Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-04-01
POwDERLY's CRITICS
Adverse Comment Does Not Disturb Him
Discussing the Special Call.

Adverse Comment Does Not Disturb Him
Discussing the Special Call.
SCRANTON, Pa, March 3l.-General
Workman Powderly, of the Knights of
Labor, when asked his opinion Of the crit
icism on his recent manifesto said:
'SOme of the men are not knights of
Labor, and l am not interested in what
they say. do not care what individuals
may say. 1t is matter of no concern to
me what prominent Knights may say or
thiak. My circular was issued for the
purpose of ascertaining what the men who
never have an opportunity to get into the
newspapers think. l am pleased to say
that the first response to my special call is
in the affirmative. Here it is:
PHILADELPHIA, March 81, 1888
T. J.. POrderiy, @. VI. W., Scranton, Pa ::
DEAR SIR AND BRoTHER-Local AS
sembly 3, $40, printers, is fist in the field
in response to your special call, and don't
you forget it. To your first, second, third
and fourth questions Local Assembly 1879
answers with an emphatic yes God
hasten the new era of education.
U. p. SELHEIGER, K. 8.
4 WORD ON STRIKES.
When questioned regarding his oppOs-
ition to strikes Mr.. Powderly said: 81 am
not opposed to strikes, and would not say
that men should not strike, but would
prevent the possibility of hasty, ill-advised
strikes, and would not have over one at a
time. Strikes are like fevers, and very
contagious. When dozen spring up at
once they must fail. An order to strike is
declaration of war, and when order q
strike do not wish to array my troops
empty handed in front of a trained army
with plenty of ammunition, rations and
reinforcements. We have had too many
such wars lately, and having failed it Is
time TO give the real objects Of the order q
chance"
WHAT Mr.. POwDERLY EXPECTS.
"What answer do you expect from the
local assemblies OF the order TO your special
call?"
II am satisfied" said Mr.. POwderly,
that the response to my circular will be
iu favor of The educational feature by an
overwhelming majority. In fact, | know
il. But | wish to have it officially from
the rank and file of the order. Ii the mem
bers who do not speak from public plat
forms or through the press must pay the
assessments and expenses of the order it is
only fair that they should be allowed an
opportunity of expressing their opinions on
the questions | have submitted to them.
1t is to their judgment l have appealed,
and not to those who are anxious to air
their ideas on all possible occasions aud on
all possible questions. Therefore regard
the views of those premature economists
who have not had time to read my circular
as being of very little account. My special
call in the interests of educational work
has been addressed to the bone and sinew
of the Knights of Labor, and | await their
judgment in the confidence that their YER
dict will be one Of approval"
THE NEW DEPARTURE.
In nothing that Mr.. Powderly has done
since he became General Master Workman
of the Knights of Labor has he manifested
so deep an interest as IN this new depar-
ture with which he hopes to arouse the
entire order to realizing sense of its obli-
CATION TO its own principles as expressed in
the preamble. The strikes that have con-
yulsed the country in the past few years
and compromised the Knights of Labor
have all been undertaken without the
knowledge or consent of the chief Of Off
GERS of the organization, and the General
Master Workman feels that il he is TO he
charged with the responsibility for those
ebullitinns be should be consulted before
they occur. Although he feels confident
of being sustained by the local assemblies
throughout the country, to whom his spe-
cial call is virtually an appeal for power to
act independently Of the Executive Board,
with which he is not in complete harmony,
yet be will cheerfully accept sn adverse
verdict should it come"