Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-27
POWDERLY'S MANIFESTO.
A SENSIBLE CIRCULAR TO THE
ASSEMBLIES.

Hot Headed striking, BOyoOttinR and
LawIessness sure to Wreck the Order
Absolute Obedience to the Rules OF
KniGhthoOd Necessary to Insure His
Retention of His once.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, March 26.--Master
| Workman Powderly has issued secret
! circular to the Noble Order of the knights
| of Labor of America, which has just been
made public. MIR. Powderly instructs the
secretary of each assembly to call fun
meeting and read before it the sentiments
which follows. The address opens with
an order to the assemblies to cease initial
ing new members until the relations of
capital and labor shall become less
strained than at present, and continues:
$40 attempt to win concessions or gains
with our present raw, undisciplined
membership, would be like hurting an or
ganized mob against a well drilled regu-
lar army. IL is not fair to the older as
semblies to bring in new members, pick
up their quarrels as soon as organized
and have them expect pecuniary aid from
those who helped build the order up for u
noble purpose"
PATIENCE URGED.
ave must not fritter away our strength
and miss the opportunity of present sue
cess in the struggle against capital by
rushing into useless strikes. To the car
dinal principles Of theOrder we must add
neutrality-suspicious.. You have had pa
tience for years, and had not the knights OF
Labor appeared uhon thescene you would
still be waiting. Your scales of prices
must stand as they are for the present.
II you cannot raise them by any other
process than strike You must submit to
injustice at the hands OF employers In pa
tience for awhile longer. Bide well your
time. Find out how much you are justly
entitled to and then the tribunal of aKbi-
tration win settle the rest" -
MIR. Powderly cautions the assemblies
against receiving into their ranks em-
ployers, and warns the Knights OF Labor
that the politician is planning night and
day how to catch the Knights Of Labor
for the advantages Of himself and party,
and adds tnat to use the name Of the order
in a political contest is criminal and must
not occur again.
TRE EIGHT-HOUR MoYEAnsNT.
Referring to the eight-hour movement
the circular saws. Assemblies of
Knights of Labor must not strike for the
eight-hour Aystem on May / on the i'm
precision that they are Obeying orders
from headquarters, for such an order was
not and will not be given. Out OF 60,000,-
600 people in the United States and
Canada cur order has possibly 100000.
Can we mould the sentiments Of millions
in favor OF the short hour plan before May
/? It is nonsense to think of it.''
Afterspeaking OF the qualities which
the officers OF assemblies should possess,
and expecting the Knights to elect honest
men OF even temperament, MIR. Powderly
continues: ''While l write dispatch is
handed me in which l read these words:
struck, Tor you know our motto is an in
jury TO one Is the concern of ALL
TWO WRONGS DON'T MAKE A RIGHT.
Eyes, an injury TO one is the concern of
all, but il is not wise TO injure all for the
sake of one. 1t would have been Ear bet
ter to continue at work and properly IN
vestigate. the matter, bringing II before
every, known tribunal than to have
struck. - .fte
Speaking Of the relations between the
Church and Knights of Labor, Mr.. Pow
derly SAYS: 81 warn our members
against hasty, III considered action, The
Church will not interfere with us 30 long
as we maintain the law. If the law is
wrong it's our duty TO change it. I am
ashamed to meet with cIeFgymen
and others TO tell them that
our order is composed of law
abiding, intelligent men, while the
boycott or strike"
OBEDIENCE DEMANDED.
In conclusion the Master Workman
says; 81 write this circular to lay before
the order the exact condition of things.
am neither physically nor mentally capa-
bic Of performing the work required of
me. am willing to do my part, but not
to be asked to maintain false position
before the world any longer. One of two
things must take place-either the local
and district assemblies OF the order must
obey its laws, OF must be permitted TO
resign from a vocation which obllges me
to play one part before the public and
another to our members. | say to the
world that the Knights Of Labor do not
approve or encourage strikes, and in one
day dispatches come to me from Troy,
N. Y, Manchester, N. H., Chicago. Gin
cinnati, Lynchburg, Va, Springfield, o.,
and Montreal announcing strikes.
STRIKES MUST BE AVOIDED.
''It is impossible for human nature to
stand the strain any longer. must have
! the assistance Of the order, or my most
earnest efforts will fail. viii |
nave itf IL so strikes must be avoided,
bOycOtts must be avoided. Those who
boast must be checked by their assem-
blies. No move must be made until the
court OF last resort has been appealed TO-.
Threats OF violence must not be made.
Politicians must be hushed up OF driven
out. Obedience to the laws OF Knlghthood
must have preference over those OF
any other order. IL these things are done
| the next five years Will witness the COM
| plete emancipation OF mankind from the
curse of monopoly. In our members we
require secrecy, obediepce, assistance.
patience and courage. II with
these aids you strengthen my
hands / will continue In the
work. IL you do not desire to assist me
in this way, then select man better
qualified TO obey your will, and l will re-