Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-27
KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
MIR. POWDERLYS ADDRESS.
LARGE Meeting OF Msehnsics and Working
men q. oid-Market Rail-Labo Questions
Discussed.

by an earnest and tnOugntiui auulence
of workingmen, gathered to hear Hon.
T. v. Powderly, the chief officer of the
Knights Of Labor, discuss the aims and
objects of that organization, which has
eleven lodges and nine hundred men,
bers IN Richmond and Manchester, and
is even stronger than this proportion
ateIy in the North and West.
Mr.. Powderly was handsomely in
troduced by Brother Mullen, of Rich
mond. and after a suitable exordium
proceeded to state the purposes of the
order.
Foremost in the list he placed the re-
duction of the hours of labor. He de-
scribed with considerable power the
wonderful labor-saviBg. machinery Of
the present day; how it has improved
in the past ten years, and how it has
displaced human labor. He did not
doubt that God intended this labor
saving machinery to be-but to be not
for the benefit of the few but of the
many. "We should demand that it be
used for the good of the many. | ad-
vance this argument: Cut down the
hours of labor. Take two hours from
the days labor of each man and it will
60 far towards supplying with work
the many whose places have been sup
planted by 'labor-saving machinery" "
Further on the speaker said that he
had never heard but one objection
urged to reducing the hours of labor,
and that was that the men "wOuld
spend these two extra hours in the
Saloons This he denied would be
the case. But suppose he does,
whose business is it? If | feel like
going into a saloon. whose business is
it? If ! have given my employer
fair days work for his wages, what is
it to him where spend my leisure
time? But, nevertheless, my advice to
you is to keep away from the saloons
altogether"
While on this topic, Mr.. POwderly
made the startling declaration that three
glasses of beer would make almost any
man drunk.
His reason for saying so was that
while Mayor Of Scranton, Pa. he had
had ever so many men before him for
being drunk and disorderly, and the
general answer to his query was. - |
only drank three glasses Of beer"
ILaughter.l But they were all drunk.
and so you can't blame me for suppoS.
ing that three glasses of beer will make
a man drunk. ILaughter.l
In the name of the ninety-nine men
out of hundred who never would 90
to the saloons, or if they went would
not drink to excess, Mr.. Powderly pro-
tested against the argument that the two
hours of leisure would be detrimental
to the workingmen. Oh, no it would
be vastly to their good.
OUR CITY HALL.
The speaker protested against the
prevalent system Of contract labor in
national. State, and city work.
Here he referred to the fact that
Richmond is about to build new City
Hall. lie said it is to the interest of
the community generally that the work
shall be properly done that the men
who do it shall live here in Richmond
Iapplausel; it should be done under
your own eyes and by your own peo-
pie. so that it may be well done. Tire
mendous applause.l This work, he
thought. should not be done by con-
tract but suggested that some means
should be devised for having it done
otherwise. " Contracts are made, but
rarely carried out. Before the work
is done an extra appropriation is asked
for
This matter he advised his hearers
Ito watch carefully. See the men who
have it in charge. Kindly take them
by the ear. Ask them to lend you
their ears for awhile, and let them know
that you shall demand that the public
interests be considered in this matter.
[Thunders Of applause.l
CONVICT-LABoR.
Another thing, said he, that needs
reforming is the present system of let
ting out cOnvict-labor to contractors.
The injustice of this system to poor.
honest men he graphically depicted.
Mr.. Powderly did not demand that
the country should support the con-
victs in idleness. but what he did insist
Oh was that their labor shall not be let
to contractors lat from to 30 cents
a day. Let them work them if they
will, but let them receive for them the
same pay as an honest man outside.
They must not be let out in competition
with honest labor, except at the same
rates-and union rates at that. [Great
applause.l North and South we stand
as one to-day, and hope and pray for
ever will. [Applause.l We have made
many sacrifices. Blood has been shed,
tears have flowed, hearts have been
broken, and after all of that. shall
American labor be put down to the
level of the serfs of the earth? No. -
[Checrs.l
In this connection Mr.. Powderly
brought in the Hungarian labor brought
into this country by contract to take
the places Of our own people in the
West. white and black.
He gave a fearful, but he declared a
truthful, picture of how these people
live. 1t was but one level above the
beasts Of the earth.
He asked every man present to write
note to his Senators and Representa-
tives in Congress to vote for the bill
prohibiting the introduction of this con-
tract labor-men brought here in bond
age to contractors.
\ GLAZING WRONG.
Mr.. Powderly spoke in favor Of pop
ular education. and saw in it the cOun-
try's safeguard.
He protested against the acquisition
Of large bodies Of American lands by
British and German noblemen or mo-
nopolists and by railroad corporations.
This he called "a glaring wrong -; and
he did not doubt that if the working
men acted wisely :" that this unhappy
croc,, yto,,ll - -. L.,