Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-04-23
The Grand Master Workman.
n. y. World, March %.

Grand Master Workman Powderly
does not live in a very pretentious
house In Scranton, nor Is it in fash
ionable neighborhood. 1t ia located
in Hyde park, as the Fifth ward is
called, and commands q view over
the entire city, over which he presid.
ed for years as Mayor. Yesterday
afternoon the World reporter visitsd
the humble cottage in which the great
chief OF the Knights of Labor lives.
1t was an American workingman's
home-nOthing more. Nor could it
be otherwise, considering that fifteen
hundred dollars is the salary paid
him. A curly-headed little boy,
about two years old was playing on
the floor, utterly unconscious that
his father was the leader of the great
labor army and was preparing for a
journey to New York.
The Paciicator" was busy. Not
withstanding two fractured ribs,
quinsy, sore throat and two of Jobs
comforter's," he had answered, with
the aid of an amanuensis over six
hundred letters in four days, dictat-
ing one while he wrote another.
These letters were from every part
OF North America and relating to
every conceivable subject, from the.
request to order strike of thousands
of men and women to a dispute over
point of law.
Terry Powderly, as his most
intimate associates like to cal him,
is worthy of all fealty. A man among
men; warm hearted, ever courteous,
a gentleman in every sense of the
word-a model man, without any of
the weaknesses of smoking, chewing
or drinking. In passing from the
station of the Delaware, Lackawanna
& Western it was easily seen what
his fellow townsmen thought Of Mr..
Powderly. Nearly every passer-by
saluted him. 1t needed not any deep
penetration to see that Mr.. Powderly
| felt, as he said, when seated in the
train. ga hundred years DID," and
that he needed rest. But he feels
that that is impossible during the
present critical condition of the coun-
try.
I do not fear the outcome of oil
the present commotion in the labor
field" said the master workman,
leaning his chin on his hand, as if in
pain. "The lsaven must work be-
fore good bread is produced. If the
wise men with cool heads on both
sides will only exert their influence
all this turmoil will soon cease. The
whole policy of the order is against
Strikes" said Mr.. Powderly, "and
while I was on the road and since I
have been home I have nipped at
least dozsE strikes in the bud"
"What do you say. then, to the
statement of Chairman Martin Irons
of St. Louis, that the strike on the
southwestern system will probably
extend throughout the United States
and include all the Knights OF Labor
regardless Of occupation?"
| "Mr. Irons is Chairman of the
Executive Board of District Assem-
bly, No. 1O1, which is confined to
the Gould roads, and he has no au-
thority for his assertion. He could
not stop whee! outside of the juris-
diction OF the district. Such an or
der can only be issued by the Gen
eral Executive Board, and I can say
it will never be issued.
"Will you 60 on to the scene of
disturbance
"No. The duties of my position
demand my presence continually at
Scranton, and il I have remained
there, instead Of personally visiting
other places, should have been able
to prevent many of the strikes now
in progress"
"What doyou think of Mr.. Gould's
attitude in regard to taking legal
proceedings against members of the
order who possess property"
Oh, that is bluff and is intend.
ed to weaken our order by soaring
away men of means"
" But supposing he really means
what he says?'
Where will he begin? With me9
Well, let him bring suit in the United
States couits and have me arrested.
am willing to be martyr. Let
him lodge me in Ludlow street Jail.
What do you think would be the
consequence? 1t would bring about
q revolution sooner than any one
cares to see. Let Mr.. Gould take
legal proceedings against any of our
members and take them from their
homes. Do you suppose they would
ait tamely by? If Mr.. Gould is anx-
ious for On upheaval he will do as he
threatens. But I warn him.
"The people of st, Louis-not the
workipgmen. mind you, but the bust
ness men, men worth tens Of thou
sands Of dollars-.do not love Mr..