Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-12
MR.. POwDERLY's POLICY.
He Believes In Strikes Only When an
Advantage Can Be Obtained.

He Believes In Strikes Only When IN
Advantage Can BE Obtained.
General Master Workman Powderly delivered
his annual address yesterday at Denver to the
general assembly of the knights of Labor. 1t
suggested o new departure in the policy Of the
knights, inasmuch as 1t recommended the dis
cussion of political issues in the local assem-
bles Mr.. Powderly 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 o tariff
| or anti-tariff clause in our preamble and do
not advise such thing now. We should, how
ever, throw open the doors OF our assemblies
for the discussion of this great problem SO that
our members may become educated in the
basic principles OF protection and free trade.
While we do not allow the question inside of our
sanctuaries our members are asked every four
years in the United States and every i've years
or oftener in Canada to register their votes
either in favor or against protection. My
recommendation is that on and after the first
day Of January. 1891, it shall be permissible
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 FREQ trade? we do not commit the order to
either school and yet allow our members to
take up for discussion and agitation that vital
question"
THE NEW YORK CENTRAL STRIKE.
Upon the recent New York Central strike he
says: There is one very important matter
which must not be passed over by your general
master workman and although it does not be-
long to this years report feel that it should
be placed before the general assembly now. SO
that many who formed impressions on what
appeared to be in the public press may have
their minds disabused Of erroneous ideas.
In the early part of the year information
came to me that members of the order en-
ployed by the New York Central railroad and
under Jurisdiction of District Assembly 246
were growing FESTIVE under the treatment re-
ceived at the hands of the officials of the COM
pany. The old plan of picking of the spokes-
man in order to terrify the others was resorted
to and one after another man was discharged
i'll the hope that the lesson would be Of prac--
teal value to the company in terrorizing the
rank and file. The men struck work.
TIME FOR STRIKES.
~ told Brother Lee if the organization
could be kept up until the worlds fair the New
York Central would not be able to refuse any
just concession. am opposed to strikes, but
IL men are to gain ANYTHING they must be pre-
pared to strike even though they never do it.
If 1898 should be the best year to gain what is
just and right and proper for labor. and flat
refusal should be given, why that would be the
best year to strike, and not at time when no
preparation had been made.
WHAT HARMONY MEANS.
"Since the Central strike ended there were
rumors of another one on the Erie railway and
the papers began to show that there was no
necessity for a strike on that road, for the
managers and workmen were working in har-
mony. There will always be harmony between
the employer and the employe when the former
has it in his power to dictate what the employe
shall eat. drink and wear. When the employer
can control the market he will control the men.
When the employer has a monopoly of the
market he has also monopoly of the harmony
that our papers pirate about SO much"