Evening star., 1896-11-12

of Labor propose to fight out to a 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 present upheaval which
has taken place in the United States since
the washington General Assembly closed.
,,I IN pursuance OF the policy set forth in
our washington assembly, we attended the
convention OF the populist party in ST.
LOUIS ana the democratic party In Chi
cage. and used our best efforts TO secure a
those two great parties in support of the
principles embodied in the preamble of
the knights of Labor. And 1t should be a
cause ts Ior rejoicing on the part of every
plank, the plank in opposition to govern
ment bond issues. the income tax plank
ana numerous other very important prin-
cipies, which have been so long and siren
uously battled for by Knights of Labor
against hopeless odds, have become the
commanding issues of American politics,
ana nave completely Overshadowed all the
sham issues. which have long been used
by politicians and the money power to
nilnd the peoples eyes. and distract their
attention from these vital questions affect
Ing the real welfare Of the wealth pro-
ducers.
"At last the time has come when the lines
Of battle are fairly drawn between the la
borers of America on the one hand and
thelr impiacable enemies-the money kings
and their millions-on the other Although
complete victory for the people was not
won In this election, yet immense gains
have been made. Six millions of Ameri-
can voters have arrayed themselves per-
manently under the banner Of principles so
long upheld by the knights of Labor At
least two millions more would have done
likewise but for the frightened forces Of
money and coercion used in this campaign
by the party of the plutocracy.
This general assembly should give the
most thorough consideration to the ques-
tion of how best to preserve political ad-
vantages 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 at this
general assembly to decide on such policy
as will show the people how to so use their
political power that they will become ir-
resistible hl their demand for the reform
which labor requires.
THE lack of organization among the
toilers is a grave menace to the republic.
Not per cent Of the working people of the
United States are organized. 1t is impera-
tive that something must be done to Or
ganize them more rapidly than they have
ever been organized in the past. What
shall 1t be?
I'VE should suggest first that we must
make it clear to the laboring people that
1t is to their interest in every sense of the
word to become good members of the
knights Of Labor.
I've must make 1t clear to the employers
that It will not be injurious to their best
interests If their employees are permitted
and encouraged to join our order
I'VE must make 1t clear beyond question
that every man and woman who Is MEM
Der of order will be safer and better
ed N than those
are not members.
I'VE must make the employer under
stand that If he employs Knights of La
Dor he will not be placed at any disadvan-
tage with his competitor, who employs no
Knights of Labor. or is at open warfare
with the order.
"Hasty and ili-advised strikes should be
.voded as much possible. Every strike
and lockout is incipient civil war. One is
an attack of the employer and the en-
ployes and the other Is an attack of the
employe and the employer. These attacks
and counter attacks often develop into
civil war, and as one blow brings'o on an
other we can never foretell what the final
outco me of some of these struggles may
he. The plutocracy is seeking an excuse to
greatly increase the standing army. The
petty violence connected with the strikes
and lockouts is their most plausible eX-
cuse now. Let us not play into their
hands We should teach the laboring peo-
pie to cease to be rebellious slaves and to
realize their real position, that of the head
masters and rulers of the republic, clothed
with ample power to reconstruct all social
and industrial conditions en- whatever
lines they desire: to this end let the good
work of unifying the political power of the
masses now so well begun, be carried
with renewed vigor, and when another
four years have passed every branch of
the government OF the United States, local
municipal, state and national, will be in
the hands of the wealth producers to use
as they see III. We shall then no longer
be as We now are, largely at the mercy
of the money kings in the great corpora
tions. (Sigratures)
JAMES r. SOVEREIGN,
Chairman.
THOMAS B. MCGUIRE,
"HENRY B. MARTY
JAMES NJ. KENNEY,
CHARLES A. FRENCH
JOHN w. HAYES
Secretary General Executive Board