IS THE UNION A POLITICAL ORGANIZATION? 259 



denominations, in prayer. Do you mean what you say in 

 these words? Men say Knights can never attain what is 

 aimed at in their declaration of principles. Then they go to 

 church and pray for better things than the Knights ever 

 dreamed of. Knighthood would not pave the streets with 

 gold, and men who pray that this earth be made as the 

 kingdom of heaven would deny us a place in the legisla- 

 tive halls. These places are not the kingdom of heaven. 

 The men who make these prayers lie when they make 

 them. They are hypocrites. Knights of labor respect the 

 law and they intend to take a hand in making the laws. 

 How many millionaires are there in this room to-night? 

 [laughter] Not one. Well, how many men and women of 

 moderate means? I would not ask you to stand up, for 

 that would get you all on your feet We intend to educate 

 our people so that they will be able to go there. They 

 should be educated so that they will be able and fit to take 

 high positions in life. Our organization is not a partisan 

 organization ; but in the true sense of the word it is a 

 political organization. The man who studies with us will 

 be able to vote intelligently ; if he is not there is some- 

 thing wrong with his head. We are an organization. 

 Nothing ever is still but a corpse, and we have ' kickers. ' ' ' 

 These were noble words. They were prompted by a 

 spirit of independence that should characterize every Amer- 

 ican citizen. With a firm reliance in the power and intel- 

 ligence of his organization, Mr. Powderly tersely stated 

 what they must do to secure their rights. There was no 

 spirit of partisanship there; no cringing cowardice or fear 

 of party bosses. He did not say "we will educate our 

 members in the ranks of the Democratic or Republican party 

 so that they will be able to fill positions of trust. ' ' He 

 did not intimate that they would be educated according to 

 the creed of this party or that one, or be bound by the 

 caucuses of either. The same can be said of the Union. 



