Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-17
T.V. POWDERLY'S REPORT
HE TELLS THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR
SOME SHARP TRUTHS.

Why the Order Has Lost SO Many Mem
| bers and SO Much Money-His Opinion
| of the One-Man POwer-Members
| Themselves Who Have Injured the
Order More Than Outsiders.
| INDIANAPOLIS, November 15.-This morn
ing's session of the Knights OF Labor was
devoted to further reports and routine
business. Only two reports were heard at
the morning session, both being very long.
On account of certain little unnecessary
| fornlalities having been overlooked Pow
derly's report was held until the afternoon.
Litchman's report was in manuscript, but
was held back for the same reason. Gen.
eral Master Workman's report began as
follows:
| PowDERLY's REPORT.
For nineteen years the order of the
Knights OF Labor has maintained an ex-
| istence in the face of crcL instances most
discouraging and disheartenine, struggling
| forward IN its infancy beAeath veil of
1
| in whose behalf it contended. Later on it
| faced the world as an advocate OF Justice
| for the poor and found all who were ene-
| mics OF the oppressed arrayed against it.
| In all these years il has had to brave the
| taunts of many whose interests it served.
| Since the adoption OF its declaration OF
| principles ten years ago, this order has had
| the opposition OF all who despised their
principles, but the year whose ending we
IxUft of
| trying and discouraging to those whose
| wish it was to see the harmonious blend
| ing of all workers of Knights. Many causes
com mbined to reduce the number who swore
allegiance to the Knights of Labor. The
circulation of
FALSE STATEMENTS
concerning the strength OF the order drove
away thousands who regarded quantity
as being superior to quality in the make
up of the membership OF labor organiza-
| tion. When the story went forth from
the enemies quarters that the members
were dropping down, those members who
looked to others for what they should do,
themselves dropped out. Also, when a di-
vergence OF opinion between the general
officers became heralded by those who
always magnitied, those members who
looked for unity among officers, ms tead OF
doing duty by waiting until they could
replace these officers with others, Withdrew
from the order temporarily.
The story SO often circulated, and so
wonderfully magnifed, OF the extravaganza
of general officers frightened others, and
! they too stood still until this session
would assemble. In the ranks were men
whose
LOVE OF SELF PREDoMINATED,
whose selfish desires could not be sup
pressed for the common veal, and on no
occasion would they consent to sink self
for the good OF all. The oft-told history
of their grievances sickened and drove
many from the order. With an executive
board, whose members were not III harmo-
ny with one another, who Travelled
from place to place denouncing
their fellow officers and condemning
| actions they were not responsible Tor, 1t
could not be wondered at that we lost
numbers of unwse strikes which were en-
tered on against the laws and principles OF
| the K. of L., swept thousands into poverty
and forced them from the order, and to all
| these causes, the campaign which has just
closed in the United States, in which men,
bers were pitted against each other on
question of principle and on which they
could very we'll afford to differ without
differing on any point in the laws or the
rules of the order, and we wonder not that
there has been Il falling of, but that We
have
| PASSED THROUGH CRUCIAL TEST
with the ranks as unbroken as we find
them to-day.
Powderly states that these trials re-
suited in good for the order. He denies
that there is anything like official dis
honesty inviting a thorough examination
of all books and accounts.
Many changes are desired in the consti-
tuition so as to avoid changes that are
recommended at each session. He recon-
mends the total abolition OF the sections
, which provide for the appointment and
, government OF examining organizers. The
law as at present framed is dead letter.
An examination OF sections 22 and
/ 23 will show that in addition to
his other duties, the General Master
Workman is required to examine the
statement OF examinations as reported by
the General Secretary and Treasurer. The
department should be held responsible fo1
: all money passing through its channels
and the General Treasurer should be
vested with the veto power so far as delay
ing payment on bills OF which he Is IN
doubt is concerned.
+ At present he thinks the financial affairs
are entrusted in too many hands. A re
sponsihle party should be entrusted Will
THE MANAGEMENT OF THE FINANCES.
After speaking OF the high estimation il
T. which the order is held by many outside
r it, and showing the multiplicity OF detail b.
= must look after, continues:
Il 1--WE have been treated to many discus
t sions during the past year on the sublec
of one-man power. Our power has beel
t divided in the past and it has worked inJur.
if to us. The will of this order, cryrtallze
J. into law and imprinted upon tn
It pages OF our constitution by repre-
= sentatives here assembled, shoul
d he carried out to the letter. This duty
assigned to one man to execute. Nher
many execute laws they fail. Where eac
man interprets law for himself there is SUI
d to be a babel OF sound and confusion
il Vested in one man, the power allows n
= interference with that man in the perform
70 ance OF his duty, and you may expect goo
results. Allow every selfseeker, ever
m knave, every disturher aud fault-hnder
Of interpret laws. and we have
t, ANARCHY PURE AND SIMPLE.
"Panderiug to ignorance by some hs
w given rise to an impression that the me
e. who rallied a.ainst the one-man power WI
pc a. friend to the masses. No greater mi
take was ever made. The man who tel
people they can all act independently
one another on every issue that arises, al
". do it inteilgently, is demagogue. Peep
- must meet to determine. not what one ms
wants, but what is best for all. When tn
nO meet many cherished theories must g
el- way to practical ideas, and VIII
le- these are enacted into laws al
.ee intrusted to the hand OF one man, eve
ia hand should be stretched forth to aid tn
-It, one man to carry out the will OF all. rath
ny than to have, as have had, so mai
ha Ids stretched forth to stay the work tn
your predecessors assigned to me. M
have been placed in Office with me whom
en would not for moment associate with
ny a private business enterprise with hope
on success, yet for the sake OF the good tn
81 might follow silence, forbearance under C
~ cumstances has been observed by me.s
,ht Fancy the condition which the Unit
',,t Colonies would have found themselves
'u' had the first ten years Of the Governme
of the United States been delegated
such men as describe, and the interest
the 100000 of that day were no grea
aid than those that were placed in the keep
Inns OF the general executive board OF
The K. of L."
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