Evening star., 1897-04-09
DRILLING LABOR'S FORCES
Organizing Worhngmsn on Milit
Lines.
Circulars Sent Out From This City
Worthy Foreman Bishop a.
C0mmander-fn-Chie

General Secretary-Treasurer John W.
Hayes Of the Knights OF Labor and NJ J.
Bishop, commander-in-chief OF the Min
ute Men, OF America, today denied to q
Star reporter that q manifesto had been.
as was stated in a Philadelphia paper. is
sued from the headquarters OF the Knights
Of Labor In Washington advocating the
drilling OF organized worktngmen In the use
Of arms
Mr.. Bishop admitted. however. that "nnin-
ute men" We're being organized all over
tie country. and said that the reason for
this was that no labor organization is in a
POSITION to cope properly with the giant
corporations OF the day. These minute
men are not 1t is said, officially connected
with the Knights of Labor.
Mr.. Bishop said to a Star reporter in re-
gard to the new organizations:
The committees of safety and supplies
are at present located in Washington. and
nave selected me as general commander.
ana the mastering in Is proceeding all
along the line. No publicity is given TO
our membership, and Information of CO.
ercion can be forwarded in absolute conf
dence- The methods pursued by the min
ute men are strictly legal. but undoubtedly
Will cause bitter animoSity among such
employers as are affected. so that secrecy
Is a necessary feature to protect our mem
berS from retaliation
Confidential Circular.
A prominent official of the knights of
Labor furnished The Star reporter with a
copy Of secret and confidential circular
which has been sent throughout the Union.
but whether it has reference to the Minute
men" or not he declined to state.
The circula says:
The Industrial Army is a national or
ganiZation of reformers, who understand
WI m tn
You must realize the one great necessity
in such an organization, having such a
tremendous purpose in view. That neces-
sity is absolute secrecy. You would rot
care to join society whsse machinery is
known to the world, ard thereby affording
the traitor and the wrccker a field for
their nefarous work. Gou will readily
perceive that to succeed We must regard
every one with suspicion.
AT the head of this order are men whose
names are known everywhere. Were their
identity known, this order would perish in
q night, and they would be cooling their
heels in a plutocratic bastille in as snort a
period You are asked to curb your nat
ural curiosity, and to unite with them with
the assurance that they are known to
you as tried ard true veterans in the ranks
of reform fer a quarter of a century. With
this assurance you must be content; We
can reveal no more.
'At the head of the industrial army, as
its commander-in chief is Memo, who has
been selected because Of his connection
with the Industrial movement, and because
were his identity known to the reformers
of this country his fitness for this i'm
portant mission would be at once recoS-
nized by all. He 1t is who directs the
mighty forces Of this order, and whose
hidden hand will checkmate the cunning
moves of plutocracy on the political check
erboard of America.
Assisting the commander Is a group
of reform veterans. known as the national
committee, who have direct chsrse of the
movement throughout the United States
This committee is in communication with
the reform movement Throughout the
world. and 1t is thoroughly posted upon
the actual condition of affairs in every
community In the United States.
I'm each state the national organization
has selected enc person known to us to be
a reliable and earnest refOrmer. and to
that person is given the task of organizing
his state"