Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-04
MIR. PowDERLY's ADDRESS.
Talks to Knights Of Labor at Marshau
Hall.

Terrence v. Powderiy Of the Knights OF
Labor. delivered this AFTERNOON at Marshall
Hail. where the outing OF D. A. &c. X. OF L..
il In progress was in the nature Of q Labor
day Innovation. The address was listened
to with marked attention by the large
crowd. and was frequently punctuated with
applause. Mr.. Powderly said. In part:
I'VE hear much talk Of reciprocity be-
tween our own and other countries. but
believe that reciprocity between employer
and employe in this country Is OF greater
importance to the people of the nation.
g1ve-and-take policy between workman and
employer should prevail. I don't mean that
one side should do all the giving and the
other all the taking Reciprocal relations
should exist between them. My advice to
workingmen is: Don't carry chip on your
shoulder; there is a knocker for every chip.
Cancellation Is better than retaliation. Peace
is preferable to pieces; act in reason and
from conviction rather than from passion,
guesswork OF desire to take advantage.
Abuse and SANDER never accomplish good;
they are the weapons Of DULLES and cow
ards: neither Is necessary in a Just cause.
Don't take rumor at its face value: It Is
wise to doubt It. Do with 1t as your judg-
ment would dictate with a doubtful check
insist on 1t being certified. before accept
enca
Make It Face It's Maker.
Make each lie face its maker and you
will contract the circulation of falsehood
materially. Conduct your negotiations with
candor, honesty. truth and in kindly spirit;
If you are right these weapons are invinci-
BILE; II wrong. they will help make you
right. Avoid brag. blow. buster and threat,
these win no battles or arguments and
serve only to inspire the contempt of IN
telligent, well-informed men. Study your
employers side as well your own. for
you Will not know whether you are right
until you are founded on fact. II your
employer loses, you are not likely to win.
If you drive him to the last ditch you are
apt to share 1t with him. / don't believe
there Is a conflict between capital and la
Dor. and he who insists that there is Is an
enemy to both. Neither Is there antago-
nism to necessary capital or those who en-
ploy IT. on the contrary. the great body Of
Workngmen IN the United states entertain
the kindliest feelings toward their employ
ers. Seldom or never does an employer of
labor die that We do not read expressions
of tenderness and regret from the men who
good thing after death. and the good we
are told Of dead man was the good he
did when alive. We find something good
In the worst Of men to commend-after
they die. Why can't we find 1t while they
are yet alive and make use OF 1t. By COM
mending the good we find in a man we
stimulate him to further deeds In the same
direction.
Interest In Civic Affairs.
Mr.. Powderly dewitt especially on work.
ingmen taking an active interest in civic
affairs: in studying carefully the employers
side of the Industrial question as we'll as
their own: in their taking no hasty action
likely to retard. ohstruct or stop business
by strikes; in their scrupulously living up
to their contracts and be a cog not eprag
In the wheel of progress and industry.
rbn 1oh nt1ot Tow r.
Powderly, ''is a business concern; business
concerns do better when doing business
than when Idle, and It is the duty of our
unions to so shape their business that but
few days will be lost in idleness. Every
brain may be storehouse Of dynamite. and
every idle hand the DEVILS fuse ready to
touch 1t of. Be tolerant be considerate.
but above everything. be kind. Had I knock
ed the chip Off Mr.. Smiths shoulder that
day, there would have been q fight or
foot race, but neither one would have kept
the 500 men at work
Alleged Misunderstanding.
people misunderstood me when they as
sert that I would not favor a strike. I do
not believe in them. believe they are un-
necessary and should not be entered upon
hastily or at the sayso of one or two off,
GERS. In most cases strikes are ordered by
majority vote of the men involved. and
even then they may be wrong. If all strikes
cannot be avoided most Of them can, there
Is but little money in them. They lead to
bad feeling. unsettled conditionS and 1t
does seem to me that having tried the
strike for over two thousand years, with
everything else making for better condi-
lions and safer methods, the strike should
follow the other crude weapons that once
found a place In the economy of industry.
1T was my hope at one time. and I have
not abandoned 1t yet" Mr.. Powderly con-
tinued. that labor would always act intelli-
gently In every controversy. II q dispute as
to wages. hours or conditions Of any kind
arose in the machine shop 1t should be the
duty Of the machinists to consult the boiler
makers. the molders. the carpenters. the
helpers and others likely to become involved
in a strike. should one be ordered. Not only
that. but others outside should be consulted.
end the various interests likely to be affect
ed should be given an opportunity to help
adjust the difficulty. By adopting such a
policy the opportunity Is afforded some of
the influential ones to get the ear Of the
right person or persons. and trouble may be
avoided. All the while those organized
should busy themselves creating a healthy
public opinion on the subject Of labor and
capital and the justice of labor receiving a
full, just share Of the values or capital 1t