Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-07-18
CORPORATIONS DENOUNCED.
Powderly Issues an Address to Working
men-A Soci alistio Propasanda

SCRANTON, Pa, July lS-General Master
Workman Powdery will pay his respects TO
President Austin Corbin, of the Reading
railroad. in the next number of the official
journal of the Knights of Labor The Cor
bin ukase, declaring that no member of any
labor organization will be employed by the
company, has called forth a ringing mani
festo from the labor chief, in which he sounds
the keynote of new political crusade of the
Knights of Labor under the title of "Hats
OFF to Mr.. Corbin.'
Blow at Corporations
He refers to the Molly Mcguire organza-
ton OF some time ago as follows: The
Molly Mcguire conspiracy was the legitimate
offspring of the policy of characterization to
constitutional auth Drity which the Reading
company pursued then and continues to
pursue to-day. Itself an outlaw, 1t must as
a shield have lesser ones to direct public at
tention to, and dupss were not wanting to
fall into the trap. A few foremen and fell
low workmen were asSaSsinated, while the
power behind the throne sent out its orders
to still further opIress the workmen that
they might he driven to deeds of still greater
desperation
After some more ienunciation of corpora
items in general anil the Reading in particu-
lar, Powderly continues: Don't blame Aus
tin COrbin for wha- he is doing Re men.
and take the responsibility on your own
shoulders. 1t is cuwardly to whine about
the oppression of capital when we have
remedy in our own hands. 1t is worse than
cowardly to know how to do thing and not
do it There Is no remedy while the state of
fennsylvania Is cur sed with the presence of
millions OF Democratic and Repub6can work
ingmen who do not realize that they should b.
citizens, freemen, patriots before being par
tisans
Violence Denounced
Right here let me say to you that the man
who now hints at deeds of violence as a rem
edy is a traitor to the state. If, after all that
has been told to You, you do not know how
to apply the proper remedy, then your case
is hopeless. We cannot compel obedience to
the constitution of Pennsylvania while men
can be brow-beaten at the polls and COM
PEELED to vote the corporation boss, the
political boss, and the rum boss dictate. Be
fore we can move hand or foot in the way of
reform We must throw every safeguard
around the ballot-bux. No rifles or bayonets
bombs or other wea p1ns of towards or weak
lings will he necessary.
A Remedy in Secret Ballot.
What we require is secret ballot, one
by which partially free man may become
in truth free MAI. How many citizens of
Pennsylvania will raise their hands with
mine when they read this, and pledge them
selves not to ask for another measure of re-
form at the coming session of the legislature
except the passage Of some such system of
ballot reform like the Australian systems
How many will pledge themselves not to
vote for any man until he pledges himself to
stand by the people and vote for such a
measured Will not vote for him.
even though he gives such pledge, until he
also pledges himself not to enter caucus
on this measure, either of party or clique
Stand Up and BE Counted
81 do not ask You to stop praying for
bread, but | would ask you to work for it
and vote for it in different manner from
that in which you have been working and
voting for it. How many will actl How
many will vote a suggestl How many
will cease to tie the American citizens high
est prerogative to the chariot wheels of a
party and caucus I'll at they may forge to the
head OF the procession, and there do their
duty as becomes Americans who know how
to WELD the bailotr