New-York tribune., 1893-12-09
TIE KNIGHTS OF LIBOR.

There is something almost pathetic in the
mistakes which the associations representing
organized labor go on making year after year
! without ever learning the lessons Of repeated
failures or profiting by the teachings OF expert
cncc The fundamental mistake of all Is the
assumption that because the laboring men con-
sttutc a vast majority OF the community any
organization claiming to represent them can
count upon swinging the entire body as
social or political force out of this preposter-
ons dcluson there springs spirit Of boastful-
ness and arrogance, dictatoral manner and
uncompromiSing disposition which always have
been and always will be fatal to any reasonable
or lasting adjustment Of the relations between
employers and employed. To assume that any
such large aggregation of individuals rs con
stitutc the force of workingmcn in the country
will for any length Of time abdicate their per
sonal freedom Of thought and opinion and sub
init To be led by Il majority of Themselves or
| leaders selected by "A majority, is to fly in the
face of all observation and experience. Think
ing men are not so easily handled that anybody
can bunch them together under Il catchword.
name or banner and use them as social
or political force. The great parties are our
strongest political forces, but it is only by the
most skilfu management and discreet leader
ship that they can be held in cohesion; and the
successful leader seldom INDUCES in boasting
or threats. based upon the strength Of the or
ganization behind him. When it comes to that
they quickly find their mistake and step down.
Whoever has watched the movements Of what
is called organized labor In this country for
the last ten years must have observed that the
thnti i'm
point of numbers and results attaincd-thc
KNIGHTS Of I.abor-dcrivcd its strength and
owed lis successes 10 TIE clcar-sighied intclli-
gence. the broad.mindcdecss. the calmncSs and
moderation Of Terence V. Powlcrly, who until
very recently held the position of General
Master Workman and was its recognized lead
er That he made mistakes NJ times is only 10
say that he Is human and falliblc; but he had
the confidence Of the members of the organZa-
ton to a degree possessed by no other leader.
unless it be Mr.. Arthur, Of the Locomotive
Engineers. whose success Is attributable 10 pre-
cisely the same qualities rs marked the admin
s,ration Of Mr. Powdcrly. The feature of
Powdcry's career WAS not the cagcrncss 10 dis
cover grievances. the readiness 10 take forciblc
measures for redress. AMI the uncompromising
inslstcnce upon concession and surrender which
have given some labor leaders temporary pop
uiarty with the passionate and bcadstrong. He
owed his success 10 the cool judgment which he
brought 10 the consideration Of differences be
tween employers aud employed, his conciliatory
mcihods. HIS unwillingness TO resort 10 extreme
measures and his usually careful abstcntion
from threatening or boastful language.
His successor has just been elected, and his
.i,.,, tnlyin nffip
has been published. It is a painful exhibition
Of dcmagogism and utter incompetence to deal
lntclligcntly and broadly with one of the most
interesting social and political problems of the |
time II opens with a flaming declaration that |
4 great struggle Is being wagcd between two |
great forces organized monopolies, struggling |
10 make slaves out OF men, and organized labor, |
struggling 10 make men out of slaves. The in |
tcrcst is between the dollars Of Shylock and |
the bone and sincw Of the industrial masses; |
contest between organized land monopoly and |
the natural rights of Gods homeless poor-bc-
tween the federated trusts and oppressed hu-
manty" Then he goes on 10 talk in the same
wild way about meeting " the money power in
the middle Of the road with demand for the
free and unlimited coinage Of gold AMI silver
at Inc TIllD ol 10 10, anu SuCll pllltl
to the volume Of money rs the cxigcnccs OF
business require without the intervention of ,
banking corporations,' and issues this bonn
bastic proclamation:
We will bring the great avenues Of distribution
within easy reach OF the masses, elect all cgsla-
tive executive and judiciary officers OF the General
Government. and take away the veto power of the
President. Thus We Will give to the world in
dustrinl system mcnaced by no tramp at one end
and princey dude at the other.
This sort Of stuff needs no comment. The
man who uttcrs il is about as lit To be the
leader Of Il great labor organization as George
Francis Train Is TO be Pope OF Rome The
official existence of such n blathcrSktc ought
to be very brief if the organization over which
he flaps his large ears is to have any useful
ness in the future.