Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-07-16
THE KNIGHTS OF LABoR mgBr1Ns.
EDS. RECORD UNION I find in the San
Francisco Examiner of July 18th the follow
ing dispatch:

EDS RECORD UNION: I find in the San
Francisco Examiner of July 18th the follow
ing dispatch:
| SACRAMENTO July 10th.-The meeting held here
last night was one of very peculiar significance.
1t was well understood that concerted
| attempt would be made TO disrupt or capture the
meeting The attempt was made, and persistently,
TO the end but the GOODNESS, firmness and eaustic
wit OF the speaker, P. S. Dorney foiled every at
tempt and turned it back upon the enemy. The
disturbance was led by three persons, who should
! be made better known to the workingmen of this
city In discussing the matter of wages the speaker
asked if there was mechanic in the audience whose
average yearly wages was $40 per month, YouChed
for by the railroad hreings. Hundreds Of railroad
| employees were present, but none answered. At
last a man hesitatingly averred that his average
wage was 500 per month, then another, and finally
u third. Mr. Dorney asked their names, and the
crowd answered derisively, " Pat PreOdergast Tom
| Mccormick and Joseph Jenkins" The mendacity
/ Of these persons being well known to their shop
mates i'll the assembage created considerable merri
ment and confusion. Prendergast is rough molder,
jenkins superannuated attache Of the machine
shop, and Mccormick yard laborer.
Really, il would not merit reply, but as a
newspaper article containing more deliberate
lies than any other that have seen in the
same space, [ have concluded TO answer It, if
you will spare the space in your columns.
The meeting was called by P. S. Dorney
who was chief engineer and orator Of the
meeting. 1t was supposed to be held under
the auspices OF the Knights of Labor"
whoever they may be. It would be useless
to rehash Mr.. Dorney's hsrangue, which was.
according to his feeble ability, but TRADE
of abuee of the Central Pacific Railroad.
During the course of his address, speaking
OF Mr.. Jabez Turner, be said that the hire
lings of the railroad said that there were me-
chanics in the employ Of the company who
received on an average as much Ss, or more
than, $50 per month. Mr.. Dorney virtually
gave the lie to Mr.. Turner, which was very
foolish on the part Of MIR. D., as every per-
son that knows Mr.. Turner knows him as an
educated man, a frss-class mechanic, an up
right honest, honorable gentleman, and in
all things that belong TO true manhood and
good citizenship infinitely the superior Of bis
detractor.
Mr.. Doruey then said that if thare was 80
emp'oye Of the railroad company who re-
caived on az average 500 or more per month,
without working overtime, he would Ike to
have him say go, adding, g I do not mean the
foretzep, who are but the henchmep Of the
company, but tie working mechanics" As
the question was asked, and an ansRer re-
questsd, the writer of this answered, "A1r.
Doraey, 1 recsive 800 per month or more on
an average without working over hours, ard
am not foreman" 8Ir. Dorney asked,
Jag my name in full. lie replied, " You had
better get another glass of beer" Another
man mada Che same statement as myself and
then third, This somewhat Disconnected the
orator, who had TO refer constantly 20 his
written speech.
After telling me TO ges another glass Of
beer, he had wordy quarrel for couple Of
minutes With MIR. Prsndergsst, in which he
called the latter q damn liar, and in this con-
sisted the whole of the caustic wit of The
speaker. The principal part OF his wit coz
sisted in calling Mr.. Prendargast an offensive
nRme while the speaker was on 6he platform
and Mr.. 2. on the ground, otherwise MIR. z.
would hare tied him IN q boWknes. The
names OF those who answered him wers not
given derisiYly by the audience, bat esch
man promptly gave HE Owl.
In answer so the latter part of the Eraa,-
iner's article I can only say that what Mr..
Dorney well knows, that q superaunusted
attaehe cannot reesiva the wages Of s first
class workman, but when superannuated
mast "s step down and cut and leave the
position TO be filed by those more youthful
and vigorous, but nevertheless the fling at
me by Mr. d. is rude, disc0urte0us and un-
gentlemaniy, besides lacking the humble
merit of truth. In conclusion [ would add,
il ' Knights Of Labor" or any ether assooia.
tion or society of mechanics or workingmen,
would accomplish anything, if they would
achieve any object 10 beusft themselves,
either individually or collectively. they will
most certainly fail il they enroll their names
with no better leader than the blatherBkite
cobbler Of Sacramento. [ have given him
nov more time aud thought than he Ia worth,
and viii take final leave Of hin.
Jos. ID. JENKINS,
Machinist, G. z. r. r.