We att mpt TO drive from his
mind the false ideas gathered in from the work
shop 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 in life. To attempt TO settle so
intricate question as the one we are graphing
gnCcpSSfullV solve %
task so difficult that do not wonder that men
drop out of the ranks of labor organizations dis
couraged and hopeless. To make the necessary
progress We must begin with the child and see
10 IL that he has an education. II the principles
OF the knights Of Labor are right-and few men
question them-we should teach them to the
young III should be IA part OF the duty OF every
assembly To ascertain the number of children
who do not attend school in its vicinity learn
what the causes are, and take steps to have
them attend school,
The sword may strike the shackles from the
limbs Of the slave, but il is education and or
ganizatlon that make him free man. He
Is still slave whose limbs alone have been
freed.
OF what avail is it to say that we are labor
ing TO establish system OF cooperation, when
that which is most essential 10 the success Of
cooperation is lacking? A business training is
necessary TO successfully carry on co-opera-
tive enterprise. II the management of the large
or small concerns now in operation in this
country were turned over to us to-day we would
but run them into the gound, for we lack the
business training necessary u successfully
operate them. Our vanity NAV prevent us from
acknowledging this 20 be true but we cannot
deny it. It is through fault OF ours that IL is
true, but ii it continues it will be our fault
ask that n special Committee on Education
be appointed 10 prepare and recommend To this
General Assembly plan for the better educa-
ticn of the American youth
the trouble with trades unioes in which GER
tain OF our members and assemblies have been
engaged was greatly magnified and distorted.
Inc proceedings OF the Cleveland special ses-
sion OF thu General Assembly and the report of
the General Executive Board submitted TO you
to-day will be sufficient. / need not enter into
details further than 10 say that thtr re were mis-
takes made on both sid. s. Some of our organic
ers have been so jealous in their way of organ
izing that they have encroached upon the pre-
negatives of other associations, and on
several occasions the rights of our members
have been seriously interfered with by men,
bers of trades unions Since the special
session Of the General Assembly over fifty
cases of dispute between parties Of our order
and other societies have been placed before me
for adjustment: IL was not necessary 10 place
these cases before the General Executive
Board. few lines in each instance was suffi-
cient and the trouble ended. TO dig up past
troubles is unnecessary. and, in consultation
with prominent men Of the trades unions. was
gratified To learn that they had no desire 20 re-
vive the past For the future 1 recommend
that ali matters likely to create n breach of
the pence between our order and any other
be ut once submitted to the executives of
both organizations If n trade union complains
aggreved party submit the matter to the presi-
dent of his union he TO investigate. and failing
to effect remedy, TO place the matter before
the General Mast Workman and Executive
Board. II the aggrieved party is Il member of
an assembly OF the knights of Labor, let the
same mode of procedure be gone through with,
and, above all things, let speedy and impair
tial investigation AMI an immed late settlement
be made. This plan has worked well in every
new case called TO my attention since the
Cleveland session and IL is worth of adoption
More trouble been cauSpl N "
profess TO be members of the KNIGHTS OF Labor
than by members of trade unions. / respect the
man who, being n member of n trade union does
everything honorable in hi7 over 10 defend and
perpetuate his organization but for the Knight
of Labor who would even attempt 20 su bordi-
nate 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 our order
II the representatives of the trade unions and
of our order come together, and both are sin
cere in their devotion To their respective
CARNATIONS, an honest and satisfactory solution
of very difficulty can be arrived at. No sacri-
flee of principle or regard for either organiza-
tion need attend such n meeting. But the man
who through fear, policy, indifference, n de-
sire TO acquire popularity neglects the interest
of the order he represents is not honest, and
should not be allowed TO act in any capacity for
any society of workingmen
With the session Of the General Assembly
only three days away, IL would not be possible
foFme To say all that would like to upon the
questions that will come before us. Ny time
has been entirely taken up with the detail work
of the order and | was forced to neglect this
duty in order to give any time or attention TO q
preparation for the coming of the General AS
sembly. IL Will surprise you 10 learn that even
at this moment, when every member knows full
we'll that we are assembled in general conven-
ton Secretaries and members are addressing
me ut my Office in the expectation of receiving
an immediate re ply. Letters aud kilograms by
the hundreds will flow in upon me even while
the General slembly is in session.
The duties which called me away from home
for the ;Ieuter part of the year that has closed
made 10 impossible to give proper attention TO
my correspondence. To read each letter adj
dressed TO me would occupy every moment of
the twenty-four hours, leaving no time to an
swer or dictate an answer to any of them. I
attended to all that could, and the others will
never be reached. II this is neglect Of duty,
then am guilty; but have no apology to offer.'
| did all that could do-more could not be ex-
pected of me.
have never, during the seven years that I
have served as General Master Workman, made
IA member OF this order n subject of personal OF
public criticism or abuse. Such treatment has
not been accorded TO me. Whether the inten-
ton was TO have me reply through the public
press l do not know. but have made IL rule
never to speak in criticism harsh or otherwise,
of n man, except when standing face to face
with him. And / have as studOusly RETAINED
from replying 10 or denying attacks or accusa-
tions against me, except in the presence of
those who male them. Wien called upon to
tempted to do SO.
/ have been accused Of displaying n lack OF
nerve OF want of backbone" and Of being too