The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-16

|
which comes to them through the bank
ing railway and land monopolies. 1t is,
therefore, duty which we should not
neglect to select the sections which l
have pointed out and place them promi-
| neutly before our members for discussion.
II we do our duty, and II the proper steps
| 1892 10 be fought out on these lines, and
we can so educate the people on these is
sues that they can discern for themselves
the difference between the real friend and
| the sham when he presents himself for tho
| sutlrages OF the people,"
He recommends that a special commit
tee Of three be appointed TO take up the
| matter He advocates concentration OF
energies on these questions, and further
recommends the formation OF Junior as
semblies for educating younger working
| people.
He advocates equal pay for equal work
Tor women. OF the provisional committee
he says Scarcely had the gsvel fallen on
the last act OF the Minneapolis session
than traitors hands were raised TO destroy
what 1t had taken years Of time and pa
tont work TO construct. The major
ity OF the last convention were
right they legislated as they saw the
necessity for 1t; they refused 10 pass
resolutions with which they were not in
| sympathy; and at tho close Of the General
Assembly q meeting was held in the city
OF Chicago with the avowed purpose OF
disruptng the whole order. At that
meeting II was resolved to organize what
was called Provisional Committee for
tho purpose OF purifying the order.
" ~. IL =. a.
sented for the action OF the General As
sembly, deals with the question OF tho
right OF amember OF the Provisional
Committee to visit or otherwise meddle
with an assembly OF this order. That de-
cision, should be approved and a law
passed at this meeting which would
promptly and forever expel from the or
der the member who would engage in
such dastardly work as was inaugurated
at the meeting Of the Chicago Provision
als. Reforms spring from noble impulses,
but the impulse which fathered tho as
semblage OF the PROFESSIONALS was born in
hate, nursed in envy, and grew TO its
present size in the hope that this
great order would one day be brought be q.
meath the rule OF men who do not possess
tue courage or manhood 10 properly rule
sentiment should sway us at this session.
Let us once and forever put IL beyond the
power OF any man 10 fight this order or its
principles and remain member. II they
will tear down let them tear down from
the outside, and let every true and honest
man in the order take sides and either 20
with these misguided creatures or stand
firm and defend the order from their vile
lgg IL
OF Labor come from the persistent opposi-
tion which has been shown 10 the idea Of
allowing other organizations To control the
Knights Of Labor Do not misunderstood
me, for do not refer 10 trades unions. |
once referred to this matter at a meeting OF
this body, and my remarks we're twisted
and tortured 10 serve the purposes Of de-
signing knaves who attempted 10 play
upon the feelings OF trades unionsts. l
do not mean the trades unionists Their
cause and ours Is one In the main. The
organization which your general master
workman. speaks Of is the Iaterna-
tional WoFkingncn's Association, which
passed resolutions three years ago to
secure the election OF It's trust
ed agents rs general officers OF
the order Of the Knights Of labor. The
proofs arr In nv possession. Tho plans OF
these men met with but little success. and
from that time 20 the present the members
OF that organization have secretly and un-
tiringly worked for the ruin OF this order.
There are members OF that society who
arc members OF this, who do not favor the
schemes OF tho warning faction Of the In
ternational Workingmcn's Association,
but they are few and lar between, forthose
who are known are intont only on dcstruc.
ton. We had the misfortune 20 elect n
man who was either a member OF q sym.
pathizer 10 the general Executive Board,
aud be has shown preference for the
principles Of that organization. An hon
est man would go with the society which
claimed his allegiance, but men who will
deny their connection with other societies
will not scruple 20 destroy the Knights OF
Labor II the opportunity presents itself;
the opportunity never presented itself
and they sought 10 make and
failed. You may accuse your gun-
eral master workman Of entertaining bit
ter feeling Tor this element II 10 YOU
are wrong; there Il no bitterness, but
there Is a determination on his part 10
drive from the order every element OF dis
cord II II lay In his power 10 DO So" lie
gives u similar case In the Moldcn' In.
ternational Union, To show the result Of
such opposition.
lIo advocates more equal division Of
the wealth produced by labor, aud de-
nounccs the gambling In money, In lard,
In railway bonds, In stocks and In the
very food which IA withheld from the
mouths Of millions at tho sound OF the
stock brokers' ticker"
rup arrurrapvia prropr
In his report ex.Sccrctary Li,chman
gives detailed statement OF his c0nncc.
lion with the order from his admission to
the present time, quoting from the official
records OF the past sessions OF the General
Assembly 10 prove the ialsity Of the charges
OF dishonesty. which had been circulated
against him He showed from the records
that everything had been satisfactorily
explained 10 the General Assembly,
and his course was approved by reso.
luton NJ the Detroit meeting Ia 1881.
Ills connection with the general insur.
anco sccrctafyship was IN no wise the
cause Of the failure Of the system ior
IL failed because u was inherently rotten.
Next he took up his election as general
secretary two years ago, explaining that By
good service and business methods he
hoped forever 10 silence his elandcreB.
lie gives details 10 show In what points ho
saved money 10 the order. In various
controversies lac believed he was the tar
get ot undcseFyod censurc. He had had
printing done by his son, who was q
knight oi labor in good standing. and he
believed he did properly In 10 doing, but
IL was less than one-soventh OF tho whole
amount that was done thero. IIe indin.