The morning call., 1892-11-17
Condition Of Workingmen Reviewed by
General Master POWderIy.
AGITATION FOR BALLOT REFORM.
aOre Perfect Organization and Unity Of Action
Proposed for The Betierment Of the
LsbOFiHg Glasses.
Special to THE MORNING CALL.

ST. LOUIS, New. l6-At t0-day's session
of the Knights Of Labor General Master
Workman Powderly delivered the annual
address. Among matters dealt with was
the re commendation that all of the local
assemblies should be made I'D OF a mixed
membership, including men and women OF
all trades and occupations. Many failures
of attempts at betterment of conditions in
the past had resulted from the fact that
memters in other trades were not &C
Quanted with the conditions of the pariicu-
lar trades seeking beiterment, hence were
not in a position to sympathize aud help In
the struggle.
Powderly declared there were too many
labor organizations struggling for suprem-
acy. The tendency Of the bUr movement
seems to be to divide up, while that of the
opposing force, capital. was 10 consolidate
aud thereby gam strength in the fight
against industry. The result was labor was
beaten in detachments. Something must
be done 10 remedy this. There TX Sted no
reason why every branch of toll should not
be enrolled under the shield OF the Knights
of Labor.
The speaker congratulated the OrganiZa-
tiOn on the gratifying result of he agitation
for ballot reform inauguraied by the gen.
eral assembly only few years ago.
immigration, saying in part: ''Your gen.
neTal master workman has no hesitation in
saying that he favorS the total exclusion of
all immigrants not self-sustaiBed on landing
in THIS country. he would fix term Of
years-ten would be enough during which
time 40 immigrant should be permitted 10
land with the view OF remaining unless he
could prove he had sufficient means to sus-
tain himself and those depending on him
for one year" He declared he saw great
a Ion III - krN,
country If the immigration question was not
carefully and berOlcally handled IL the near
future. 1t was not a question whether
there is room enough IN this country for
all the world, but whether the influx would
cause US 10 lose all the benefits we now en-
joy.
POwderly then reviewed the question of
strikes and lockouts during the past six
months, I'm which aggregated capital had
made such attempts 10 carry supreme
power was were never dreamed of be- ore.
In these strikes centralized wealth drew the
scattering FIRE OF divided labor, aud as a
natural result labor lost the battle. The
tariff question has been widely discussed in
the late campaign, but there IS more rev.
euue illp gally drawn FROM the pockets of
merchants, manufacturers and wOrkmen in
one month Of tie year by the railroads aud
the telegraph than We pay iD tariffs for
twelve months.
The industrial organizations must con-
slider these things, and the strike of the fu-
lure must be a strike tor tie rule Of the
people. They might decry politics. but
they must be politicians or slaves Of tie
politicians. They must 90 to the fountain
head and make the laws. IL every citizen
OF Pennsylvania knew his rights and per-
formed his duty iutelligently under the law
no Judge would dare 10 charge treason
against workmen struggling for recognition.
The battle OF the future must be fought at
the ballot
The speaker advocated afiliation with
Farmers Alliances and other similar or
ganizatiOns.
The report of General Secretary and
Treasurer Hayes says the insurance feature
OF the order Is not very successful, owing
TO the lack of support by the members. lie
urges work 10 remedy this. The financial
statement SHOWS, including a balance from
last wear: Receipts, S60,6l4; expenditures,
S69.749. The membership shows a slight
Increase during the year. There are now
over 26O,000 members in good standing The
order is practically free Of debt and owns
property worth 100000.
The report of the general executive conf
mittee, among other things, reviews the
trouble with the clothing Manufacturers
combine at Rochester y. Y, and says the
boycott has been steadily and effectively
prosecuted, and millions of dollars worth
OF trade has been diverted from them.
At the afternoon session a clause was
adopted providing for the establish SHINE mt of
an employment bureau by the order The
snggestlOn to strike out OF the platform the
plank . ovding for graduated income tax
was rejected, and the plank was made
stronger 10y an amendment providing also
Tor a tax on heritances.
Mrs. ingalls,, representing the National
w. Z. /. L., made fraternal address, and
letter was presented by Thomas T. Wright
Nicaragua Canal convention at New Or
leans.