Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-12-02
poWpnRnr,s ArpEAn.
A Secret OircaIar Calling for Ge,sas-


The Philadelphia PyeSsprinis of yester-
day the following secret circular;
NOBLE ORDER OF THE KNIsH or LABOR
OF AMERIcA-OFFIOIAL ClRarT4G No p
OFFICE or THE GENERAL ASS lBLY, PHiEA-
DELPH1A, Pa, Nov. 10, 1SS6.-7o Al tte
Subordinate Assemblies Of the Oy0leT, Gffy et-
ing: Previous to the session Of the General
Assembly at Richmond an appeal was issued
TO the order for funds 10 assist victim zGd
and loeked-out members IN various parts
of The country. The response to that APP
peal was not such rs II should have been
and only about $4,000 were received
thereon. This, II is manifest to every
member. was entirely insufficient 10 render
the assistance needed and desired. Many
thousand men were thrown upon our hands
by lockouts OF the On ployers, who acted In
concert with the ayowed purpose Of driving
their employees out OF tho order, ih'rthy
crippling II not destroying, its power and
usefulness.
The order Of the knights Of Labor i'as
reached the most critical period III IT. his
tory. 1t stands as u power for good cr lot
evil. But your general otflceru, Whtla they
make no special claim to superiority IN
verify OF motive, have sworn that the order
shall be made o power for right and High
only that the laws shall be rigiiy enforced
and the members shall receive the fullest
protection of their rights under the laws Of
our country and our order.
Without any prov0catton, except the tx
ercise of the inherent right OF every free
man to belong to any organization he
pleases not Ia conflict with the laws If this
country, thousands of our members, men
and women, without warning have been
thrown out of employment. They bav'
gone TO the door Of The mill and factory ind
10 the mouth of the mine, where but yestt'r-
day, fbffy In.
ing them 10 the face this unGhrlstinn and
un-Ameriean mandat+: "YJu cas- not re-
turn to worl; here uutti you sign can r.ct
to leave the Knights OF Labor and shat you
will never become q member of tkdt az any
other labor organization
Every man who has joined the Knights Of
Labor has pledged hlmself 10 10 mis- daiy In
the cause Of mankind. No oath binds MIN
TO any act contrary to the duty hr o9rs 10
God nr his countty, But sonl thing more
sacrsd even than un oAth--4his Il,lnu ~
honOr-binds him TO lQynlly drt~ii tile
principles OF truth, honor, iust,trt aof
citizenship. Two alternatives iftsaIt
thrmsetges - unconditional suUrendsi or
mauiy defence. Which shall it e2
Tue l1cked -out members, in tbeireuforeEd
idleness, turn from suffering wives ard
starving children in pathetic appeal 10 our
general executive board to aid THEM III
maintaining their manhood and their
fidelity to the order. The general s:seni bly,
Instructed your geberat executive board to
give them NIL the assistance IL It's power.
We can render that assistance ofiy Ia one
way, and that through the co operation oil
the earnest and loyal lnembels 81 our order,
Words Of synpathy, however kind and
grateful, viii not supply The needs tf these
ocked-out members. We must have that
which is more substantial. Wa cannot
| supply 1t ourselves, therefore frankly come
to you.
Having all these circumstances In mind,
and deeply moved by sympathy for these
suffering members and those dependant
upon them. your general executive board
| has unanimous resolved to levy an ASSESS
| ment of twenty five cents per member upon
all the assemblies of the order, the same TO
| be paid under the following regulations.
All local assemblies that responded to the
| appeal mentioned above will he credited on
| this assessment with the amount donated.
ALI local assemblies who can are requested
| to remit the full amount of the assessment
not later than December Goth, 1886. The
assessment in this case will be twenty-five
| cents for each member, as shown hy the re-
| ports to the general secretary treasurer fol
the quarter ending October LIST, 1886.
Locals preferrlng 10 pay the amount
| In installments may pay ten cents FOL
each member, as shown by the re-,
ports TO October 1st, 1886, TO be paid
| not later than December Goth, 1886
| ten cents not later than january Goth
| 1887, and five cents not later than February
20th, 1857, for each member, as shown By
the reports for the quarter ending January
| 1st 1887.
This assessment will be known as |
special defence assessment, and must b.
paid to the general secretary, Charles II
Lltchman, Lock Box, $50, Philadelphia, Pa.
not later than the dates named.
When the appeal was issued in aid Of TIN
Southwest strike 1t received amost promp
and generous response. The need for tina
appeal and the crisis to be met, great though
they were, did not equal the grave
emergency which compels this assessment
With determination of that struggle begar
| the combination of capitalists everywhere
! throughout the country. The object OF thai
| combination is now made apparent. Tins
| lines are sharply drawn, the contest ia upon
usand must be waged to successful issue
/ You know for what purpose we require the
money. All we ask is that before paying Il
| each member put himself In the place OIL
| one locked-out, remembering that he gives
i twice who si,as duioSiy," aud adt Ii5Ia tx
| golden rule, EDO unto others as yon would
| have them do unto you"
/ Special Notlce-The above assessment
must be sent to the General Secretary
Charles Fl. Litchman, Lock Box, SS5, PhilH
delphia, Pa. T. v. PowDEBLY,
General Master Workman.
By order of the General Executive Board.
Attest: CHARLES II. L1rcHmAN,
[Seal.l General Secretary.