Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1894-07-27
WHAT SOVEREIGN SAYS.
Text of the Manifesto to tho Natiol
Knights of Labor.

Text or the Mantfeeto TO tho National
Knights of Labor.
The following is the text OF Master
Workman Sovereign's address to the
Knights of Labor:
"a crisis has been reached in the affairs
Of this nation that endangers the peace of
the republic. Every fiber in our civil
structure is strained to the breaking
point. The shadow of factional hatred
hovers over our fair land with terrible
forebodings. The arrogant lash of supe-
riority is being applied by the corpora
tons with relentless fury, and the chasm
between the classes and the masses is
growing deeper and wider with each
succeeding day. II peace is restored
and this nation saved from acts repulsive
to the consciences of Christian people,
there must be wise action, and that
quickly.
Sincerely believing that the flames of
discord are being purposely famed by the
railway corporation, TO the rick OF the
life Of the government, take the liberty
to appeal to you and through you to the
conscience OF the whole people inporing
you to lay down the implements of toll
for short season, and under the banner
OF peace aud patriotic desire to promote
the public welfare, use tho power of your
aggregated numbers through peaceable
assemblages to create healthy public
sentiment in favor of amicable settle
ment Of the issues growing out Of the re.
cent strike of the Pullman palace car
employees; andy you are further requested
not to return to your usual vacations I'M
til settlement of the pending troubles
is made known to you through some au-
thentic source.
"In the present strained relations be-
tween corporations and their employees
is involved principle near and dear tc
all true American citizens-the right Of
labor to present its grievances to owners
and representatives of corporations and
capital. The Pullman Palace Car Com.
pany refuses TO arbitrate the differences
between itself and it's employees on the
ground that cars were built below cosi
and, therefore, there is nothing to rbi
trate. But the conclusion of every IN
pfejudiced mind must be that II such
were the facts, it could have nothing &c
fear at the hands Of an arbitration com.
mittee. But the Pullman Company goes
further in its autocratic policy than re-
fusal to arbitrate. 1t has refused to joir
with the business men and the board o.
aldermen of Chicago in a committee Il
discuss the question as to whether there
ia anything to arbitrate or not, and be
hind this autocratic policy stands the
General Managers Association of the
railway corporations, backed by the Uni
ted States, as the aiders and abettors o
this social crime"
"Suppose the Pullman Company hat
invited organized labor to arbitrate, ant
organized labor had declined the invita-
ton and refused to discuss the question
as to whether there was anything to arbi
trate or not. 1t is needless to say a wav,
OF popular indignation would oblterat,
every labor organization from the face o
the country, and no more could b.
formed during the next fifty years. Th
stigma OF such position would follow
every man connected with organized la
Dor to the grave. But in the presen
crisis, the corporations, whose wealth ha
been created by labor, take the position
that they are prior TO and above thei
creator. Like the brgands Of old, the
rob the laboring masses and employ tn
, sword and bludgeon and set up thron
on the bones of the vanquished and hol
their divine right to rule over the re
! mainder. Pullman claims that, notwitt
, standing the wages of the employees wer
reduced to the starvation point, Their
q is nothing to arbitrate, because car
! have been built at loss yet neglect
+. to state that the stock of the compan
n has been watered three times over an
:. that the company has been able not onl
to pay it's regular dividend on water an
r all, but its stocks have long been, an
p. at the present time are, at a premium
a on the stock market.
. pullman cries poverty to his starvin
). employees, and then retreats TO bis prime
a ly summer mansion on the st. Lawrent
n river, and wires the business men of Oh
4 cago that he has nothing to arbitrat
Like Nero, he laughs in luxury while h
devoted martyrs burn. II the presel
strike is lost to labor. it will retard IL
progress OF civilization and reduce Il
e possibilities of labor to ever emancipa
itself from the thralldom OF greed. TT
il dignity of labor and all the victories VIC
If in the past are at stake in this conflict.
r. beseech you to be true TO your obligation
a in this hour Of trial. Court the cooper
y ton Of generous public, stand firm al
|. united in our common cause, and Il
e victory will he one OF peace and prospect
i. for the faithful. J. B. SOVEREIGN. !"