The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-17
He Does Not Believe Any Person Should Be
Allowed to Vote at Elections Who Can
not, Unaided, Read His Ballot
Restricted Immigration Favored in the
Interests of Home Workingmen.
He Would Permit No Foreigner to Settle in
America Who Has Not Money to Support
Himself for Year-Strikes and Lockouts.

secret session this forenoon, with General
Master Workman Powderly in tho chair.
After consuming about an hour in prelim-
mary work, Mr.. PowderIy delivered his
annual address. which was, In substance.
as follows:
1t is the opinion Of our general master work
man that all local assemblies should be made up
of mixed membership. Each local assembly
should admit men and women of all trades and
occupations, and when question OF vital I'M
portance TO any calling is to be discussed. all
others may become familiar with ii, and when
private matters relating to that particular occu-
patton are to De discussed those not directly In
terested may retire. There Is no question which
bears on any trade or calling which does not
and many of the failures of the past can be-
traced directly TO the door that closed in tho
faces of men who were excluded from participa-
ton in discussions in which their interests were
AS review the past history of the labor move
ment am inclined to tho belief that there has
been great waste OF vital force and means.
AS we look around us we see U hundred and one
new associations having I'm view the granting OF
benefits for accident or sickness. or insurance in
case OF death. While IL 10 true that many OF
these are swindling concerns. pure and simple,
1t is none the less true that they draw not alone
from the knights OF Labor. but from all the
labor organizations. 1t is fact that there are
too many labor organizations struggling for
supremacy. The tendency OF the labor move
ment seems TO divide up, while that of the OPP
posing force. capital, is to consolidate and there
by gain the strength to combat the forces OF
industry. when. single-handed, they are placed
labor organization, who for some reason or
other has taken offense at something done, or
who entertains an idea that his plan is
just, sets about organizing new society
Of labor. The only result Is division
or strength, cutting on OF communica-
ton, isolation and final death. That this Is true
no one can deny who has eyes to see and ears to
hear 1t Is not by remaining silent on these
thing: that we can remove the evil. Something
must be done to remedy this error. Thatit is an
error both of Judgment and policy am morally
certain. There exists no reason why every
branch of toll should not be enrolled under the
shield of this organization. There Is no reason
why every interest cannot be more carefully
guarded In this order than in separate and
isolated camps where we too often lind them
concentrated forces by which all OF US are OPP
posed The one crying need OF the hour is or
for; in which ali may meet on common ground;
In which unity OF thought may he effected; In
which a thorough knowledge of what important
steps each division of labor intends taking may
be impaired to all others. No one man nor mans
interest should stand in the way of this reform.
The members OF this organization are to be
congratulated on the gratifying result or the
agitation for ballot reform, inaugurated by the
General Assembly a few short years ago. When
the question was first presented to the General
Assembly no State In the United States held cleo
tions under laws which would secure the voter
In the right to cast his ballot without tntinlida-
ton, scrutiny. or without subjecring himself TO
the espionage OF those who might have 1t In
their power to injure him for voting contrary to
their wishes. Now there are some thirty States
III which the secret-ballot law IS In force. In
standard established by this order, but these laws
may be amended; none OF them should be re-
pealed.
ILLITERATEs SHOULD NOT VOTE.
There must be no backward steps taken on
this great question. 1t is the opinion of your
general master workman that we should 60 still
further in advocating the passage of election
laws which will render it impossible for any
person to vote unless he can read his ballot. We
have no guarantee under any of the ballotre-
form laws that the uneducated voter may not
dispose OF his vote in such q manner TO work
injury to the community. The illiterate voter is
at the mercy OF some other person when casting
his ballot, and il it Is proper for me to call in
other TO prepare for me my ballot. ii is just as
vote in my stead. Under the law which was pre-
pared by the general executive board, some
years ago, the right of the illiterate citizen was
guarded, but the feature or our law was not
adopted by any of the State legislatures. am
well aware that objections will be raised against
depriylng the man who cannot read or the right
to vote, but IL must not be forgotten that We
continue TO deny to women who can read the
right 10 voice In public affairs, and We do 1t
without Offering any apology for the continu-
DONE it would be well to fix on a day in the
future-say five years from the date OF passage
Of the law-after which no person shouid be al
lowed to vote unless qualified 10 do SO by being
able to read his ballot There are those who
would establish a property qualification for the
citizen but We should oppose such an innova-
ton with all the strength We possess. This Ma
ton must depend for its life on tho intelligence
OF Its citizens, and 1t is very essential that an
educational qualification take the place or the
system now practiced Once the citizen learns
to read his ballot he will take in terest in it,
and will be anxious TO study the principles OF
the parties which appeal to him for support. No
matter how intelligently the illterate citizen
may dispose OF his ballot, he does il on the
strength OF what he Is told, and not on what ne
knows. His illiteracy gives some other man the
privilege of voting twice. 1 recommend that
the General Assembly take action on this matter.
Under the operations OF the secret voting law
we can more readily get the sense of the masses
on the subject of submitting all laws to the peo-
pie for agitation and discussion before adoption.
The last session OF the Congress of the United
States witnessed the Introduction, / am in
formed, OF thousands of bills and resolutions.
each one bearing on the welfare of the people.
by each session OF Congress-. and a like number
by each State Legislature a number OF others by
municipal governments. and number OF judi
cial decisions piled on top OF these, IL becomes a
physical impOssibility for the average citizen,
whether worker or not. 10 acquaint himself with
the tenor or import OF these laws. None of the
Congressman who sat in the last Congress can
repeat the enacting clauses even OF one OF the
laws on which he voted. majority OF that
body was composed of lawyers. Each one will
unhesitatingly take a case against poor man,
who has to work from eight TO sixteen hours a
day: He will tell that poor man that Ignorance
OF law is no excuse" while he cannot tell
the names of all the laws he himself
voted for. The right to initiate laws is inherent
I'm the people, the right TO discuss on all laws is
natural right Our brothers of Switzerland have
made more progress toward All ideal democracy
than we have in the United States, nOtwithstand-
ing our boosted civilization and Advancement
ALI along the line an agitation and education
should begin on this great issue. IL goes home
TO the heart of the people: 1t touches them in
their pockets and in their hearts; IL relates to
their financial ana social interests. ask that q
committee on initiative aud referendum be ap-
pointed here, for the purpose of presenting a
be carried on during the coming year. As a step
in that direction it was deemed TO be wise TO ask
thu order 10 vote for those whom they would pre-
fer for high officers. The initiative step was not
encouraging, for the reason that not enough
thought was given the subject By our general
assemblies. Many thought a vote of confidence
or some snch thing was desired. but the great
idea itself was overlooked This General As
sembly should take decisive action on that Ques-
ton.
FAvoRs RESTRICTED IMMIGRATION.
The system now growing prevalent OF q
secret ballot In elections was warmly ex-
tolled by Mr.. Powderly, and its improve
ment advocated. Much space was devoted
to the question of immigration. On this
topic he said in part:
Some six years ago your general master work
man declared that he In favor OF the re-
stricton OF immigration. The views then ex-
pressed We're not received with favor by tho
order, bur, Notwithstanding that fact, bis senti-
ments have not changed since then. unless IL be
migrants than he then favored. We may adopt
short-day laws in every state as we'll as the