Omaha daily bee., 1897-04-19
KNIGHTS OF LABOR DICTAToRIAL,
Have Ordered Their Members to Take
Places Of Strikers.

q
OMAHA, April Ito the Editor of thu
Bee: | am not surprised at the defense
James Kenney puts up in your issue of Apri
Is for those who remained at work during
the recent trouble between the Union Pacific
officials and the Federated Machinery Con.
structors of the entire system from Omaha
to Portland Ore, and Kansas City to Fort
Worth, which was arbtrated successfully
and the employees returning to work within
eight days from the time the men ceased
working. This, too, notwithstanding the
strenuous endeavOrs of the officials Of dis
trict No. 81, knights of Labor, to Illustrate
the amicable adjustment of the difference
between the Inachinists boiler makers black
smiths, pattern makers and helpers, by order
ing their members few in number) to re-
main at work and oppose the unionists in
their struggle to have their agreement, in
letter and spirit, lived up to-.
The knights of Labor assumed to dictate
to all the employees, whether they belonged
to tie Knights Of Labor or not, the rules
that should govern the said employees, and
they made an iguOminous failure to have
their arbitrary agreement lived up to, and
were jealous OF the unionists and brother
hoods securing any concession to each of
their bodies by their employers, so they vio-
lated the teaching of their order, which
was: "To render every assistance possible
to all branches of honorable toll and
pursued the policy of rule or ruin, which
was wrong, and later developments proved
that their action was not wise" 1t is to
be deplored that innocent men could be in
duced under the cloak of organized labor to
antagOnize. trade uniOnists in their efforts
to ameliorate their condition. That was not
the first time the members of the knights
of Labor allowed themSelVes to be used by
avaricious employers and INSCRIPTIONS lead
ers. History shows that IN the Burlington
fight with the brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers the Philadelphia and Reading
knights nf Labor engineers took the places
made vacant by the contest.
The Cgarnekers' International Union was
opposed by the Knights OF Labor, who de-
sired to dominate over them, and they also
tried the same policy on the International
union and the Coal Miners
union By their action they have ruined
their noble and holy order" and they are
now numerically weak and their strength
at low ebb, and VIII remain so as long as
they encourage their members to scab on
men who are honestly trying to better their
condition; and "a person who will persist in
aiding and abettng a scab may be expected
to be placed in the same category and re-
ceive the condemnation of all true members
OF organized labor, especially when they are
looking for an extension of their business
or for political preferment.
Trades unicls are not allowing their lodges
to be manipulated in the interest of any man
or party. and the man or party who appeals
clear record and not have an alliance with the
enemies OF those who are united to protect
their chosen occupation and to better the
condition OF those who are dependent ON
them for support
Trades unions are not political bodies
They are composed Of persons of various
lvocations, and their members are found to
be connected with all parties-republiCan
democratic, populist, socialist and phohibi-
ton, and their political procliyities are not
with in their unions, each one
casting his vote as his conscience dictates,
for those whom they think will represent
hem the best.
As for myself ! will state that was one
Of the first to help institute the alliance
party since named the populist, but cannot
support their standard bearer upon whom
hey fused with the democrats and placed
At the head OF their ticket for mayor. E. +.
Howell, on account OF the stand he has
aiken in aiding and abettng a person who
betrayed the interest OF his tradesmen by
staying to wCrk when his fellow craftsmen
we're on strike. HARRY e. EASTON.
I...,