The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1890.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3603, 2 September 1890, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1890.

The Knights of Labor in. Masterton have performed a function. Three of their number havo been round the town interviewing the storekeeper: and asking the simple and direel question '! have you raised" youi prioeß ?" Why the inquiry has beer made and what the responses .to il have been are of course matters o: conjecture,' So far nothing ha: 1 transpired to show why the Knight! ,of Labor have visited the storekeeper: or what they would do to anj particular tradesman if he gave an unsatisfactory answer to the' inter' rogation. There is no harm at all in any individual, acting for himself or for others,questioning storekeepers a: I to their prices, but it is doubtfu whether the Knights of Labor can in , their own interests or in the interest! of the public in this district go t step further by interfering either t< increase or decrease the marke value of stores. Wore they to insis upon a supposed right ot this, kind andintho interests of the working classes'were to regulate prices,' it i * extremely probable that storekeeper in their turn would form a union and the moment they; did tin' the power of the Knights of tabo to interfere would practically be gone Just as long as the Knights'of Labo , do not exoite antagonism.by ai undue interference with the ordinar course of trade, there will be ni objection to their proceedings, Quo! views as they may from time to tim d express, may be taken as tie opinio] of the hundred men who coastitut the body, and as 'such may be c If value, but if going beyond this the, should feel disposed to coerce peopl into adopting their views, they wil create counter organisations whic Trill nullify any influence whic they may exercise. Publio ' opinio is never likely to ba very enthuslasti on behalf of a secret Society, and thi element of seorecy, though it may t considered a source of a " organisation, is also a source ( weakness, for, from time immemoria Englishmen have been wont t ? distrust secret social and politic: leagues. In the present instanc '• some shopkeeper has probably beei „ assailod in the Assembly of Kniglit of Labor, and by all rules of Lone he should be permitted to bow th name of his accuser, and the natnr <i of the charge brought against him andhe shoald also have a right c explanation, but all these.rights an privileges are depifld to him, aild .h is possibly tried and ty;, secret tribunal, This may or ma, not be the case; so far, the Knight of Labor in ||)js neighborhood Lav not openly committed jiiejjiselves ti • any action which Has compromise j them in the eyes of the public Apparently they have been influence! by 1)1 »fldyafe.yiews, am

lotbing can bo;Baid against tliem so. onfj -aa ytbey,- *while holding and a< Maintaining their own convictions,Jeepeot the rights aud privileges of iboso who. ai'o not affiliated with' :beir "brotherhood." '