The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-11-15
SIR KNIGHT POWOERLY TO THE ORDER.
Labor's Great organIz alton TrI-
umphant In the Tourney.
Its Ranks DecIm ated But Still stand
Ing Firm and Unbroken.
The Cause Of the EmpIoye and That
OF the Employer.

ATLANTA, Ga. November 14.-GeneiaI
Master Workman Powderly. In his report to
the General Assembly OF the Knights Of
Labor. which convened here yesterday said !;
In this year we celebrate the 20th aDnlver-
sary Of the birth Of knighthood. Soon
VIII begin the 18th year Of the orders ex
stence under the guidance Of the general
assembly, and 1t is but proper that we look
oack over these years and note the progress
tnat has been made. In 1869 the cause Of
labor reform was really in its infancy. When
the general assembly was formed at Read
Ing. Pa, the various Legislatures were en-
acting tramp acts, conspiracy acts and re-
strictive measures Of different kinds, the
Congress of the United States was ridicullng
the claim Of the laboring man to portion OF
corporations.
The, friends Of labor in Congress were
Sc0Hed on the hO0r, and Stunned on the
streets and elsewhere. Those who defended
the cause OF organization among wOrkmen
were branded with the mark Of Cain, and
the press openly advocated their banish-
ment from the country. The church opposed
associations OF workmen, and threatened
members with dire results unless they with
Grew. Inc terms 'incendiary," "dsturber,"
.%aIstsc,oP Psstiepce a6S 6reedeT" gnoramus."
nous with that of labor advocate, and but
lew men had the temerity to champion
cause tnat had so many enemies and whose
friends were so few. It Is needless 10 enter
into detail for the purpose Of showing what
Dlougnt ABOUT the change. We have seen
State legislatures revising their former ac-
Il0ns, they passing bills creating labor
bureaus, factory inspection acts, Saturday
nan holiday acts, Labor day acts,
Inability acts, laws for the lien OF the
mechanic and laborer, and we have seen labor
elevated to the highest pinnacle In the esti-
nation OF law makers. 1t matters but little
whether sincerity lay at the base Of such
movement; the facts stand out TO testify
tnat these things were done, and they were
done Oecanse 1t became manifest that the
lworkingman was also thinking man. we
have seen the Congress Of the United States
enacting laws at the request Of the knights
OF Labor, and we have had a check placed
on tne Importation OF workmen under con
tract to displace American workmen. we
have seen the establishment Of a national
bureau OF labor, and have witnessed its
growth, until the recommendation Of the
minneapolis session Of the general assembly
was presented 70 Congress by our legislative
S9mmlttee. ana II became department. We
have seen the public land question forced
before the people, until the iniquitles Of past
years were exposed to public gaze.
The last quarter of the 10Th century has
witnessed more rapid aud more telling pro-
gress than the other three-Quarters that have
gone before. Clothed in respectable garb,
and equally as capable Of defending itself
the cause OF labor stands side by side with
that OF the employer Of labor, and TO no 9TH
er agency can so much Of credit be given as
the knights OF Labor. At the beginning Of
the last year we We're the target Of blind,
misguided men whose patience would not
admit that seconds Of time were necessary 10
accomplish what centuries had failed TO pro-
duce heretofore. The press was filed with
startling records Of the dlsintegration OF the
order, aud thousands withdrew from what
they honestly believed to be lost cause. We
have lived to see the turn In the tide. and
stand here today with doubts dispelled; with
ranks decimated, 1t Is true, but un broken
with better understanding Of our aim and
OBJECTS than ever before. / never expected
tnat the order would pass so sH0ce5sfully
through the ordeal, and am perhaps the most
surprised among won to-day.