The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-29
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.
Master Workman Tomson's Lecture.

thank you for so clear an explanation, so
full an account OF Mr.. Tomson's recent
lectures in our city. desire, however,
to call attention to few additional points
made by the speaker that particularly i'm
pressed me.
In contrasting the Knights OF Labor
method--education force, such az
war, strikes, etc., he called attention to the
fact that every inch Of ground gained
through the educational methods OF tho
Knights OF Labor is clear gain; that there
is not the possibility OF bad results accru-
ing; whereas, evils removed by force as
certainly involve society in difficulties
more serious and intoierable, more often
outweighing the evils thus removed. He
said that war as means OF removing great
evils was failure. Said he: 1--WE do
not have to turn to the pages OF history
to know that we have seen it fail. True,
a great and blighting evil was removed
as a result Of the late war-chattel
slavery OF the blacks so, also,
were the people, the whole producing
world, made slaves through monetary
system saddled upon us, as result OF the
war. Millionaries sprang into existence
like mushrooms, in a single night; tramps
and paupers by the thousands were
created, and as a result OF the necessarily
demoralizng effects Of the war our prisons
crowded with criminals. Another system
OF chattel slavery, also, somewhat different.
grew out OF the war; Contractors filed
the country to overlooking with the pauper
labor OF Europe. The poor alien signed
the contract for two years and the blood
money WAS paid before the shores Of his
native land faded from his sight He had
sold himself into slavery; lac was sort OF
chattel slave. Without the firing OF a gun,-
without the shedding Of drop OF blood,
ladies and gentlemen, this grand order OF
ours, through its educational influences
and work abolished the latter slavery.
Local Assemblies OF the Order OF
Knights OF Labor are schools for the dis
cussion Of economic questions and adj
vancement Public sentiment is the power
behind the throne We are trying TO
reach the minds OF the people, for once we
succeed in getting people 10 think right
| they will begin TO talk right, and then to
act right, and the battle is won, the victory
ours.
Every bad deed committed by an indi-
yidual who happens TO be a member OF the
Order is charged up, ordinarily, by tho
public TO the Order, but for the good that
has been accomplished by the Order little
or no credit is given. Few seem TO really
know that the Order has accomplished
more directly in the interest OF society
for humanity-duringa short lite OF twenty
years, which may be regarded as ITS in
nancy, than all OF the political parties, so
! 4 -, a
more than all other influences combined
in the same length Of time. Why does
| Powderly say keep partisanism out OF tho
Order oil Knights OF Labor and require sec.
retaries OF local assemblies 10 consign to
the waste basket all manner OF partisan
literature and clap-lrap? Simply because
the Order is above every such thing. To
make partisan issues OF our legislative dc
mands mt once arrays all the other parties
against tnem-not because OF disposition
TO defeat them on the grounds Of objection
TO the measures, but because the Repub.
licnn party is opposed 10 everything
proposed by the Democratic party,
and vice versa, and men arc
controlled by partisan prejudice and led
Gy common excitement Al other parties
are mere side-shOws, OF course, but tho
same spirit is manifest. We have learned
by experience that the way 10 get our leg
islalive demands enacted into law is TO
present them upon their merits, untram-
melcd by partisan prejudice, unstained by
partisan Stun. Thcvery way 10 not succeed.
IN my opinion, Is 10 make partisan issue Of
them, OF start a new party and elect some
body TO Office When Congress meets tho
Legislative Committee Of the Knights Of
Labor meets in Washington. During tho
session Of Congress our committee Ii In
session. The committee Is instructed TO
watch the action Of each Representative
and Senator carefully and report 30 tho
members OF the order tho doings Of each.
We send them there. We want 10 know
what they do. Il Is no part OF the duty Of
the Legislative Committee, when meas.
IRE Is proposed by the order, % spend any
time In looking up Democrat or n Repub-
lean, a new partisan or an old partisan,
Catholic, a Protestant, lnlidel, jew o.
Turk to present the measure and AL
for H. passage. What matters
IL? Il the measure any better or
worsc presented or supported by Demo.
Gratis than by Republicans, by a member
Of new party than an individual repre-
scnting am old? / cannot see H. II seems
10 me that the measure Is what We are in.
tcrested in, aud We want the sup.
port Of all our Representatives. Therefore
the Representative that has the honesty
aud ability 10 propose the measure and
support Il on morit Is sought, and no fur.
Tier questions asked by the committee.
Tonight do not know whether Mr.. Rsg.
DERBY, the General Master Workman utthe
order, votes with the Democrats orbNe
Republicans. / do not care. II Is en0ugi
ior me 20 know that be IL right on eco
nomic questions ia which the whole Of So
cIcty h interested. Aud that is all care
10 know Of any man."
The new light thrown upon the order by'
Mr.. Tomson must certainly be fruitful Of
results. Sunday night at the meeting q
new assembly was formed and founded
by Mr. Tomson Of the very best material
in the city, with the ayowcd purpose OF
strict adherence 10 the real principles OF
knighthood M presented and promulgated
by Mr. Tomson. Mr.. Johnson ia every.
whcre noted for his conservatism aud
clear head upon economic questions, aud Is
one 81 the most successful workers M well
~ best posted men OF the order In tho
South. lie h a Tcnncssccan, but iof moro
than ten ycan n citizen Of Arkansas, con-
nccicd with the schools aud for term
County Examiner school superintendent
81 Garland County, Ark, ut Hot Springs.
H. % ..
| @a=
whitehead Returns Voluntarily.
81. pAvt. Mimi. MAY IA PIONEER