The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-15

all that could in the rsmotest degree re-
senbls ansrchism.
The anarchists were beaten, but were by
no means disposed TO recognize the fscs
that in q country where CONSTITUTIONAL
methods are in the hands OF the masses,
no violent anarchistic remedies VIII De
tolerated. They continued TO show their
teeth at every annual grand session OF the
Knights OF Labor, demanding perslstentiy
that the dagger and the bomb Dc suDsi-
tuted for the ballot and the constitution.
In the meantime other elements DID their
share In reducing the Knights OF LABOR IN
numbers and influence. The fnai blow
came when the Knights OF Labor Iost
their strike on the Grand Central In New
York From that time on the Orana
and Noble Order of::the Knights OF LABOR
became thing of the past
Anarchism and radiealism, however,
are not easily dismayed. On the contrary.
the order drifting now on the shoals OF
destruction, an easy prey to whomroevei
chooses 70 burden himself with dead
body. was the very thing that ansrcnlsm
wanted. The Knights OF Labor had
Names once great name. From behind
its ranks missiles of destruction could
easily be thrown on the head of society,
and the cowardly bomb thrower could stih
be protected. No one would suspect the
once patriotic order of the knights OF
Labor to countenance such dastardIy
deeds. Thus the very element that for SIX
years did its utmost TO induce an Amers-
can organization of Iaboring men to stamp
its approval on the murderous outrage of
Haymarket, again rallied TO the front,
name. Claiming it to be the night OF tue
West as against the East; insisting that
the East held the generalship OF the order
long enough; that the time had arrived
when the West should be given the gen.
eraship of the order. This time they
won.
True, . barren victory. The order that
they were about to lead was to all practi-
cal and beneficial purposes dead. But
what of thatf AL that the anarchist
wanted was q shield, and dead body will
make as effectual one as live one. Sow
ereign was elected general master work
nan Of the noble order of the knights OF
Labor. Anarchism triumphed. Radical
ism was in its full glory. and the first
opportunity that presented itself to stab
society in the back was ravenously utilized,
and effectually so.
Whatever the merits of the present con-
troyersy that agitates the American con-
tinent, and, one might safely say, that
is alarming the entire civilized globe, no
American can deny that the ditching of
trains and the destruction of life and
property can find no legitimate place in
constitutional torn OF government. l
claim to have some knowledge of the
history and the constituent elements of
organized labor. Based upon that knowl-
edge. state unhesitatingly that it is not
the American Railway Union that should
be held responsible for the many violent
and contemplate deeds that have dis
graced organized labor in the last two
weeks. but that the few towards that are
hiding under the name of a once noble
order, led by an irresponsible. arrogant
blowhard, are the real culprits.
If Mr.. Debs is to be blamed for anything
In connection with this strike he certainly
Is condemnabls tor permitting Sovereign
to become his associate. To permit the
affairs of real workingmen-the A. r. u
to become mixed with the affairs of a
body of pretenders, shams and miscreants,
is q mistake objectionable.
That there are some men today still in
the ranks of the knights of Labor that are
law-abiding and honest may freely bs
conceded. But. in my judgment the lead
ers of that order have done more injury to
the cause of the American Railway Union
than all other causes combined.
ABE SPRING.