The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-01-10
UNITE LABOR'S HOSTS
r. v. POWDERLY AND w. r. HYNEs
SUPPORT THE SUGGESTION.

SUPPORT THE SUGGESTION.
The Past Master Workman Submits Some
Practical Propositions Buchanan Ham,
mers Away at His Hobby-Organixatio
and Industrial Crises.
During the recent session of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor several Chi
cago newspapers editorially charged
that the responsibility for suggesting a
solution for the problem of the unem-
ployed rested upon that organization.
They said that here was the opportunity
of organized labor to demonstrate its
right to be acknowledged as the mouth
piece of the wageworkers. Whether
these utterances were sincere or only in
tended as filings and slurs, they start a
train of thought along the line OF organi-
cation possibilities. find myself asking
myself, If labor was organized as it
should be, would it not be competent to
grapple successfully with such indus
trial paralysis and distress as confronts
Us at the present time? No matter in
what direction delve, invariably get
back to the same answer, Such a condi-
ton could not come about if labor waa
thoroughly organized and directed its
powers intelligently. Try answering the
query yourself and see if you do not
come to the conclusion that the workers
of the country have, through failure to
impress themselves for themselves upon
legislation. been wholly responsible for
the condition which exists.
believe this is a truth recognized by
every thinking laboring man today.
Then there is but one thing to do. Be-
gin at once and untiringly push to com
pletiOn movement Of the workers
which will undo the mistakes of the past
and build system for the future that
can afford full protection to every pro,
Queer. Simmered right down to clean
cut proposition, the cause of the present
misery of the masses is that the surplus
over daily needs, which should tide us
over rainy day, has been taken under
forms of law by comparative few, and
the many who have contributed to the
production of the great wealth of the
nation have received barely enough tc
keep them alive while at work. This is
not heresy of any particular ism; it is
truth as plain as a pikestah, and the
man who cannot see it is candidate for
admission to an asylum for the blind.
There are some who will not see. Well,
we must open their eyes.
Now, then, to the work in hand. What
can be done to start the ball rolling? The
air is full of the sentiment of organiza-
ton. Leading thinkers all over the
country are announcing themselves as
willing and ready to cooperate. Men
who have opposed each other in the past
are now ready to shake hands and
united upon a common platform, push
forward for labors triumph. These are
the men to tie to. With such spirit
and with good sense, nothing can defeat
the just aims of the cOuntry's workers.
Men are writing to me from all Sec
tions expressing the hope that some.
thing may be done to extend the organi.
cation and power of labor and Offering
to assist in the work to the full extent
of their ability. A short time ago in.
serted in my regular article Is letters Of
this kind. Since then l have received
others, two of which the writer's allow
me to make public.
One is from the man who for Is years
occupied the position Of chief of one OF
the grandest organizations men ever
made. T. V. Powderly, though not now
general master workman of the knights
of Labor, is an answering champion OF
labor's rights, and such, it is my belief,
he will be while he lives. Hear him
from the elevated position of rank and
file member of the order:
Jos. X. Buchanan:
There is as great a necessity for the existence
of the Knights of Labor as when the order
was founded in 1862 If such a movement will
not be successful under that name, then the
principles involved in the preamble of the or
der should be supported by some organization
to which men of all callings and members OF
all industrial organizations could give theiI
approval and effort.
The blow aimed at the Cigar Makers union
and through that body at all trades unions, al
the convention of 1886 in Richmond was mos
unjust, and its effects were more severely visit
ed on the order of the Knights Of Labor thar
on any other body. opposed that motion and
favor of it. Unwise counsel on both sides, con
fidence in existing strength and numbers a.
we'll as ignorance of the real condition and i'm
mediate demands of labor were the causes
which led to the passage of that resolution
When the question came before me as genera
master workman for ruling, after the gen
eral assembly adjourned, decided that sim
pie resolution of the convention could not sci
aside the constitution, and since that instru
ment gave to all workingmen the right tt
membership the fact of their connection will
union must not be set up bar to affilia
ton with and membership in the order.
Well, that is past and gone. The evil wa.
done, but out Of it good will come, for we nov
see what was not clear to us then. The fact o
the matter is, the Knights of Labor should new
er have permitted the isolation of members il
trade assemblies or trade districts. The organ
ization of the national trade assembly was
mistake, and if the best interests of labor ar,
considered the steps which led to these out
growths will be carefully retraced until eacl
trade will have its own organization, through
which it may regulate matters of detail relat
ing to wages, hours, workshop rules and othe
questions in which other workmen would no
be directly interested. In each city or tow
where the trade union exists its member
should be associated with other workmen il
the mixed assembly of the Knights of Labor. Il
towns where no trade union could find enough
members to form an organization, all trade