The daily critic., 1890-11-12
POWDERLYS REPORT.
The MASTER WORKMAN OF The K. OF
l. ISSUES HIS ADDRESS
twenty FIRST Year Of the Order- M
meroua Reforms Recommended.
strikes Deprecated-Bribc

General Master Workman Powderly
of the knights Of Labor has just issued
the twenty first annual report of that
organization. The order Is now in
general assembly at Denver. In his re.
port Mr.. Powderly calls attention o.
the humble origin Of the order and the
objects e then had in view He says
AT first the wage question stood above
all otbus, then workshop regulation
became a theme for discussion, and
finally the eternal and undeniabe rights
Of man TO everything that his Creator
drew from the depths Of the earth came
MP before our order. We have friends
bv the million who are not members
our principles deserve their aid. We
have enemies-bitter unrelenting enc
mies-and right we'll we have earned
their enmiiy."
The report discusses the relationship
Of the order TO the tariff question. IL
says:
I'VE have not, as an order, adopted
a tariff OF anii.iariff clause in our
preamble, and | do not advise such
thing now Mr.. POwderly then goes
on 10 urge that the assemblies Of the
Knights be thrown open 10 the discus.
sion of the tariff to which heretofore
they have been closed. He urges this
as a necessity, because the question Is
not one which should belong TO political
parties, but 1T Is an economic question,
and there IL not a household In the
civilized world into which its shadow
does not intrude Itself"
WORK FOR LEGISLATION.
Speaking Of legislation and the work
Of the legislative committees Of the or.
der, the report says: Half way meas
ures and sectional schemes should not
be advocated by our order, and In future
whoever represents this order ia
such a capacity should be required 10
work In close communion with the
committees Of the Farmers Alliance on
the great questions Of land, currency aud
transportation reform" Fully nine
pages Of the report are devoted to a re-
view Of the New York Central strike,
and Is exceptionally bitter on the news.
papers In the towns and cities along the
line Of the Vanderbilt system, and
charges that the press was influenced
against the order. The letters Of NJ. w.
Lee Of ID. A. 246 10 Powderly. with HIS
replies, are given UCrbdtiB. He admits
having written letter to some person
saying that II the organization on the
New York Central could be preserved
until the Worlds Fair then that com.
pany would not be able 10 refuse any
Just concession. He, however, dis
claims any Intention of conspiracy, but
he says III 1898 should be the best
year 10 gain what Is Just and right aud
proper for labor, and flat refusal
should be given, why that would be the
best year TO strike, aud not time when
no preparation had been made.
DECLARES AGAINST STRIKES.
lie declares against strikes, but pleads
their utility. So long as labor quietly
submits to every iudigniiy she will have
no hand but her own raised Ia her dc
Tense. When driven 10 desperation she
strikes. then thousands fly 20 arms 10
offer adyiCe-nothing more" Replying
20 editorial criticism, he says: III Co
lumbus had no higher aspirations In
view when he discovered this land than
to have men working from dawn until
dark for ninety cents and dollar. his
memory would not be deserving Of
many glad shouts from the working
men Of this nation" Again Mr. Pow.
derby reyeTts TO the press.
CHARGES BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION.
He charges bribery and plrllality. He
asserts that "a combination Of capital.
lists may organize 10 steal millions. aud
the greater part Of the press OF America
Is either blind 10 the fact or else attempts
10 show that il will be a great gain TO
the nation" He continues; $50 far as
our case being put before the world
through the medium OF that part OF
the daily press Is concerned, Il will never
be done, and the volcano will continue
to shoulder until It's lava burns It's way
into ears that would not otherwise open
TO the voice Of justice"
Mr.. POwderly recommends yearly
meetings Of TefOrmers who are prOmi-
nently Identified with industrial affairs,
for the purpose Of discussing the issues
Of the day. He says: LET us invite
land reformeIs, tariff refOrmers, cur
TenCy refOTmeTs, transportation reform
eTs, trade uniOnists, social anarchists
socialists, and together with the
Knights Of Labor, lei them discuss the
issue Of the day from their own stand
point
Mr. Powderly declares himself for
woman suffrage. He says Woman
Is obliged 10 work the same as man.
She contracts debts and pays bills; she
owns property and she IS swindled out
Of n, she has 10 obey the laws and has
20 break them, she must look on and
see Tascals elected 10 office and has no
voice In their selection, although the
evil results Of their election will fan as
heavily on her as on any one else We
ask in our preamble for equal pay for
equal work, but will never get IL unit
We have manhood enough 10 place the
weapon IN woman S hands with which 20
punish the offenders against law, de
cency, order and good government
recommend that We change the
twentieth clause IN the preamble 10
read 10 secure for both sexes equal
rights. Let us be manly enough 20
demand for her the same rights that