The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-11-12
Tue KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
The Annual Address Of General
Master Workman 7. v. Pow
derly at Denver.
organization and Preparation Are
Necessary to Success In
Any Enterprise.
The Employer Who Monopoli.cs the
Labor Market Also Has Monopoly
of Harmony.

DENVER, Nov. 11.-The General Assen,bl,
OF the Knights Of Labor convened thi
, morning, with about two hundred delegates
present. General Master Workman Pow.
oerly read his annual address, after whiof
sne assembly adjourned until tomorrow
, public reception was rendered the dele
, Rates this afternoon at which several thous
ana people assembled. Powderly, in hi,
annual address, touching on the economic
policy Of the government, said in part: VIZ
nave not, as an order, adopted tariff, Q,
an antl-tarif clause in our preamble, and ]
40 not advise such thing now. We should
however, throw open the doors of our as
semblies for the discussion Of this great
problem, 90 members may become educated
IN the basic principles of protection and
free trade. 1t is recommended that on and
afser the first OF January next, it shall be
permissible for local assemblies to discuss
the question which will bring the greatest
good to the greatest number, high tariff
or free trader Thus we do not
commit the order to either school,
and yet allow our members to take up for
discussion and agitation that vital
question. Upon the question Of maintain
ang legislative committee, Powderly
Thought that if the assembly decided to
maintain them it should also decide what
measures they shall advocate, how far they
may go, and with whom they may co-ope-
rate, 50 they may not be considered the
legitimate prey of every faction and politi-
cal party.
Mr.. Powderly dwelt at length upon the
kvsl
Individual effort in the direction of
ameliorating the conditions that were not
easy OF endurance had proved abortive.
Public officials were appealed to here and
there, but nothing ever came of it. The
public press, from BaEalo to New York
was, with but few exceptions,
under the control or influence OF
the Vanderbilt system. With the chosen
servants OF the public travelling on passes.
with editors of papers along the road subsi-
dizedin the same way, il became impossible
for workmen to get the public ear or place
sheir grievances before officials OF the COM
pany without subjecting themselves TO dis
missal. Referring to the visits of commit
tees OF men to railway officials, Powderly
said: The idea of meeting on the level of
equality with employees for the purpose Of
discussing terms of agreement. was repuR-
nant TO men whose aristocratic tendencies
were given birth beneath the shadow of the
house of Vanderbilt, and means to mt a
stop to these importuniti,s were sought
tor. Ihe plan OF picking off spokesmen, in
order 70 terrlfy the others, was resorted to,
and one after another was discharged in the
hope that the lesson would be of practical
value to the company in terrorizinQ the
rank and file.
Referring to his correspondence with
Master Workman Lee, Powderly said:
sumed to interpret my language as being in
favor OF conspiracy to get up strike |
either during the presidential year or when |
the worlds fair was in progress. What I |
said was that if the organization could be |
Kept mp until the worlds fair. the New |
YORK Central would not be able to refuse
any just concession. Those who saw con-
splracy in that sentence would. if thev
were just, say that no just concession
should be refused in any year. am Oh
posed to strikes. Ny views on that subject
are well known, but it men are to gain any
bnlnR they must be organized, they must be
prepared to strike even though we never do
It. It we must have strikes then we should
prepare Tor them, and not allow every sub
ordinate to rush the order into them
st An moments notice without preparation.
II 1888 should be the best year to gain what
10 just and right and proper for labor. flat
refusal should be given. That would be
ne best year to strike. and not at time
9nen no Preparations have been made, /,
During the New York Central strike We had
~ opportunity to learn who our friends
we're among the newspapers and found thew
we're exceedingly few. We were given
quantities of counsel, warning and censure,
Many papers friendly to us did not seem "a T,
understand the situation or necessitv Of
nen who worked for low wages. Since the
oentIat strlke ended there were rumors of Z
mother on the Erie. and the papers began
@ show there was no necessity for strike
~ that road, for managers and workmen
we're working in harmony. There will al ,
vaye be harmony between employer and
mploye when the former has it in his DOW I
p 70 dictate what his employe shall eat,
rink and wear. When an employer has .
monopoly OF the market he has !
! monopoly of the harmony our !
.apers prate about so much. We zee .
he editor Of a New York paper and the !;
resident of the New York Central railroad
perating the raising of q fund to feed men
nd women in Ireland who have been robbed
through exactly The same diabolical system
hat is now beginning to rob the Workmen :
t America. That which is found worthy ks
praise in the Irish workman who strikes n
gainst injustice. is damned in his brother =
q America, where he asks for enough to :
eep his children out of the poorhouse. In
rider to prevent strikes we must make n
very preparation to make them successful 3,
hen entered upon, and legislation in that q
irecti0n must be enacted at this session Il
{ your incoming general officers must be le
iven to understand that under no circum- o1
'ances must they take part in strikes Of y
ny kind. "
Mr.. Powdeyly advocated equal rights for
9th sexes and the acceptance Of an invita-
ON TO send delegates to the next Farmers
lliance convention, the CO operatio Of the r.
nights of Labor with various railroad or
anixations in the work Of federation.
National Frsternal Consresa. ae
PITrsBuRo. Nov. 1.-THE fourth animal q,
ssion Of the National Fraternal conpress d
,mprning nearly all the beneficial orpani- Al
.tions in the country, began here this !n =.
orning. Sixteen sections, with q conn y,
ned membership Of 1,100O0v are rsme. 81
nted. Tho convention will be in aeasion
veral days
Episcopal Church Coasrssa ha
Nov. 1.-THE Thirteenth q
naress of the Episcopal church Of The e
,ited States, was inauQurated this morn go
o. Holy oommunion svaa ad,nin;.%>,.a %