Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-12-06
TnE PASSING on rOWDENLN

These who have been particularly
Interested In the proceeding OF the
recent general assembiyor lhr Kul9hu
Of Labor, and tho,o who have that
degree Of patience that Ouaulcs them
TO read everything tho newspaper
have 10 say viii have noticed, and
doubtless commented upon, the Co.,.
moyal Of Mr. Terence v. Powdrrly as
head Of the great labor organization
mentioned, anu tho very small excite.
mrnt this seemingly important change
hes caused. There have been times
when Powdetly's personality wbe Of
much more importance to The order
than was the strength Of tho order
ilself; when not only oorpum-
ntions and communities, but also
states and nation even, hung
upon his individual dictates aud prom
isos with all the bfcathlossuoss and In.
tercst that the influence Of 0ue man,
who stands at the head Of nearly n
million men, all voter, aud who b.
popularity supposed 70 control them By
tho slightest crook Of his ginger could
IN emergencies excite. lie WAS court.
ed, yet feared; aud u ho seemed some.
times Oilenslyuly conscious Of his I'm.
prcgnaUilily, Il 10 but due 20 say that
he repealed any attempt ut nstiory AMI
resisted every assault uIon his personal
integrity. We are not aware that hu
was ever charged with accepting q
bride, or that any Of his followers had
cause to l3se faith In his honor there
was no apparent diminution Ia his In.
fueuoe with his followers, nor any im-
paifnont Of the faculties anu abilities
Of the possession of which, under the
tovorett strain aud at tho most trying
crises, he had given such signal proof.
We must look elsewhere, therefore,
Tor the cause Of his downfall, Tor such
Il must now be doomed; but we do not
have TO look very lar. Politics anu po-
litlcal ambition have been his ruin,
and the former has given tlo knights
Of Labor organization blow from
which It will not readily recover.
p0wdofly committed the monstrous
error Of endeavoring to foist himself
and his order into the political arena,
and 10 secure a controlling place aud
influence In political Affairs. lilo
thought ho saw great opportunities IA
this line, anu the phantasm warped
his viaion. Formerly moderate, wise,
clear In mind and sincere Of purpose,
no guided the grea, organization
through many maze anu problem
that would have bflllei less force al
and intelligent leader. Hut when the
false light above mentioned broke
In on him, Le began 10 consider
labor problems and their solution more
from the standpoint Of political ez.
podioncy ani popular passion than
from his old ground Of justice aud
right. Party nostrums and cure,
from one side and the other, were too
readily considered and tried by him;
anj In exactly the same degree that hc
began to traffic gud trim and feel his
way forward ns a politician, no sacrI.
feed his own Influence and eslrangel
sympathy and support from the organ.
iEatiOn no directed. The knights VI
Labor have declined materially iu
weight AMI Importance during the last
two or three years, ana the Cause IL ss
We have stated 10. His ambition 90.
quired him 10 disregard tho aogoIutss
OF his trust, and ne not only permitted
but actually stimulated "a fOrgUiiuInoss
Of the fact that the Knights cousti-
tuted labor organization, not party
TO make terms with Ur dominate any
political faction. The lesson H. enc
that may VOL DO needed 10y leaders Of
men IN any other organized capacity,
and by the rank aud hlc who follow
those leaders. The attempt 20 deliver
votes In blocks NJ i've or any other
Wholesale quantity, by reason OF o. sun-
posed control Of men IN the industrial,
commercial, social or religious world,
invariably and properly results lis.
Astruusly TO the bosses who mako 80,
the voters who yield 10 g., auI the pos.
" that expects 90 receive aud pr DO