The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-16
No Quarter Is Promised Ills Enemies. and fer
the Disturbers of the Orders Peace lie Has
Nothing but Severe Denunciation.
0ne.Man Power Urged as the Essential
for Good Government of the knights.
Strikes Should Be Ordered Only When All
Other Resources Fail-Ex-Secretary Litch-
man Defends HimselfAgainsi Slandsrers.

husky. The speaker, or rather the reader. was
General Master Workman Powderly, and the
matter to be delivered was his annual address.
The address, which had been carefully prepared
in advance, composed . pamphlet OF twenty
pages, or about ten thousand words He began
by referring to the disheartenine circumstances
under which the assembly met. "For
nineteen years." said he, ''ths Order OF the
knights Of Labor has maintained an existencs
in the face of circumstances the most discoursr-
ing and cisheartening; struggling forward IN its
infancy beneath veil OF secrecy, it met with
opposition from those in whose behalf 10 con-
tended. But many causes have combined TO re-
duce the number of those who swore allegiance
to the principles of the Knights OF Labor The
circulation Of false statements concerning the
strength of the order drove away thousands who
regarded quantity as being superior to quality
In the makeup OF the membership or 3 labor
organization. When the divergence Of opinion
between the general officers became heralded
broadcast by thoss who always magnifed. then
the members who locked for unity among the
officers, instead of doing their duty by waiting
un il they could replace these officers with 9TH
ers. withdrew frorc the order tempo
rarily. The story, SO often circuiat
ed and SO wonderfully magnifed, OF
the extravaeance of the general officers fright
ened others, and they, too, stood stu until this
session would assemble In the ranks were meu
whose love of self predominated, whose selfish
desires could not be suppressed for the common
veal, aud on no occasion would they conseltfo 70
sink self for the good of ALL The oft-told story
OF their grievances sickened and drove many
from the order. With an executive board whose
members were not IN harmony with each other,
who travelled from place to place denouncing
their fellow officers and condemning actions that
they were not responsible for, it could not be
wondered at that we have lost in numbers. The
unwise strikes which were entered upon against
the laws and principles Of the knights OF Labor
swept thousands OF our members into poverty,
and forced them from the order. Add 70 all OK
these causes the campaign which has just closed
in the United States. in which members and
assemblies were pitted against each other on
question which never was made part of the
declaration Of principles, and on which they
could very we'll afford to differ without
differing as to any point in the
laws or rules of the order. and We wonder. not
that there has been falling of, but that we
have passed through the crucial test with the
ranks unbroken as we find them to-day. AL OK
these trials have done a great service to the
order if wa profit by the lesson they teach and
legsiate at this convention In cool, dispassion-
ate manner. free from temper, unbiased by re.
gard for individuals, and with q determination
not to allow the disturbing elements which have
thrust themselves upon the last three General As
semblies TO interfere with the progress of this
session. If Eeu will quarrel let their Disagree
ments find no sympathizers here. IL we Dust
mittee to sit and hear what is to be said.
and then act on the report OF that
committee at the proper moment; but
do not permit the time OK this session to be
wasted as others have heen by designing men.
whose chief aim seems to be to disrupt and do
stroy what they never could build. Stamp ont
every effort to create strife IL such
thing is attempted; but, above Gil things, do not
leave here until you have carefully revised the
laws and until each separate item of expenc-
iturs for the past Two years has been carefully
scanned. Do not allow any one to have an op-
portunity to again say that the publication or
expenditures was suppressed. There 10
nothing contained in the expense account OF
this order that your officers need be ashamed OF.
There has been no dishonesty or attempt at IL.
and the order at large is entitled TO q full and
complete account OF what was done with It's
money. IL extravaganza 10 discovered, then
fix the responsibility where it belongs, and do
not forget that former session OF the General
Assembly opened the treasury TO the expend-
iture OF more money than those to whom 1t
went were entitled
After saying that the future OF labor depended
greatly upon what this assembly did, be re-
ferred to other proposed changes IN the consti-
tuition, many of which were desired and should
receiye careful consideration. 1T seems To me,
be continued, "that we should endeavor TO
frame our laws In such a way as TO avoid the
frequent changes which are recommended st
each session. A general constitution for the
government of the General Assembly and its
officers and certain welldefined rules for the
government of subordinate bodies should also be
enacted Beyond that would permit the fullest
liberty consistent with these laws and rules by
all who acknowledge allegiance TO this order.
In trade matters We should leave the settlement
to our national trade assemblies, fx their status
at this convention, and then allow no interfer-
ence with their rights and permit no
interference from them With the rights
OF others" He recommended the total
abolition of the constitutions sections providing
for organizers. giving as his reason that the law
as il now stands could not be enforced de rec
commended that the duties Of the general master
workman be changed. so as not TO require him
to examine the accounts OF the general secretary:
lie should have nothing to do with the financial
affairs of the order. which at present were 10
too many hands.
Mr. Powderly continued to read:
1--WE have been treated 10 many discourse
during the past year on the subject OF onernan
power. The chief trouble OF order is be-
cause OF the lack OF one man power. Our power
has been divided IN the past. and il has worked
injury to US. The will of this order crystailized
into law and imprinted upon the pages OF our
constitution by tho representatives here assem-
bled should be carried out 70 tie letter. To do
this the duty is assigned 10 one man to execute
these laws Where the many executs
the laws themselves they always fail:
where each man interprets law for himself
there is sure TO be a babel of sound and confu-
sion. Vest in one man the power 10 execute
the laws which the many favor and pass upon:
allow no interference with that man in the per-
formance Of his duty, and you may expect re-
suits Allow every self-seeker. every knave,
every disturber and fault-fnder TO interpret the
laws. and We have anarchy pure and simple. A
pandering to ignorance by some has given rise
TO the impression that the man who rallied
against one-man power was a friend to the
masses. No greater mistake WAS ever made
The nan who tells the people that they can ell
act independent of each other every Issue
that arises. and do il intelligently, is q cema-
| eogue. No matter how intelligent q people
may be they must meet to determine, not what
one man wants. but what Is best for all men.
One-rnan power is sn absolute necessity in order
| TO insure success. but those who confer that
| power should first know what power 10 give, aud
| when the end OF that mans term OF Office arrives
| they should know whether he has welded bis
| power IN such way as beet 20 serve bis coz
| stituenta IL he has, accord 10 him the merit OF
having done 90: IL not. then censure him, but do
| not censurc him for not accomplishing results
| when the authority TO do so not placed in
| bis hands, and when the power 10 thwart his
| every move was delegated 70 others who were
| supposed TO act in unison with him. Men have
| been placed In ofiee with me with whom
| would not for q moment associate in a private
/ business enterprise with ary hope of
success, yet for tae sake OF The
| good that might follow e.lenee. forhear-
aree urder such circumstances has been OBJ
! served by ne. Fancy the condition witch the
| United Co.oniss would lave fourd theaseivss
In had The hrst ten years OF the Soverans.A a