Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1888-11-30
TILE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.

Mr. Powderly is evidently possessed Of
rare powers of organization, q fact clearly
shown by the control that he has been able
10 maintain over the Order Of Knights of
Labor, in spite of the fact that during the
last two years the influence of the Order
has materially waned in the opinion of It's
members no less than in the opinion OF the
outside public The extent Of its member
ship has always been somewhat vague, but
there is abundant reasons for believing that,
whatever point it may have reached in the
past, it's roll of membership is now very
much shorter than It once was. There have
been Withdrawals for one cause or another
of men who few years ago were looked
upon as highly influential leaders, and there
have been desertions from the Order, not
only of individual members in large nun.
beers, but subordinate assemblies as well.
And yet, in spite of these losses, Mr..
extraordinary degree the enthusiastic con
fidence of the greater part of those who still
remain in good and regular standing with
the Order. This is not only "a flattering en-.
dorsement of the ability of the General Mas.
ter Workman, but it is, on the whole, a
creditable proof that the wage earners Of
this country possess those virtues Of con-
stancy and confidence which are factors
which large number of men are engaged,
and which workmen in other civilized coun-
tries have not always possessed.
The Order has lost influence and prestige
involved in strikes which have entirely
failed of their purpose, and have not only
led to the unnecessary waste of great deal
of money on the part of the members of the
Order, but have been from the first so hope
less in their character, and so embarrassing
to general business during their continu-
ance, that the public, whose sympathes are
naturally with the workingmen when in a
contest against wealthy employers, have,
with few exceptions, looked upon the ef.
forts rs foolish and i'll advised.
But while Powderly, after strike has
begun, has felt called upon to support his
subordnates in their efforts, he has in one
or two of the most notable instances made
1t apparent that the strike was, in his opin-
ion, mistake that ought never to have
been made, and would not have been made
If his counsel had been taken and followed.
Indeed, II ID to the credit of the General
Master Workman that he has little faith in
the efficacy Of strikes rs a means OF righting
the wrongs which the wage .earners may
believe that they are enduring. He has
looked upon this weapon as one which
should only be adopted as last resort in
extreme cases, when all other means of COM
promise have been exhausted, but 1t hardly
needs to be said that this is not the view of
the subject taken by those who have con
trolled the policies OF the various district
assemblies, for, if it had been, a number of
strikes for which the Order of Knights OF
Labor are in one way or another response,
bic would never have occurred.
Whether, with the renewal of confidence
given him at the General Assembly, Mr..
Powdery will be able to revive waning in
terest in the order of knights of Labor re
mains to be seen. Its growth few years
ago was altogether too rapid to be healthy
and the secessions that have taken place
with the threats of forming rival associa.
tons, are all natural results of its rapid and
unhealthy expansion. Ii he can carry the
order through the crisis into which its past
errors have plunged il, it is, no doubt, the
belief of Mr.. Powderly that he can build i,
up, slowly and surely, more in .accordapce
with his mind. 1t is doubtful whether any
other man than he could be placed in the
office of general Master Workman would
be able TO accomplish this result, and, pos
sibly, with him the effort may end il
ia lure.