Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1890-12-01

Father Dncey's recent expressions is
found in the following words:
Riches keep no man out of heaven as
long as he leads good life, and tell
you TINT these ministers who, Us know,
preach from the altar that poverty is a
blessing lie. and they know they lie
They know, as well as |. that it is a
curse.
But in all the floundering which has
followed the defeat of the New York
Central strikers there is none SO excru-
ciat;ng as that Of the general officers of
the Knights OF Labor With all their
mistakes a.: Powderly and his asso-
ciatrs maSe none glaver than the at
temrts to explain away failure. 1t
does not benefit labor organizations to
say that strike was called ''Oefore the
order WAS ready for it," If there was
not sufficient money in hand To carry On
fight it Goes not eXtenuate the error OF
declaring the war under such circum
stances to say that 1.-The battle WAS on
us before our red letter calls had time to
bear trait The general public, for
which Mr. Powderly evidently attends
his circulars. does not know or care any
thing for the details and raniifcations
Of his organization To the general
public defeat is blunder. and a VIC
tory is IN inspiration: that's all there is
to il. y P B. D.
Moreover, when Mr. Pow lerly at
tempts to find consolation i'll his state
ments that these eyes or those ears have
been opened to the wrongs under which
the iudustrians suffer by the agitation
and exposures consequent upon the strike
ne is ringing the, changes on very anti
quatcl chestnut bell His firstly"
secondly" thirdly" ETC., are old sto-
riew. and were mildewed long before the
New FORK Central men decided to stand
up for their rights Mr.. Powderly is too
sensible nlaa to waste his time in writ
ing loug w;nded articles Oh the might
have-bpens FOR the publics delectation
while his organization is struggling to
keep Gil It's feet. and he ought to make
use OF his good sense.
And This bring. nc to a consideration
uf rilr latest inportant circular issue:
from the general office of the Knights Of
Labor | refer to the call for an express
sion of opinion on the subject of political
action by organized labor. The general
master workman now favors united pO-
litical action on the part of the Knights.
80, .;rrl,t hn hal
lot box as Il remedy should do all in
their power to secure action at the ball
lot box But Mr.. Powderly has not al
ways held to this ground In fact there
was time when he emphatically OPP
posed political ct!On by the members of
his order. He says in this latest cir
cular on the subject. Il am accused of
attempting to smother the sentiment of
political action. and will no longer con-
sent to bear the burden so unjustly
placed upon my shoulders"
ann not writing Mr. Powderly's biog
raphy, but under the circumstances l
cannot refrain from saying that the
burden" was not "unjustly" placed
upon his shoulders. For four years the
K. of L., especially in the west, was
anxious to do something at the ballot
box. but Mr.. Powderly in his official ca
pacity sat down upon every attempt in
this direction. 1t is only necessary to
call attention to one case. In 1897, when
organized labor in Chicago wanted to
elect Robert Nelson, then master work
man of D. A. "a, mayor of the city, T: V.
Powderly issued circular, especially d.
rected and delivered, and read by Mrs.