Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-12-03
KNIGHTS or LasoR STATUS.

nuulueF spHlCbHluS AlAt II WV bhu v
members, and it was without doubt q
the most powerful industrial organiza :
ton then existing, or which had ever "
appeared in the United States up o.
this time. Its proceedings were !
matters Of capital Importance in the /,
industrial world, Now things have !
changed The order numbers among 4
its members but about fourth Of 7
what it did hnlf-dozen years age. !
aud il il but one among several indus '
trial organizations. At its annual
convention, held in ST. Louis recently, F,
\ General Secretary and Treasurer
Hayes reported a membership in good
standing Of about 100000 This is
spoken Of ms slight increase as com
pared with last year, yet il our memory
serves US right at Toledo last year the
report Of the general executive board
congratulated the order on member
ship Of 100000. II seems clear at
any rate that the caution then given
by the board against the reckless ad.
mission Of members, il found at all
necessary, has been taken to heart.
The financial condition Of the order
s appears 10 be satisfactory, With the
I. exception OF some slight balances due
l. some OF tho general officers on account
II OF salary the general order is entirely
"a out Of debt, and all it's property Is fully
- pnid for. and foots up total Of $780,
600. IL seems, however, that owing
TO lack OF support by the members the
" benefit insurance feature OF the orders
NJ work has not been success.
III The annual address Of General
,u- Master Workman PowJerly contained
err some points Of interest Natural,
mt enough hs contonded that there werI
We too many labor organizations strug
ed Cling Tor supremacy. The tendenc.
inc Of the labor movement" lac said
&c "seems to divide up, while that Of tn
opposing force-capitol-ls 10 consol
date and thereby gain the strength I
combat the forces Of industry when
W. single handed, they are urrayed btfof
ief, them" He said that there existed n
8 IL reason why every branch of trad
should not be enrolled under Il
shield OF the order, or why every il
res terest could not be- more CAREFUL
ler- guarded by avoiding separate an
vice isolated camps. He congratulated Il
Iout members Of the order on the result {
was agitation for ballot reform, which, l
the declared, was inaugrated by the ord'
sol few years ago, and said that viii
.a,, in some states the new laws were N
a.. up 10 the standard demanded the
might be amended. lie further d
clared that in his opinion the ord
.sep should go still luther in adyoeatir
my the passage of election laws viii.
tied would make il impo.sible for n,
/, by citizen To vote until he can read /
to ballot recommending that the &c
hich eral assembly take action upon I'll
,ded matter. Mr.. Powderly said "
Mr. have no guarantee under any OF Il
on ballot laws that the nneducated ynt
II; may not dispose of his vote in such
z.: manner as 10 work injury TO the co
munity." "Once the citizen learns
~ read his ballot he will take more
iee't terest in IL and will he anxious 10 stu
yet the principles of the parties.
nave matter how intelligently the illiteri
flee persons may dispose OF his ballot
gress does 1t on the strength Of what he
old Told and no. IN what lie knows.
,ria- illiteraey gives him the privilege
and voting apparently, but in reality
.,.;o gives some other man tie privilege
voting twice"
Another point of interest iii
n the address Of the General Master Wo
os.n man was that in which he dwelt
only the subject Of immigration, He sui
eond Some six years ago your Gene
,thar Master Workman declared that
st., was in favor 81 the restriction ot
migration. The view tim express
ife were not received with favor by
'olilt- order, hut his sentiments have
pres. changed since then. unless 1t be-
10. the direction Of n more rigid exeinsi
II immigrants than he then favor
s"'a We may adopt short hour laws
and : every state as well NJ the nation;
rated may fix wages scales through
{ his Land. We may enaet protective tar
:. :, until The articles 81 fereien maniis,
nre arr prohibited. but while the 4
but of immigration floods ON IN an nm
terrupied stream there will be no
pendence upon short hanr laws,
the reliance OIL wage scales. aud there {
this he no protection TO Amsriea III
;. :. that will really keep the status Of
F" :" American workman higher than Il
nees If his brother who lives under III
that rule. Your General Master Wufkm
have has no hesitation in saying that
~ iasufs the total exclusion 81 all inn
grants who ARE not seli.supporting
s''s' landing In this country. lie VII
rriSe liS "A term Of years--ten would be Il
the enough-during which time M inn
pranf Nho.4ld h.s nsrmIffpI III In