Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-22
Circumstances Haunted and lnSultet
by those it Sought TO Help.
Many Causes Combine to Reduce the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS in the Camp.
The Knights Convention Bounce Bar
ry by asyote of 1ss to "a.
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
Reading of Reports the Chief Work of the
Day-Resume of PowderlyS Report,

INDIANAPOLIS, NOV. l5.-In1S morning.
session of the Knights OF Labor Con-
vention was devoted to the hearing of
further reports and to routine business.
Only two reports were heard et the morn
ing session, both being very long. On
account of certain little unnecessary
formalities that have been overlooked
Powderly's report was withheld
until late in the afternoon. Litohman's
report was in manuscript but was held
back for the same reason. The general
master workman's report begins as fol
lows:
For nineteen years the order of the
Knights of Labor has maintained its ex
istence in the face of circumstances most
dIscouraging and disheartening; strug-
CLING forward in it's infancy beneath the
veil Of secrecy, it met with opposition
from those in whose behalf it oontended.
Later on it faced the world as the advo-
cate OF justice for the poor, and found all
who were enemies Of the oppressed ar
rayed against it. In all of these years it
has had to brave the taunts and insults
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 princi pies, but the year whose end
ing re witness at this session has been
the most trying and discouraging to those
whose wish TO see a harmonious blending
of all classes of wOokers beneath the
shield of knighthood. Many causes
combined Ito reduce the number of
those who swore allegiance TO the prin
ciples of the Knights CT Labor. The
circulation of false statements concern
| ing the strength of the order drove away
thousands who regarded the quantity as
being superior to the quality in the make
up OF the membership of a labor Or
gapization. When the rumor went forth
from the enemies quarters that the num-
bers were dropping down these members
who looked to others for what they
should do themselves, dropped
oat also. When the divergence
of opinion between the general
officers became heralded broadcast by
those who always magnifed, those mem
bers who looked for unity among the
officers, instead of doing their 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 the general
|
stood still until this session would as
sembie. In the ranks were men whose
love of self predominated, whose selfish
desires could not be suppressed for the
common veal and on no occasion would
| they consent to sink self for the good of
all. The oft told story of their griev-
ances sickened and drove many from the
order. With an executive board whose
I, n% in no yyith
other, who travelled from place to place
denouncing their fellow officers and CON
demning tie actions they were not
responsible for, it could not be
wondered at that we have
lost in numbers. Unwise strikes which
were entered upon against the laws and
princi piles of the Knights OF Labor swept
thousand of our members into poverty
and forced them from the order. Add TO
all of those causes the campaign which
has Just closed in tire United States, in
which members and assemblies were
pitted against each other on q question
which never was made a part of their
declaration of principles, and on which
they could very well afford to differ with
out differing in any point in the laws or
rules of the order, and We wonder not
that there has been falling off, but that
we have passed Through the crucial test
with ranks unbroken, as we are today"
He states these trials resulted in good for
the order, and denies anything like Of
fetal dishonesty, inviting thorough ox-
animation of books and accounts. Many
changes are desired in the constitution,
SO as to avoid the frequent changes
which are recommended at each session.
He recommends the total aboli-
ton of the sections which provide
for the appointment and government of
examining organizers. The law as at
present framed is dead letter. An ex-
animation of sections 81 and % will show
that in addition TO his other duties the
general master workman is required to
examine the statement of expenses as
reported by the general secretary. The
treasury department. should be held
responsible for all the money
passing through its channels, and
the general treasurer should be vested
with the veto power so far
as delaying the payment on bills, of
which he is in doubt Is concerned. At
present, he thinks, the financial affairs
are instructed into too many hands. A
responsible party should be intrusted
with the management of finances. After
speaking of the high estimation In which
the order is held by many outside of it,
and showing the multiplicity of detail he
must look after, he continues:
eve have been treated to many
discourses during the past year
on the subject of one mans power. The
chief trouble with our order is because OF
lack of one man power. Our power
has been divided in the past, and it has
worked injury to US. The will of this
order crystallized into law and imprinted
upon the pages of our constitution by the
representatives here assembled should be
carried out to the letter. 70 do this the
duty is assigned to one man to execute
these laws. Where many execute
laws themselves they always fail;
where each man interprets the law for
himself there is sure to be babel of
sound and confusion. Vest in one man !
the power to execute the laws which many
favor and pass upon, allow no Interior
ence with that one in the performance of
his duty ana you may expect good re |
suits. Allow every self-seeker, every |
xnave, every disturber and Pathfinder
to interpret the laws end we
have anarchy pure and simple.
The pandering to ignorance by some has
given rise to the impression that the man
who rallied against one man IN power was |
a friend to the masses. No greater mis-
take was ever made. The man who tells |
the people they can be allowed to act