Terence V. Powderly
Encyclopedia
Terence Vincent "Terry" Powderly (January 22, 1849 – June 24, 1924) was born in Carbondale, Pennsylvania
, the son of Irish Catholic
immigrants. He was a highly visible national spokesman for the working man as head of the Knights of Labor
from 1879 until 1893. Although the Knights claimed over 600,000 members at its peak in 1886, it was so poorly organized that Powderly had little power.
("KoL"), a labor union whose goal was to organize all workers, skilled and unskilled, into one big union united for workers' rights and economic and social reform. He joined the Knights in 1876, became Secretary of a District Assembly in 1877 and was elected Grand Master Workman in 1879, at the time the Knights had around 10,000 members. He served as Grand Master Workman until 1893.
The Knights also helped to organize unions for women and African American
workers. By 1886, estimates for "KoL" membership range from 700,000 to 1 million members, including 10,000 women and 50,000 African Americans....
Powderly, along with many other white American
labor leaders at the time, opposed the immigration of Chinese workers
to the United States. He argued that immigrants took jobs away from native-born Americans and drove down wages, and even urged West Coast
branches of the Knights of Labor to campaign for the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act.
Powderly worked with the noted American bishop, James Gibbons, to persuade the pope to remove sanctions against Roman Catholics who joined unions. This was accomplished by doing away with the membership rituals influenced by freemasonry
and removing the words "The Holy and Noble Order of" from the name of the Knights of Labor in 1882.
The Greenback ideology of producerism
influenced Powderly more strongly than socialism
, and since producerism regarded most employers as "producers", Powderly disliked strikes
. In certain cases, the Knights organizes strikes against local firms where the employer might be admitted as a member. The strikes would cause internal fights between the laborers and the employers, resulting in a more purely-working class organization. Despite his personal ambivalence about labor action, Powderly's skillful organizing and the success of the Great Southwestern Strike of 1885 against Jay Gould
's railroad more than compensated for the internal tension. The Knights of Labor grew so rapidly that at one point the organization called a moratorium on the issuance of charters.
The union was recognized as the first successful national labor union in the United States. In 1885-86 the Knights achieved their greatest influence and greatest membership. Powderly attempted to focus the union on cooperative endeavors and the eight-hour day. Soon the demands placed on the union by its members for immediate improvements, and the pressures of hostile business and government institutions, forced the Knights to function like a traditional labor union. However, the Knights of Labor were too disorganized to deal with the centralized industries that they were striking against. Disaster struck the Knights with the Haymarket Square Riot in Chicago on May 4, 1886. Anarchists were blamed, and one of them was a Knight. Membership plunged overnight as a result of false rumors linking the Knights to anarchism and terrorism. However the disorganization of the group and its record of losing strike after strike disillusioned many members. Bitter factionalism divided the union, and its forays into electoral politics were failures.
Many KoL members joined more conservative alternatives, especially the Railroad brotherhoods
and the unions affiliated with the American Federation of Labor
(AFL) which promoted craft unionism over the one all-inclusive union concept. He was defeated for re-election as Master Workman in 1893the decline of the Knights continued and Powderly moved on, opening his own successful law practice in 1894.
Powderly served 3 two-year terms as mayor of Scranton
representing the Greenback-Labor Party beginning in 1878.
, who sought a pro-labor image, Powderly was appointed U.S. Commissioner General of Immigration from 1897 to 1902, and the Chief Information Officer for the U.S. Bureau of Immigration from 1907 to 1921.
Powderly, a resident of the Petworth
neighborhood in Washington, D.C.
, in the last years of his life, died on June 24, 1924. He is buried at nearby Rock Creek Cemetery
. His autobiography, The Path I Trod, was published posthumously.
He was inducted into the U.S. Department of Labor Hall of Fame in January 2000.
Carbondale, Pennsylvania
Carbondale is a city in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States. Carbondale is located approximately 15 miles due northeast of the city of Scranton in Northeastern Pennsylvania...
, the son of Irish Catholic
Irish Catholic
Irish Catholic is a term used to describe people who are both Roman Catholic and Irish .Note: the term is not used to describe a variant of Catholicism. More particularly, it is not a separate creed or sect in the sense that "Anglo-Catholic", "Old Catholic", "Eastern Orthodox Catholic" might be...
immigrants. He was a highly visible national spokesman for the working man as head of the Knights of Labor
Knights of Labor
The Knights of Labor was the largest and one of the most important American labor organizations of the 1880s. Its most important leader was Terence Powderly...
from 1879 until 1893. Although the Knights claimed over 600,000 members at its peak in 1886, it was so poorly organized that Powderly had little power.
Knights
Powderly is most remembered for leading the Knights of LaborKnights of Labor
The Knights of Labor was the largest and one of the most important American labor organizations of the 1880s. Its most important leader was Terence Powderly...
("KoL"), a labor union whose goal was to organize all workers, skilled and unskilled, into one big union united for workers' rights and economic and social reform. He joined the Knights in 1876, became Secretary of a District Assembly in 1877 and was elected Grand Master Workman in 1879, at the time the Knights had around 10,000 members. He served as Grand Master Workman until 1893.
The Knights also helped to organize unions for women and African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
workers. By 1886, estimates for "KoL" membership range from 700,000 to 1 million members, including 10,000 women and 50,000 African Americans....
Powderly, along with many other white American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
labor leaders at the time, opposed the immigration of Chinese workers
Overseas Chinese
Overseas Chinese are people of Chinese birth or descent who live outside the Greater China Area . People of partial Chinese ancestry living outside the Greater China Area may also consider themselves Overseas Chinese....
to the United States. He argued that immigrants took jobs away from native-born Americans and drove down wages, and even urged West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
branches of the Knights of Labor to campaign for the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act.
Powderly worked with the noted American bishop, James Gibbons, to persuade the pope to remove sanctions against Roman Catholics who joined unions. This was accomplished by doing away with the membership rituals influenced by freemasonry
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
and removing the words "The Holy and Noble Order of" from the name of the Knights of Labor in 1882.
Producerism
Producerism, sometimes referred to as "producer radicalism," is a right-wing populist ideology which holds that the productive members of society are being exploited by parasitic elements at both the top and bottom of the social and economic structure....
influenced Powderly more strongly than socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
, and since producerism regarded most employers as "producers", Powderly disliked strikes
Strike action
Strike action, also called labour strike, on strike, greve , or simply strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal of employees to work. A strike usually takes place in response to employee grievances. Strikes became important during the industrial revolution, when mass labour became...
. In certain cases, the Knights organizes strikes against local firms where the employer might be admitted as a member. The strikes would cause internal fights between the laborers and the employers, resulting in a more purely-working class organization. Despite his personal ambivalence about labor action, Powderly's skillful organizing and the success of the Great Southwestern Strike of 1885 against Jay Gould
Jay Gould
Jason "Jay" Gould was a leading American railroad developer and speculator. He has long been vilified as an archetypal robber baron, whose successes made him the ninth richest American in history. Condé Nast Portfolio ranked Gould as the 8th worst American CEO of all time...
's railroad more than compensated for the internal tension. The Knights of Labor grew so rapidly that at one point the organization called a moratorium on the issuance of charters.
The union was recognized as the first successful national labor union in the United States. In 1885-86 the Knights achieved their greatest influence and greatest membership. Powderly attempted to focus the union on cooperative endeavors and the eight-hour day. Soon the demands placed on the union by its members for immediate improvements, and the pressures of hostile business and government institutions, forced the Knights to function like a traditional labor union. However, the Knights of Labor were too disorganized to deal with the centralized industries that they were striking against. Disaster struck the Knights with the Haymarket Square Riot in Chicago on May 4, 1886. Anarchists were blamed, and one of them was a Knight. Membership plunged overnight as a result of false rumors linking the Knights to anarchism and terrorism. However the disorganization of the group and its record of losing strike after strike disillusioned many members. Bitter factionalism divided the union, and its forays into electoral politics were failures.
Railroad brotherhoods
The Railroad brotherhoods are labor unions of railroad workers in the United States. They first appeared in 1863 and they are still active. Until recent years they were independent of each other and of the American Federation of Labor.-1863-1920:...
and the unions affiliated with the American Federation of Labor
American Federation of Labor
The American Federation of Labor was one of the first federations of labor unions in the United States. It was founded in 1886 by an alliance of craft unions disaffected from the Knights of Labor, a national labor association. Samuel Gompers was elected president of the Federation at its...
(AFL) which promoted craft unionism over the one all-inclusive union concept. He was defeated for re-election as Master Workman in 1893the decline of the Knights continued and Powderly moved on, opening his own successful law practice in 1894.
Powderly served 3 two-year terms as mayor of Scranton
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton is a city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest principal city in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Scranton had a population of 76,089 in 2010, according to the U.S...
representing the Greenback-Labor Party beginning in 1878.
Later career
A favorite of Republican President William McKinleyWilliam McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
, who sought a pro-labor image, Powderly was appointed U.S. Commissioner General of Immigration from 1897 to 1902, and the Chief Information Officer for the U.S. Bureau of Immigration from 1907 to 1921.
Powderly, a resident of the Petworth
Petworth, Washington, D.C.
Petworth is a residential neighborhood in the Northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C., bounded by Georgia Avenue to the west, North Capitol Street to the east, Rock Creek Church Road to the south, and Kennedy Street NW to the north...
neighborhood in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, in the last years of his life, died on June 24, 1924. He is buried at nearby Rock Creek Cemetery
Rock Creek Cemetery
Rock Creek Cemetery — also Rock Creek Church Yard and Cemetery — is an cemetery with a natural rolling landscape located at Rock Creek Church Road, NW, and Webster Street, NW, off Hawaii Avenue, NE in Washington, D.C.'s Michigan Park neighborhood, near Washington's Petworth neighborhood...
. His autobiography, The Path I Trod, was published posthumously.
He was inducted into the U.S. Department of Labor Hall of Fame in January 2000.
Further reading
- Carman, Harry J. "Terence Vincent Powderly--An Appraisal," Journal of Economic History Vol. 1, No. 1 (May, 1941), pp. 83–87 in JSTOR
- Phelan, Craig. Grand Master Workman: Terence Powderly and the Knights of Labor (Greenwood, 2000), scholarly biography online edition
- Voss, Kim. The Making of American Exceptionalism: The Knights of Labor and Class Formation in the Nineteenth Century. (Cornell University Press, 1994).
- Ware, Norman J. The Labor Movement in the United States, 1860 - 1895: A Study In Democracy. (1929).
- Weir, Robert E. Beyond Labor's Veil: The Culture of the Knights of Labor. (Pennsylvania State University Press, 1996) online edition
- Weir, Robert E. Knights Unhorsed: Internal Conflict in Gilded Age Social Movement (Wayne State University Press, 2000)
- Wright, Carroll D. "An Historical Sketch of the Knights of Labor," Quarterly Journal of Economics, vol. 1, no. 2 (January 1887), pp. 137–168. in JSTOR