The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-11-12
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR
Explain Their Attitude in the Re.
cent Presidential Campaign.
ENCOURAGED OVER THE RESULT
They Claim That 'No Organization In the
World Has So Clear, Definite and Practi.
cal PIarof Campaign as Our Own"-A
"Grave Menace to the Republic"


caI PIanof Campaign as Our Own"-A
"Grave Menace to the Republic"
ROCHESTER, N Y, Nov. 12-At yester
days session of the Knights of Labor the
report Of Secretary Treasurer Hayes was
read. The report opens with q reference
to what the official named terms attacks
OF a most villainous character" upon the
general officers Of the order, "by reason Of
the just stand taken by them in refusing
to allow small clique Of men, who are
Familiarity known as the New York tri.
angle" OF the Standardization party, to
get control of the machinery of the Knights
of Labor for the dissemination Of their
doctrines" The so called triangle, ac-
cording to Mr.. Hayes, consists of Daniel
de Leon, Lucien Sanial and Ernest Rohn.
Mr.. Hayes complains that, although the
laws Of the order prescribe that working
cards, receip6books and other supplies for
the local and district assemblies shall be
secured through the general assembly, tho
receipts from these sources amounted to
only 81, 437. Printing for the national sill
yer committee brought into tho treasury
$780, from the Democratic congressional
committee, 5000, and for the Illinois state
Democratic committee, $3.50
The report treats also Of the action Of
the American Federation of Labor, direct
ing all organizations that were affiliated,
both with the Knights Of Labor and the
Federation flor trade purposes), to with
draw from the Knights of Labor. This
action, the report says, Is In direct viola
tion OF the arrangement entered into with
the general executive board by the repre-
sentatives of the National Union previous
to the formation of National Trade As
sembly 50.
At the adjournment Of the session the
following conclusion of the executive
board was given to the Associated Press:
I'm our annual address to Washington
general assembly we used this language:
In spite Of the legislation already secured,
In spite Of improvements already made in
the social and industrial conditions, there
yet remains a vast work to be done before
the wealth producers will DO fully free
from the chains Of wage slavery and the
oppression of monopoly.
The forces of great army like the
Knights OF Labor to accomplish the most
important results must have its power
wisely directed against the weakest point
IN the enemys line, and the very strong
hold and citadel of monopoly must be
captured. No organization in the world
has so clear, definite and practical q plan
of campaign as our order. The machinery
Of our government must be wrested from
the hands of the agents of the plutocrats
and restored to the people. The money of
the people, the life blood Of commerce,
Iut In ipat hxv ,tnr -
pie only. The great highways Of COM
metce must be freed from the clutches of
railway kings, and the land, the great
reservoir from which all wealth is drawn,
which Is the prime necessity for the MAIN
tenance Of human existence, must be re-
stored to the whole people.
1.-THE equal rights Of each one Of the
children of men to share of the bounties
Of nature must BIO recognized and secured.
The opportunity to live In peace and So
cure of opportunity to labor and enjoy the
full fruits of their toll must be guaranteed
beyond possibility of doubt These are
the great issues, clear and distinct, which
the Knights of. Labor propose to fight out
to finish, and the wealth producers of
the world are welcomed to their ranks
During the year that has followed your
general officers have striven earnestly to
carry into effect this declaration, believing
that by so doing we should accomplish re-
suits Of great value to the cause of labor.
The hope we then held has been more than
realized in the vast political uphcaval
which has taken place in the United States
since the Washington general assembly
closed.
I'm pursuance of the policy set forth in
our Washington assembly we attended
the convention of the Populist party in
st. Louis and the Democratic party in
Chicago, and used our best efforts to Sc
cure unilcation of the forces represented
by those two great parties in support of
the principles embodied in the preamble
of the Knights of Labor. And it should
be cause for rejoicing on the part Of
every true Knight of Labor that the money
plank, the plank in opposition TO govern
ment bond issues, the income tax plank
md numerous other very important prin-
ciples, which have been so long and strenu-
ously battled fer by knights of Labor
against hopeless odds, have become tho
issues Of American politics.
AT last the time has come when the
lines Of battle arc fairly drawn between
the laborers of America on the one hand
and their implacablo enemies-the money
kings and their mnions-on the other.
Although complete victory for the peo-
pie was not won In this election, yet I'M
mense gains have been made. Six millions
of American voters have arrayed them
selves permanently under the banner of
principles so long upheld by the Knights
of Labor. At least 2,000,000 more would |
have done likewise but for the frightened |
forces of money and coercion used in this |
by the party of the plutocracy.
This general assembly should give the |
most thorough consideration to the ques.
lion of how best to preserve the political
advantages already gained for the Masses
and how we may perfect the organization
for victory in the immediate future. The
millions of wealth producers are now
aroused as they never were aroused before
in the history of the nation Let us seek
with all the wisdom we can muster to de-
eide on such policy as will show the peo-
ple how to 80 use eirpolitical power that
hey will become irresistible in their de-
nand for the reform which labor requires.
1.-The lack of organization among the
toilers is grave menace to the republic.
Not per cent. of the working people of
the United States are organized. 1t is i'm
'erative that something must DO done to
them more rapidly than they
AVE ever been organized In the past.
I'VE would suggest first that we must
make it clear to the laboring people that
t is to their interest in every sense of the
word to become good members of the
Knights Of Labor.
1--WE must make it clear to the employ
RS that 1t will not be injurious to their
'est interests If their employees are per-
nitted and encouraged to join our order.'
Chairman Hanna Off for Home.
New YORK, Nov. 12-Mark Hanna loft
he Republican Headquarters Yesterday