The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-17
POWDERLY TO HIS ORDER
THE GENERAL MASTER WORK
MANS ANNUAL ADDRESS.

semblies Advoceted-Rsstri OF
immigration Recommended - The
Salvation of Toners Must Be OBJ
tanned Through the Ballot Box-Dis-
REIMBURSEMENT Of Illiterate Voters.
ST. LOUIS, Nov. 16.-The general assem-
bly, Of the knights Of Labor reconvened In
secret session this forenoon with General
Master Workman Powderly in the chair.
After an hour in finishing the preliminary
work Mr.. Powderly delivered his annual
address, He said in part:
1t is the opinion OF your general master work
man that all the local asse n blies should be made
up OF mixed membership. Each local assem-
bly, should admit men and women of all trades
and occupations, so that when a question of
vital Importance to any one calling is to he dis
cuSsed all the others may become familiar with
1t, and when prvats matters relating to a par
ticu!ar occupation are discussed those not
directly interested may retire. There is no
calling which does not bear, either
directly or indirectly, all others
ana many Of the failures OF the past can be
traced directly to the door that was closed in
the face of men who were excluded from par
ticpation In discussions in which their interests
were involved. There was great waste of vital
force and means in the labor movement. There
are too many labor organizations struggling for
supremacy. The tendency OF the labor move
ment seems TO be divided up, while that of the
opposing rce-capitsl-is to consolidate, and
thereby gain strength TO combat the forces of
industry when single. handed they are arrayed
before them. Every prominent member OF
labor organizations, who, for some reason or
other, has taken offense at something done,
entertains the idea that his plan
is the best and sets about organizing a new
society The only result is division of strength,
cutting Of communication, isolation and 1nal
death.
BALLOT REFORM.
The members of this order are to be congratu-
lated on the gratifying result Of the agitation
for ballot reform inaugurated by the general
assembly few years ago. There are now thirty
states in which the secret ballot law is in force
In some states the laws are not up to our stand
ard, but these laws may be amended. There
must be no backward steps taken. IL is the
opinion of your general master workman that
We should 20 still further in advocating
the passage of election laws which win
render it impossible for any citizen to vote I'M
less he can read his ballot. An illiterate voter
is certainly at the mercy Of some other person
when casting his ballot, and il it is proper for
me to call in another to prepare your ballot, it
is just as equitable for me to send that other
person in to vote in my stead.
am well aware that objections will be raised
against aga dePFiVng sab man vo Who cannot
must not be forgotten that we continue to deny
TO women the right to vote.
Once citizen learns TO read his ballot he will
study the principles of the parties. No matter
how intelligently an illterate person may dis
pose OF his ballot he does It on the strength Of
what he is told and not on what he knows
recommend that the general assembly take
action on this matter.
MIR. Powderly next strongly opposed any
property qualification on voters He also
advocated giving the people the right to
initiate laws and also favored referendum.
RESTRICTION OF IMMIGRATION.
He continued as follows:
Some six years ago your general master
workman declared that he was In favor OF re
striction Of immigration. The views then
pressed were NOT received with favor by the
order, but his sentiments have not chanaed
since then unless it be in the direction Of more
rigid exclusion Of immigrants than lie then
favored We may adopt short hour laws in
every state as well as the nation; we may fix
wage scales throughout the land; We
may enact protective tariffs until
articles OF foreign manufacture are prohibited
but while the tide Of immigration foods on in
an interrupted stream there will be no depend
ence upon short hour laws, no reliance on wage
scales and there will be no protection to Ameri-
can labor that will really keep the status of
American workmen higher than that Of his
brother who lives under misrule.
Eonr general master workman has no hesita-
tion in saying that he favorS the total excu sion
OF ell immigrants who are not self-supportinR
on landing in this country. He would fix the
term of years-ten would be long enough-dur-
ing which time no immigrant should be per-
mitted to land with q view TO remaining unless
he could prove that he had Sufficient means to
sustain him for one year.
THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.
The campaign witnessed a very interesting
discussion of the tariff, but there is more OF
revenus Illegally drawn from the pockets Of the
manufacturers and workmen in one month by
the railroads and telegraph than we pay in tar
if Tor a year. These and all other questions
NffafeW ham
of the Industrial organizations Ia the future,
and the strike Of the future must be a
strike for rule of the people. We can de-
cry politics, but we must be politicians
Pennsylvania understood his rights; if he per
formed his duty under the law no Judge would
dare to charge treason against workmen who
struggled for recognition. The battle of the
future must be fought on different lines from
those which marked the past. These lines must
diverge from ana center at the ballot-box. Not
as slaves to party bent on obeying the will Of
a master. but as free men who value freedom
and will maintain it.
MIR. Powderly advocated afllliation with
the farmers alliances and other similar Or
ganizations, recommended the organization
of social insurance and beneficial features,
and in conclusion said he knew of nothing
hs had done during the year that he would
not do over again under the same circum-
stances
The report of the general executive board
and General Secretary and Treasurer Hayes
were then read.
The afternoon session of the knights was
devoted to the report of the committee on
laws. A proposition to insert a clause in
the platform providing for use of the refer
endum scheme was, after much discussion,
adopted. Another proposition was adopted
providing for the establishment of an en-
ployment bureau by the order.
A suggestion that there be stricken out of
the platform the plank providing for
graduated income tax evoked considerable
discussion, and instead OF the suggestion be-
ing adopted, the plank was made all the
stronger by the adoption of'an amendment
providing also for tax on in heritance.
THE INSURANCE FEATURE A FAILURE.
The report of General Secretary and
Treasurer Hayes says that owing to lack of
support by the members the beneficial in
suranoe feature of the orders work has
not been very successful. He urged
the delegates to adopt measures
to increase interest in this part Of the
work.
The report shows that the membership
OF the order has increased slightly during
the past year. and is now over 26O, 900.
Except slight balances due some of the
general officers in salary the general or
der is entirely out of debt. All its prop
erty, including the general headquarters,
=