The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-13
MIR. PowDERLY.
Three Letters Containing Some Complaints
and Yarious Supgasfiona

Three Letters Containing some Complaints
and Various Suggestions.
PHILADELPHIA, April 12.-This weeks Jour-
nal of United Labor will publish three letters
from General Master Workman Powderly. In
one of them he complains bitterly of the treat
ment the Knights of Labor receive at the hands
of certain papers, and says:
s'An editorial in one of them takes me to task
for entering into compact with the Brotherhood
of Locomotive Engineers to conduct the present
strike on the c., B. q @. road. / have entered
into no deal, and have not altered my course
PARTICLE simply reiterate my statement, made
at the beginning of the strike. Believing that
the who will take the place of another.
while that other is on strike, is scab, can
not enter into any arrangement which will
countenance the handling Of the c., B. & @.
road by Knights of Labor While do not APP
prove OF strikes, l will never lend my sanction
or aid to Knights others to assist a COR
poration to break up any labor organization.
/ am willing TO enter into compact with the
Brotherhoods of Locomotive Engineers and
Firemen to look after and guard the interests of
labor for the future. In this matter / believe
the general master workman will be sustained
By the entire order, regardless of what the past
may have had IN the way of difference between
the two organizations, and regardless OF what
papers that are unfriendly to organized labor
may say.
In another letter he says:
1.-THE future welfare of the toiling masses of
America to-day is conferred in the Knights of
Labor more than in any other order on this
continent, and the man woman who would
now DESTROY the hope of millions deserves the
hatred and scorn of future ages. Now
that suspended and defunct assem- blies are
reviving, old members returning and new ones
coming in, it becomes the duty of each
assembly to make the meetings so interesting
that interest will not die out in the good work.
Appoint committees 20 meet and study up the
best means of raising the standard of American
labor to its proper level then when the
mittee makes its report discuss 1t temporarily
and carefully, so that the best possible re-
suits will be reached; do not make a motion to
receive and file the report of the committee and
never give it thought again, act it at once,
and keep on acting. Each assembly should be
able to answer the following questions call
from headquarters: How many children are
places How many ara working under
the age below which children should
not work in your State2 Are rents reasonable,
too high. are they ex.ortionate in your
city or town. In what proportion is property
assessed in your localityl Does the po5f man
pay as high rate of taxation for his Ia. proved
lot the wealthy mani Does the man who holds
town lots. waiting for labor to increase their
value before selling. pay high rate of taxa
ton for the property which your labor is making
Why does he not do sol why should a man hold
a piece Of land and refuse sell it until popula-
ton increases that he can demand fabulous
price for III Is it his labor or the labor of the
community which increases the value OF his
1ots2 II the latter. why should he not pay some
of the taxes of the community which euriehes
hint Should workingmen own stock in corpora
tionsl If not, why notr i
In third letter he refers to- his recent
Especial call" for an assessment of is cents on
each member to raise fund for the purpose of
hiring lecturers for the instruction of members
OF the order He says the intention is to give
the plan trial. SO that the next General Assem-
bly, may have basis 70 work on in deciding
vvether or not to continue ia. he saws several
hundred dollars have already been received for
that purpose; but cautions all other assemblies
against sending until the order has had time 70
vote on the proposition and decide whether or
not the assessment shall be made.