The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-11-13
THE GRAND MASTER WORK
MANS ADDRESS AT
DENVER
TO THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
He Reiterates His Position Strike;
and Uses Some Bitter Language.
Views on Protection and
Free Trade.

gates TO the general assembly OF hnlSntS OF
Labor were called to order in their hall
today by Grand Master Workman Powder
ly, who, after few remarks read his an
nual address. At the conclusion of the
address the assembly adjourned until to-
morrow morning for the purpose of giving
the committee on credentials time to pre-
pare their report.
In his report after reminding the dele
gates of the fact that on the 2Sth day of
next month the order would enter
upon its majority as an associa-
ton, and dwelling upon the growth
of its action during these twenty-one years
and the good accomplished, he said for
years the most important of series of
questions that has agitated the people of all
nations is that of tariff and free trade.
"We have not as an order adopted tar
iff or anti-tariff clause in our preamble and
do not advise such thing now. We
should, however, throw open the doors of
our assemblies for the discussion o,the great
problem so that our members NAV be
educated in the basis of the principles of
DTOltCUlOu anu lIGS lIdtC. w III Z We w lOJ
allow the question inside of our sanctuary,
members are asked every four years in the
United States and every five years or
oftener in Canada to register their votes,
either in favor of or against protection. My
recommendation is that on the day after
the first day of july 1891, it shall be per-
missible for local assemblies TO discuss
the question of high tariff and free
trade by putting the question in this
shape: (Which will bring the greatest
good to the greatest number, high tariff
or free trader" We do not commit the
order to either school and yet allow our
members to take for discussion and agita-
ton that vital question of maintaing leg
islatlve committee. He thought if the
assembly decided to maintain them
it should also decide what measure such a
committee shall advocate, how far they
may CO. and with whom they may cooper
ate, so that they may not go uninstructed
and thereby be considered legitimate prey
of each faction and political party having
claim against the government or scheme
to pass, while they are to be contented
with anything thrown 10 them. Heopposed
making any change in the constitution ex-
cept such such as will reconcile conflicting
clauses and make plain obscure passages.
Reference was also made to the New York
Central strike and the eruption; progress
and ending were rehearsed, as also the
cause which led to it.
Continuing he says: 81 am opposed to
strikes. My views on the subject are well
known, but if men are to gam anything
they must be organized; they must be pre-
pared to strike, even though they never do
it, If we must have strikes then we
should prepare for them and not allow
every subordinate to rush the order into
them at moment's notice or without any
preparation. Since the Central strike
ended there were rumors of another on the
Erie railroad, and the papers began to
show that there was no necessity for a
strike on that road, for the managers and
worlmen were working in harmony. There
will always be harmony between employer
and employe when the former has it in his
power to dictate what the en-
ployea shall eat drink and wear. When
the employer can control the market
he will control them; when the employer
has monopoly of the market he has also
monopoly of the harmony which our
papers pirate about so much. We see the
editor OF New York daily paper and the
president of the New York Central assisting
in the raising of fund to feed men and
women IN Ireland who have been robbed
through the same diabolical system as that
which is now beginning to rob the workmen
of America; that which is found worthy
of praise in Irish workmen who strike
against injustice, is damned IN his brother
in America when he asks for enough to
keep his children out the poor house. In
order to prevent strikes, we must make
every preparation TO make them success
fully when entered upon and legislation in
that direction must be enacted at this ses-
sion, or your incoming general officers must
be given to understand that
under no circumstances or conditions
must they take part in any strikes"
He strongly advocated the passage of
laws securing to both sides equal rights
and the acceptance Of an invi alton from
the farmers Alliance to send delegates to
their next convention. He also favored the
cooperation of the Knights of Labor with
the various railroad organizations in the
work of liberalization.
A public reception was rendered the del
egates this afternoon, at which 5000 people
were present. Short speeches were made
by Mayor Londoner, Hon. G. S. Thomas,
Ralph Beaumont, Rev. Myron Reed, 7. V.
Powderly and Gov. T. Routh.