Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-11-24


and depression. and said that although
since its existence the membership OF
the order has ebbed and flowed, yet
to-day it was on the increase,
and all through the exciting time
incident to the presidential election the
order had steadily grown in member
ship and influence. At no time, how
ever. had the membership exceeded
500, 900 in good standing. Reviewing
the labor movement Mr.. Powderly said
there were too many labor organiza-
tioas struggling for supremacy. Call
ings, that up to a short time ago were
not known to the general public are
now known under the name of some
national or international association.
The tendency of the labor move
H1ent seemed to be to divide up
while that of the opposite force-capi-
taI-was to consolidate. and thereby to
gain strength to combat the forces of
industry, when, single-handed, they
were arrayed before them.
Mr. Powderly then discussed immi-
grafton. He said that six years ago he
had declared in favor of restriction of
Immigration, and although his views
were not received with favor by
the order. he had not changed
tfern. but ON the contrary had
made them more rigid. He
grants who are not self-supporting on
landing in this country. There should
DE a fixed term of years, ten would be
enough, during which no immigrants
should be allowed to land with a view
tn remaining, unless each could prove
that ne had sufficient means to sustain
aiEsself and those depending upon him
for one year. Unworthy motives might
BE attributed to him because of these
sentiments, but they were honest
w entertained, and no reflections
woaid, induce him to change his
ztsind. for he foresaw great danger, not
lt<sse to labor, but to the whole coun-
try, if the inning iat ton question was
not heroically handled in the near
future.
IT was not, the speaker said. because
be could not earn livelihood in his
Own land that the foreigner came here.
Ssat the institutions of greed are of
Older growth across the water and
have taken root There are as pro-
dactive industries in Europe as in this
land The men born there were Just
~ good as we are. They have
the same natural right to the soil
tl.cy were born on as we have to the
soil of America. 1t was their right and
tkeir duty to remain on that soil, re-
deem it from the twin evils of land
Io-dism and kIngcraft. and take the
traits of the earth for themselves
70 0f
frotn their own homes to a land where
they stand in doubt at every point at
which the stroke of hammer or pick
Is required. The rapacity of the en-
pioyers of labor, the greed of the own
e-s of STEAMSHIPS and the moral cow
arsiice of our public men had prevent
ed the enactment of legislation which
would have long since relieved the
strain.
Strikes and lockouts next claimed
Mr. Powderly's attention. He said that
during the last six months the people
<,s this land had witnessed such at
tcmpts of making the power of aggre-
gated wealth supreme as were never
a1reamt of before. Whether it was
at Gear d'Alene, at Homestead, at
Bnffaio. or in Tennessee, the
instinct which guided the rapacious
8 Rand was the same. The underground
wires which directed these attacks all
Tnn to the same center from all these
places. Centralized wealth drew the
Sire of scattered labor. and as natural
result labor lost in each battle. If the
Lessons are carefully taken to heart the
sacrifices may not be in vain. This part
of the address occupied nearly thirty
minutes, and many good points were
made.
He said that when, in the last ex-
tremity, laboring men are driven close
70 the wall and deprived of right and
privilege, it is done through the law.
If the law is obscure or defective a
hireiing judge can always be found to
construe in favor of the wealthy against
the poor.
The battle of the future must be
fought out on different lines from those
which have marked the shifting prog
rcss of the past These lines must di-
verge from and center at the ballot
box.
dn concluding his address Mr.. Pow
derby said that the order should make
an effort to get closer to the other in
afustrial associations and recommended
that hereafter the general assembly
shoaid meet at the same place and
time chosen by the Farmers alliance.
dc also favored the adoption of a So
.sial or beneficial feature of the order
He recommended a dissolution of the
alliance with the Miners Progressive
association on the ground that the lat
fer had not lived up to its pledges. and
that, rs a matter of fact, the knights
had suffered greatly by the alliance.
The salient feature of the message
were received with prolonged applause,
and the different suggestions made by
the general master workman were re-
ferred to special committee for appro-
pirate action.
THE sECRETARY'S REPORT.
The annual report of General Score
fary-Treasurer John w. Hayes shows
that ut the last general assembly there
was a balance on hand of "a, 26s, and
that the receipts from all sources during
Inc year had amounted to $54, $50. or a
zaotal of $50, 614.
The expenditures had reached total