Evening journal., 1892-05-06
POWDERLY'S PHILIPPIC.
The Famous Knight Assails the
Reading Deal.
TO INFLUENCE PREss AND PULPIT

TO INFLUENCE PREEs AND PULPIT.
Tho Master Workman Alleges that Ennis
snrics Of the Combined Roads Are MAX
ing Extraordinary Efforts TO Win over
Public Opinion IN Pennsylvania
ARCHIBALD, Pa, May G.-Geneal Master
Workman Powderly addressed mass meet
ing OF Knights Of Labor here, during which
be referred 70 the Reading combine in the
following language; IL bad hoped that this
great state would continue to maintain
among her sisters the proud position she
occupied in the early days of the republic
But there is not now ia the Union another
state 10 grimly held within the grasp OF
corporate power; there is no other state in
this Union where the rights Of the people
have been so wantonly ignored ~ they have
here The best and purest citizens Of this
state are her working people, and these are
menaced by one Of the most colossal of COM
binations-the Reading coal combination.
New Jersey, threatened by it, indorses it
through her subsidized representatives, but
whatever sense OF honor OF justice her leg
stature lacked was atoned for by the con-
duct OF her governor Pennsyvnnin lacks
tho virtue Of her executive officers which
would prevent her disgrace. In speaking
thus I do not refer 20 the governor as
Democrat but as the executive Of every
class OF people In this commonwealth, IA an
officer sworn 10 maintain aud protect her
interests
"Anarchists la Palace Cara"
Mr. powderly then went on to tell of the
means by which Corbin and Mcleod had
procured control OF the Reading company's
stock and had agreed to guarantee Co the
Lehigh Valley and Jersey Central roads a
dividend OF 10 per cent. "This 10 per oent
viii be paid ia either one or all of these
ways; First, by increasing the cost Of coal
10 the consumer, thereby affecting primar-
lily the artisans aud laborers of the land;
second, by reducing the force of workmen
about the mines, mills and railroads. ,,s has
already been done at several points and
third, by reducing the wages Of the labor
ers 1 may safely say, he continued. that
the salaries of the railroad officials viii not
4, be reduced TO pay this dividend.
several days ago We read In the news
papers OF the execution of anarchists In
Europe for the deaths OF a few pemons,
caused through "a misguided effort 20 re-
dress wrongs Here tho real anarchists,
who flourish on the labor and life blood OF
thousands of workingmen and women. 70
about the state IN palace CARS One species
Of anarchist goes to glory by way of a rope,
the other enjoys his glory here and is pro-
tected ia the enjoyment Of Il by a state
which bellies her motto, Virtue, liberty
and independence
state Oniciais Arrsienod.
After quoting sections Of the constitution
relative to the illegality Of the combination
Mr. Powderiy severely arraigned the state
officials for their alleged dilatory conduct in
dealing with it, He also spoke Of the AL
legged unjust system Of docking, the OUT
rageous demands OF coal companies Ia the
matter Of tonnage and the unfair discrimi-
nation against coal which prevailed among
the hecarryng companies. Mr. Powderly then
made the startling statement that for some
time past an emissary OF the Reading COM
bination had been at work in this valley for
the purpose OF advancing the interests Of tho
combination. 81 have been reliably in
formed, be went on 10 say, "that this man
has seen every minister and priest OF every
denomination in this section. To some he
has offered passes and money Church debts
he has agreed 20 assume, and in at least two
instances he has approached Catholic priests
and offered to pay for the erection Of paro-
chial schools.
After Press and Puipit.
San this he has agreed to do provided the
combination be indorsed and approved from
the pulpits and altars Of this valley One
clergyman whom this emissary approached
Indignantly and justly refused his base offer
20 pay the cost of proposed parochial
school, saying as he did that he would
rather lay aside his clerical robes and take
, up q shotgun TO fight the combine than con-
sent 20 such a despicahle method of acquir-
ing property This same emissary has seen
every newspaper in this valley with one ex-
ception These papers he has endeavored
to suhsidize by offers Of money and passes,
and am informed that In some cases be
has succeeded. When a combination re-
sorts 70 such desperate methods TO win
public appreciation, when 10 attempts to
throttle the press and the pulpit, it becomes
the duty of every citizen 10 arise and unite
for the preservation Of his interests and do
his utmost to curb the power of the mon
ster."