The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-08-04

stances The attendance was very large,
and the best of order prevailed. 1t is
estimated that fully 2 800 people were on
the grounds during the day. Nothing OF
Importance occurred in the morning, the
principal features of entertainment being
left for the afternoon. Many dined in
true picnic fashion, bringing baskets laden
with tempting eatables and seeking some
shady nook would make spread on the
green sod. Others preferred to sample
the excellent dinner furnished by Uncle
John Aster
AFTER DINNER
the exercises commenced in earnest. The
speaking was first in order, and the orators
and several of the Knights took seats on
the temporary stand which had been
erected. Hon Daniel Mclaughlin, the
principal speaker, was introduced by
President Bennett in few well chosen
remarks, saying the speaker was a man OF
large experience, and knew the needs
| and condition of the laboring classes,
hence was well qualified to cope with the
many questions that were of vital interest
to the laboring classes.
The-appearance of Mi Mclaughlin was
greeted with applause. He was plainly,
but neatly dressed. and his looks indicated
that he was not of the shallow, kid glove
orator class, but sincere in his doctrine,
and in actual sympathy with the working
men of the country.
He said he had come to speak under
the auspices of the Knights of Labor, a
noble organization. Its purposes are not
political, but its object is the education of
the masses; the securing of equal pay for
the equal labor of women; the passage of
laws prohibiting children of either sex
from being taken into factories, mines or
workshops until fourteen years of age;
and also to educate its members to be
come their own employers through the
method of cooperation. 1t might be
asked what need there exists for the
| working classes to organize themselves,
in this free country, where we can elect
| to make our laws whom we please. The
speaker was aware that we are living
under the best torn of government that
ever existed Yet. with all our freedom
and all our privileges, we are making
milllonaires on the one hand and paupers
| on the other If there is not something
radically wrong, why is it that the masses
of our people work from early morn till
late at night for a subsistence, while an
other class live in idleness and luxury
| one long Sunday from the cradle forward2
Today's celebration is in honor Of
Uriah Stephens, who was the originator
of the Knights of Labor society, and
whose birth anniversary it was. The first
Knights of Labor assembly in the United
States was organized by him fourteen
| years ago Al hESi " WAS Cdtlcu TIC BkOllS
Maguires, and it did not flourish The
members having dispelled the idea that it
was disreputable organization, it has
since grown and prospered The speaker
touched on the great strike of the tele
graph operators The Knights of Labor
were not In favor of strikes as q general
rule but sometimes it became necessary
to stop work, as it was in this instance.
He said the Knights Of Labor was not
political organization, but that they
would stand by man, of whatever polit'
ical stripe, who was square on the labor
question, and would take care Of the hard
working down trodden classes During
the delivery of his address. Mr. McLaugh-
lin was several times loudly applauded by
his enthusiastic listeners
At the conclusion of Mr.. McLaughlin's
remarks, Mr., Bennett introduced second
speaker Samuel Croker, Esq. OF Wilton
junction, Iowa, who said he was proud to
belong to the Knights of Labor organiza-
ton, which was doing all IN its power for
the poor workingmen. He referred to
the many millionaires produced by Amer
lea since its discovery by Columbus, and
that any system which thus enhances
capital must retard labor. Financially
and commercially, capital and labor are
interviewer, identical, alike and insepa-
rable But politics is the art of govern
ment, and the masses, to get their rights,
| have only to stop sending to Congress the
capitalist, the bondholder. the railroad
magnate and the monopolist, and send
the farmer, the laborer and the tradesman.
The laboring men outnnmber the idle
scoundrels who live by plumber, ninety
four to six, and have only to overthrow
the internal iniquity at the ballot-box.
There was no affinity no relationship, be
tween capital and labor, in a political sense.
He thought it was for the interest of
every woman to join the Knights Of Labor
society, which was in favor of giving her
equal wages for the equal amount of work
performed by her brother or husband.
Mr.. Crocker's address was berry spirited
} and was forcibly delivered. :.
4 THE BASE BALL GAME.
| As soon as the speaking was over, the
, match game of base ball was announced
between the Stars of this city, and the
Geneseo club, for an alleged purse OF $50,
which was offered by the managers of the
picnic The game was played in the Gun
club park. adjoining the picnic grounds.
The Geneseo nine brought their umpire
with them, whose name is Joseph Dobbs.
The Stars won the toss and sent the Gen
: eseos to the bat, and by good playing,