The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-12-23

and others made common cause for their
common welfare. This was the great
principal underlying the Knights of Labor,
general weai, taking COR their motto the
comprehensive and expressive maxim:
can injury to one Is the concern of all"
Mr.. Powderly was among the first and
most fervent advocates of this principle,
and in a broader sense than any other of
the founders of the order since he came
to it, with original aims and purposes o:
his own that were calculated to make it
holder and more l~ioeral, and consequently
more potent for good than the organiza-
ton first planned by Uriah S Stephens
and his associates, and projected as a
secret oath, bound institution. Mr.. Pow
derly's policy from the start was to keep
the organization as much as possible in
harmony with public opinion on abstract
questions of right. Whenever public
opinion differed with the organization he
bel eyed in bringing public opinion to its
side if this could be done without a sacri-
fee of principle. When it could not be
done he adhered to the principle, and
couragaously proclaimed his views for the
consideration of thinking men in and out
of the order. In the month of February,
1877, D. A., 5 was organized in s Scranton,
and M. POWderIy was elected its CORE
spending secretary, a position which he
held until his duties as general master
workman took him away from home so
much that he could not attend to the local
cf6ce. In the year 1878 all the branches
of the Knights Of Labor were called to-
gether in general assembly at Reading,
Pa, and Assembly No. 5, of Scranton,
formed another Assembly Nc. 5 there
from another part of the country, and,
surrendering its right to that number,
took No. Is, by which it has been known
since. In January, 1879, at the General
Assembly of the Order, which met in ST..
Louis, Mr.. POwderly was elected General
Worthy Foreman, and in September of
that year he was elected General Master
Workman, the highest position in the
organization, which he still fills with con
spicuous ability and honor. The term of
Office was for year until 1886, when
it was changed to two years. At every
subsequent meeting Of the General As
sembly Mr.. PowderIy has been elected
General Master Workman by an over
whelming vote, despite the predictions
always made for months in advance that
he would be defeated. Eleven times he
has been chosen to the leadership Of the
powerful organization of which he is the
master mind, a demonstration of conf
dence unparalleled in the history of the
labor movements of the world. What
NJ. Powderly is he owes to his W brave
heart, pure, abstemious, industrial life and
practical purpose.
SOCIALISTS VAN TO BE ADMITTED-LIvELY
TINES EXPECTED AT The OF
THE FEDERATION OF LABOR.
New YoRK, Nov. 3O.-The annual con-
vention of the American Federation Of
Labor, which meets in Detroit, Dec. 8,
undoubtedly will be the most important
ever held in the history Of that organiza-
ton. Nearly all the skilled trades o. the
United States are represented in the Fed
Grafton, and their decisions in regard to
hours and wages are of great Importance
to all classes. This year The Federation
will have to stand face to face with the
| question of socialism. The socialists have
determined to gain admittance to its cOun-
ills if possible and force their views 90 Wn
the throats Of the conservative delegates
From present indie atiOn3 it does not l)ok
as if they W. uld 1cceed, but the socialists
are workers and move in a united body
to accomplish their ends.
Ever since the SOcialistic Trades union
withdrew from the Central Labor Union
and formed the Central .aoor Fede alton
they have made efforts to secure a charter
from the American Federation Of Labor,
out have failed. President Samuel Comp
ers has steadily refused to grant a charter
on the ground that the SOcialistic Labor
party, a political organization, was a mem
Der of the Central Labor Federation. The
most bitter man against President Comp
ers has been Lucien Daniel, political
economist and editor, and he has been
the person s-lected to make war for his
followers. At a meeting OF the Central
Labor Federation, held Nov. 8, it was de-
cided to send q delegate to the Detroit
convention. Daniel was selected and was
| gived a long list of instructions.
In case of his admission to the conven-
ton he is to un te ali the radical delegates,
to use all ind fence to have the delegates
pledge themselves to the peculiar views
of the Socialists, and to unite the political
and economic movements. In case Mr.
Daniel is not admitted, he will call a mass
meeting, challenge the Federation to meet
him and explain the whole matter to the
citizens of Detroit Industrial Age.