The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-02
TOPEKA STATE. JOURNAL
INFORM ALTON
+. BURE AU
TREDERic ]. HAsKIN. Director,
washineton. D. c.
ApRopHEr WITH HONOR.
washinston. D. c

A PROPHET WITH HONOR.
Washington, d. c., Nov. ga man
who spoke for equal suffrage from the
same platform with Susan B. Anthony
at time when a suffragist was held
no better than an anarchist; a man
who advocated labor unions long be-
fore any existed; who fathered the
idea of an eight hour day, and who
gained the reputation of being wild
eyed radical by suggesting the income
tax some thirty years ago-that is Ter
renee Vincent Powderly. of the depart
ment of labor.
Altho his memories go back to the
Buchanan Fremont campaign in 1855;
altho he has lived and led every step
OF the American labor movement since
|it began with the Knights Of Labor
back in the seventies, Mr.. Powderly is
still an active official OF the United
States Department Of Labor, the crea-
ton OF which he advocated SO long
ago that men called him a crank.
Mr. Powderly was born near Car
bondale, Pa. on January 2. 1s4s. Now
just turned TO, he is as hale and active
AB IHO no WoEC u IHSi z AAAky anu tASA .
is nothing besides his whitened hair
and moustache to indicate that he is
more than a few years beyond that
|ake.
Mr.. Powderly tells the following
story of his conversion to the cause of
equal suffrage:
when I was seven years old. the
Northumberland campaign was in
full swing. The Lincoln-Douglass de-
bates were over but we reopened them
at home. My father was an uncom-
promising Democrat and my mother
an memorable abolitionist. They were
heart and soul devoted to each other
but that didn't prevent them from
wranglinG about political issues.
listened attentively to all the argu-
ments and tried to balance one against
another in my head. Once in a while
would out with a question Of MY
own.
con election day, 1856. my father
left home early in the morning to go
to the polling place which lay couple
Of miles beyond thru thick strip of
woods. I knew, of course. what he
was going to do, but was puzzled as
to why my mother stayed at home.
why, mother.'-I said. aren't you
going to vote?' She looked at me
wonderinsly.. Certainly not, child.
Women don't vote why not?'. de-
naanded.
"She could not think of a good
| answer, and from that time, whether
L knew 1t or not. I became an equal
suffra sist."
The Powderly family moved to
tended tn. public Schools until he was vas
| thirteen. At that time the civil war
was brewing, and when the outbreak
came, the elder PowderIy went off to
t1Ghtsand the support of the family
fen to the boy. He found job as
switch tender in tho railroad yards
rePafrman and finally g. machinist.
Out Of hours he studied law and
eeonomics.
It was during this period that Pow
defly began to be active in the labor
movement. The organization known
as the knights of Labor was then at
its inception and he became one OF the
chief organizers for his district. The
movement, however, did not gain
much momentum until the railroads
and anthracite mine strike of 1871.
That was a time of general industrial
depression and the railroads endeav-
ored to retrench by cutting wages.
The strike began in Pittsburgh and
gradually spread turnout all of the
coal regions of Pennsylvania In
Scranton the strike was suppressed
with undue violence by the mayor,
| possibly because the sinister memory OF
the Molly Macguires still hung over the
| city. Many innocent men and women
were shot in the riots which occurred
there. The Knights of Labor took no
part in the strike of 1877, but it served
to give their movement considera BILE
impetus. and in the following year Ter
renee Powderly was elected mayor of
Scranton on a labor ticket. He was re-
elected in 1880 and again in 1889.
While he was still mayor Of Scran-
ton he was made grand master work
man of the knights of Labor-the
highest office of that organization. All
his official duties he spent in develop
] ing the labor program.
1t was about this time that the ap-
pellation OF crank became fastened
to him. He had declared for govern
ment ownership of transportation
lines and had openly advocated ''wo-
mems rights" an idea almost unthink-
able in that generation. He was styled
an Jana rchist" for having said things
like these:
| az believe the day has come for
united labor to ask at the hands OF
congress the passage of a law creating
a department of labor at the seat OF
national government"
| at is demanded by the knights OF
Labor that a graduated income tax
be levied. 1t is hoped by this opera
ton to reach our wealthy men and
force them to pay a just proportion OF
the revenue necessary to conduct at
fairs of state"
There should be a universal eight
i hour working day.
| "1 believe the government should
control the telegraph"
| 1.-The value of the money used by
the people is not fixed or regular. II
fluctuates at the will OF those who
have it to lend. oE who are enabled
by reason of their control over a por-
lion Of it, to withdraw 1t from circula-