The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-18
LABOR AND IT'S PROBLEMS
Mr.. Powderly Saysthe K. of L. Will Turn
Its Attention to Educational Efforts.
Its Members to Be Taught the Value of the Bal
lot as a Remedial Agent to Right Existing
Wrongs-Big Federation Proposed.

Iudu L OWucIiy VI tu0 hDlkntS " LdbOls
and his coadiutors, Holland, Hayes, Devlin
and Costello, got fairly down to business
at the Sherman House headquarters to-day,
and made considerable progress IN examin-
ing complaints, petitions and reports in re-
lation to the order in the West. THE
charter of the first assembly of
France" said Mr.. Powderly to a re-
porter. was prepared this morning, and
started on its way to the old country. 1t
was given to Mrs. Barry, the general direct
orand instructor in woman's work, and she
started for PHILADELPHIA. from whence she
starts for Paris. The first assembly has
been organized for some time, but we have
held back the charter, preferring to send
it by a special messenger
us anything being done, or will anything
be lone by your board to bring back the
seeding members of the Knights of Labor
who have organized a rival order?"
"Oh, no; we do not want them back. We
are stronger without them. They formed
the disturbing element in the order, and we
are glad to lave them go. They were hos
tile to the principles of the Knights of La
Dor. Now that they are out, we have no
hostile feelings towards them and are per-
fectly satisfied to have them succeed. 1t is
not our purpose to do them any injury.
Then there was a general running talk
on the course to be pursued by the order to
solve the problem of labor troubles, and it
developed that no single line will be fol-
lowed out, but a series of educational eff
forts. the most important of which IS ballot
reform. THAT something of this kind is
necessary can be seen by the state of af-
fairs in Pennsylvania" said Mr: POwderly.
NJ - - ala. xlo hoo -, -,
der the grind of the mill-stones. Every eff
fort has been made to convince him that
his remedy is in his own hands at the polls,
but when election day comes he walks up
a a%nSties votes sna as for usual me0 for Who the 30 old Id
Congress and sell out. These laborers
cannot plead ignorance. Every man over
eighteen year of age has had a chance to
post himself, and why is it that he votes
against his W interests 1t is a question
easy of solution to the thinker and reader
of to-day. and the only remedy is the Sc
cret ballot, where the citizen can vote
without fearing to express his W feelings
and bring misery npon himself by his vote.
Several bills have been prepared for the
development of this theory, but not one of
them covers the requirements. 1t is only a
p~retense so far.
Another lesson in the Knights of Labor
school will be the teaching of the members
in regard to some reformed socialistic the
Ories-that the coal fields belong to the
government. for instance, and should be
operated by the government without profit;
or lease the lands to firms which shall con-
tine their operations steadily, a lockout or
p shutdown to result in a forfeiture of the
lease"
1t was decided by the executive board
that the next general executive session of
the Knights would be at Atlanta. COM
mencing on the second Tuesday in Woven
Der.
Mr.. Powderly was asked about the joint
circular issued some months ago signed
by themasters of the different labor Organi-
cations calling on the members to work in
harmony. and declaring that the interests
of all were common. 1--WE did issue such a
circular in March," he said. '.but it did not
in any sense look toward a fusion of all the
bodies into one organization. as / have
heard intimated. 1t will not be referred
to in this meeting"
A Formidable Organization of Labor.
CHICAGO, July IA local paper says:
A circular has been issued that bears the
signatures of the chief officers of the princi-
pal labor organizations CT the United
States-T. V. Powderly, general master
workman, and John w. Hayes. general sec
rotary, of the Knights of Labor; Samuel
Gompers. president of the Federation of
Labor; w. N. Sargent, chief of the Brother
hood Of Locomotive Firemen, and Others.
The locomotive engineers. through p. NJ.
Arthur. true to their principle of exclusive
ness and a%ntagonism to other labor organ
izations, nave kept out of this concerted
action of the others, and thereby height
ened. the bitter feeling existing against
them among other trades. The circular is
the outcome of a conference held some time
ago in Philadelphia, the object being the
formation of an alliance between the or
CARNATIONS represented by the signatures.
1t has been issued privately to the organ
i~zation, and is not supposed to be known to
the public. If the alliance is realized it
will be by far the most formidable labor
Sfganiza ~ snat ever eT TSe In .ne unlseG
upon all organizations of labor to strengthen
and solidify their ranks, to the ultimate
end of bringing within their membership
every man and woman in America who
tolls. A convention of delegates is to be
called, if the various organizations approve
of the plan, for the purpose of devising
some definite scheme of coalition.