Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-11-17
TERRY ANDTHE BOX
Grand Master Powderly De-
iivers an Address
RECOURSE TO The BALLOT
He Says the Strike Of the Future Must
Be for the Rule of the People.
Reports of offcers.

ST. LOUIS, Nov. l6-General Master
Workman Powderly, In has annual ad-
dress al the opening session of tie SIX
teenth general assembly of the Knights
OF Labor today, RAID the order had
made remarkable increase IN men,
oers and influence during the past
year. Speaking of the labor move
ment. he said II had tendency to d.
vide up, while that of the opposing
force-capital-was 10 consolidate.
Every prominent member of labor
organization who had taken oflense at
something done sci about organizing
new society OF labor. The only result
was division of strengbtil, isolation
and fnal death. The crying need of
the hour was an organization IA which
every interest might be cared Tor.
Mould RestricI Immi grstaoa
After speaking at length on the
question OF ballot reform MIR. powderly
proceeded TO dwell IA detail on the
matter of immigration. SIX years ago
he had declared ia favor OF the re-
strietlon OF Immigration, and although
hls views were not received, be had not
changed them. lie believed IN the to-
tai exclusion OF ali immigrants who
are not self-suppOrting on landing ia
this country. There should De a fixed
term OF years, ten would be enough,
during which no immigrant would bs
permitted 10 land ualess he could
prove that he had sufficient means 10
sustain himself and taCse depending
upon him Tor one year. lie foTesaw
great danger, not alone 20 labor,
but TO the whole country, Il the
immigration question was not he-
rolcaliy handled n the neSr future.
Lesson. of the strike.
Strikes and lock-outs next claimed
Mr.. Powderly's attention. During tho
last Elk months the people of this land
had witnessed such attempts AT making
the power OF aggregated wealth su-
prenie as We're never dreamed OF be-
fore. Whether II was at C0ur d
Alene. at Homestead, at Buffalo or IA
Tennessee, the instinct which guided
the repacious hand was the same. The
underground wires which directed
these attacks ali ran 10 the same cen
ter from all these places. Centralized
wealth drew the scattering fire OF O.
vIded labor, and, as q natural result,
labor lost in each battle. IL the lee
sons are carefully taken 10 heart, the
sacrifice may not be IN vain.
The railroads are public highways,
they belong TO the whole people. aud
the whole people should own them.
The campaign which has Just closed
witnessed an interesting II not intelli-
gent discussion of the tariff. but there
is more of revenue illegally drawn
from the pockets of merchants, manu-
facturers and workmen IN one month
of the year by the railroads and tele-
graphs than we pay IN tariffs in year.
strike OF the Future.
The strike Of the future must be q
strike for the rule of the people. They
could decry politics as they ples sed,
but they must be politicians or be
slaves of politicians. They might shi.k
their responsibilities ss citizens, but
they are piling high the wrath which
i follows neglect of duty. In
word, they must be law makers or
law breakers. The battle of the future
must be fought out on different lines
from those which have marked the
shifting progress of the pact. These
lines must diverge from and center at
the ba lot box.
In concluding bis address Mr.. Pow
I =
an effort to get closer to the other in
dustrlal associations and recommended
that hereafter the general assembly
should meet at the same place and
time chosen by the Farmers Alliance.
| lie also favored the adoption of a
social or beneficial feature of the order.
Charges Against "a Rochester Court
The report OF Secretary Treasurer
I n
during the yesr were S59. .794, leaving a
total on hand of sS35. lie admitted
tnat the benefit insurance ASSOCIATION
| of the order was partially q failure.
The executive board IA its report saw
the boycott of the Rochester clothing
company has taken millions OF dollars
worth of trade from IL. The board
makes grave charges against the court
and jury which convicted Master Work
man Hughes OF conspiracy IN Roches-
ter, and Iutlmates that the jury was
| bribed by the clothing combine. The
result OF this case. 4 says. indicates the
extreme danger TO orgsnized labor
from corrupted congresses. legislatures
and court. 81 law.
The board, referring 20 y desire Of
| workmen TO secure bones. suggests
that the order establish a homestead
organization.
At the afternoon session OF the
knights the report OF the committee
on law was submitted and considered.
aud there was an animated debate over
the adoption Of the subnisslon OF lava
TO the people for approval. The propo-
sition was adopted so inserf The
referendum IN the platform, winch IL
the constitution of the order. A
clause was also adopted advocstspg the
establishment Of labor employment
bureaus in each state.