Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-11
General Master Workman Powderly,
of the L. of L., Invites an
Industrial Conference
on AN INDEPENDENT PLATFORM.
The Effort to Change the Basis of the
Amalgamated Wage Scale Fails
for the Present.
TROUBLE AT A sOUTHSIDE IRON MILL.
Industrial Archwsy seh,ns Endorsed BY the Central
Trades Council

General Master Workman Powderly, of
the knights of Labor, has just issued an
important circular concerning proposed
Industrial Con ference to be held some time
within the next six months
At the session of the General Assembly
of the order at Denver last November, Mr..
Powderly was directed to correspond with
the officers of other organizations with
view to calling and Industrial Conference
to formulate political platform such as the
industrial classes favor at the polls. A COM
mittee was appointed to recommend plan
of action, following the line adopted in the
St. Louis platform, upon which so many
victories were achieved during the recent
campaign.
This committee recommended that a joint
con ference be held on the last Wednesday
in July, 1891, in Washington, D. c., and
that the Congressman lately elected in the
various States on the St. Louis platform, he
invited to be present, to take part as dele
gates or otherwise as the conference might
decide.
Preparing for the Campaign of 1892.
The object of this conference is to arrange
plans and to perfect measures for aggressive
educational and political work, preparatory
for the national political campaign of 1892,
which campaign, in the opinion of those
interested In the conference, should result
in the election of President, Vice Presi-
dent and Congressman committed to the
interests OF the people of the United States,
and hostile to those corporations, syndicates
and monopolies, both home and foreign,
which are rapidly absorbing to themselves
the wealth of the nation and usuruing
control over the destinies of the American
people"
The committee further recommended that
the General Assembly, by the adoption of
the resolution, put itself upon record as de-
string that the National Reform Couven-
tion formulate an independent political
platform upon the principles and preamble
OF the knights OF Labor, so that the order
might give its endorsement and support at
the polls. Taking this as his authority for
doing SO, Mr.. Powderly issues the following
letter:
Master Workman Powderly's Letter.
To the Industrial Organizations of the United
States:
or, citing; Various suggestions have been
offered a, to tie st time OF holding this con-
ference and it W agreed that Washington's
Bril- day would be the most acceptable date
and Washingt IN City the best place to hold the
Conference. When the Farmers Alliance held
its convention at Ocala, Fla in December a
call for a conference to organize a third party
WAS circulated and signed by many of those who
attended. That call fixed upon Cincinnati as
the place to hold the session and February 23
1881, the date. At an informal conference of
the officers OF the Order of knights of Labor
and many of those who signed the call at Oca. a.
II was agreed TO postpone the Cincinnati con-
ference until after the Industrial Conferences
could meet ana agree upon its platform of
principles.
IN accordance with the action of the General
Assembly by which was Instructed TO ''cur-
respond with the Presidents or other chief
officers of other industrial and reform organ
izauons, place this matter before you with
request that you take action at once and notify
ME OF the result In view of the fact that
nearly all organizations have recently held
their annual conventions, 1t may be difficult
send delegates to another conference soon.
and would suggest that the executive officers
Or as many of them as can attend, make up
this conference.
Three Dates Upon Which to Vote.
Isuggest three dates on which to vote, and
whichever receives majority Will t1x the time
OF the assembling of this gathering: February
%, March 25, and July %, the date recommend.
ed b. committee of the General Assembly,
shall vote for February %, for the reason
that we will be enabled to meet and confer
with the newly-elected Congressmen who owe
rh"Ir elections to the laboIers of the field and
city.
Iuis call for action will be sent to the Presi
dent or Secretary of every industrial organiza-
ton whose address can obtain but those who
may be overlooked Will take action soon as it
Is brought TO their notice
This Is very important matter and should
receive careful attention. Every ORGANIZATION
should take action and be represented for it is
not intended 10 be Knight OF Labor gather.
ing or conference of those representing one
idea or section alone. All are invited and ali
should be represented. Vote on the date: and
when they in, the cali will 20 out with as
many names attached as vote upon it. ResnecI
fully and fraternally submitted
7. V. PowDERLY
General Master Workman knights OF Labor,