Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-04-02
PowDRRLY'S CRITICS

Adverse Comment Does NO DisturO 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 / am not interested in what
they say. / do not care what individuals
may say. 1t is a matter Of no concern to
me what prominent Knights may say or
think. My circular was issued for the
purpose of sscertaining what the men who
never have an opportunity to get into the
newspapers think. | am pleased to say
that the first response to my special call IS
in the affirmative. Here it Is:
PHILADELPHIA, March %, 1888
T.. ;. PorderIy. q. Dr. w., Scranton, Pa {:
DEAR SIR AND BROTHER-Local AS
sembly 1919, printers, is first 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 1919
answers with an emphatic yes. God
hasten the new era of education.
D. Y. SELHEIGER, X. s.
A 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-adyised
strikes, and would not have over one at q
time. Strikes are like fevers, and very
contagious. When q dozen spring up at
once they must fail. An order to strike is
a declaration Of war, and when | order u
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
tune To give the real objects OF the order u
chance"
WHAT MR. POWDERIY EXPECTS.
what answer do you expect FROM the
local assemblies Of the order TO your special
callP"
~ am satisfied said Mr.. Powderly,
that the response to my circular will be
in favor OF the educational feature by an
overwhelming majority In fact, | know
it. But wish TO have it officially from
the rank and file Of the order. If the mem
bers who do not speak from public plat
forms or through the press must pay the
assessments and expenses of the order il is
only fair that they shOull ba allowed an
opportunity OF expressing their opinions on
the questions have submitted to them.
II is 70 their judgment J have appealed,
aud not 10 those who are anxious TO air
their ideas on sll possible OCCASIONS and on
all possible questions. Therefore / regard
the views Of those premature economists
who have not had time to read NY circular
IS being Of very little account, My special
call il tue ipta!eSG 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.
diet will be one OF approval"
THg YEN pEFAgFUsE
In nothiRg that Mr., FNwdsrly has done
since he became General Master Workman
Of the knights Of Labor has he manifested
90 deep an interest as in this new dsrsr-
lure with which be hcces "a arouse the
,utiro ord7r 10 9 reanEing sense of it's obi
to its own principles IS expressed in
The preamble. The strikes that have con-
gulsed the counfry in the past lew years
md compromised the Knights OF Labor
have all been undertaken without the
<nGwledge or consent Of the chief OF OH
,ers of the organization, and the General
WORKMAN fesls that II he is to be
With the responsibility for those
.bullitiOns he should be consulted before
hey occur. Although he feels confident
# being sustained by the local assemblies
the country, to TAs4n bis spe-
,ial call isrvirtIaiiI IA aRReal Tor power to
Iat independently of the Executive BOARD,
With WHICH he Is not IL Somplsta harmony,
ret he will GhSerfuily accept an adverse
should it come"
Dc tends the Ways and Means Committee.
Boston, March 81 The JOsJRai Of C0m-
to-day prints a letter from Congress-
nan Breckenridge, Of Arkansas, denying
he assertion that the Ways and Means
Committee have exhibited pad faith to-
YARD leading representatives Of the New
textile manufacturing Industry
n entering upon positive agreement with
hem that with free wool and lower rates
4, woolan ONola the nraaant command ava-