The Labor enquirer., 1885-05-23

wanted. Ihey turned around and pu
un MeGilvray, who, until recently, has
always employed scab workmen, but hi
was beaten, The, men came forward
and showed that they had some back
a bone and would not be turned. Their
these men were discharged because they
were knights of Labor, on the grounds
that labor organizations ore becoming
troublesome. Hence. we have banded
Together to help one another, and We
will carry it out. If the knights of Labor
will stand together we will be all right
| After Mr.. Young took his seat the
chairman introduced Mr.. Buchanan as
the "sore-Eye of the Rocky Mountain
News" Before Mr.. Buchanan began to
speak someone proposed three cheers
for "Buck." which were given with a
will. .. 3. :rs.>rs Z.
| He stated that it was the intention OF
this meeting that our own people should
address it. that they should present their
grievances and assert their claims,
Brother Young has very tersely and
coDscientiously given you the causes Of
the strike. 1t was the speakers inten-
ton to say something for the Knights of
Labor, an organization which has been
misrepresented. A part of the press has
undertaken to misrepresent the order.
The organization of the Knights of
Lobor embraces within it's, folds each
branch of industry. 1t advances the
proposition that the producer shall have
what he produces. We believe that we
can gain our ends only through success
full cooperation, that we can gain what
belongs to us by right only by organiza-
ton. Its mode of proceeding is peace
able, Is conservative. Its course in this
matter has been cool, has been fair, has
been conservative. The organization
teaches nothing else, the Rocky Noun
tain News to the contrary notwithstand-
ing. Applause. Workingmen are
beginning to organize into this order.
This strike was organized by the en-
ployes of the Rio Grande shops. Not
one man outside of the employees of
this road organized this strike, and l
brand any man or any sheet as liar
who has ever said that l egged this
strike on, or that any other than Rio
Grande employees started this strike.
After having gone to every official of
the road, from the lowest to the highest,
after having presented theit cause in the
courts, these men have been denied
their rights, and have been told, we will
do nothing for you, we will not right
any wrongs, those who haye been vic
timized, we will not give redress to, and |
we promise 30 redress of grievances in |
the future. AS Brother Young has told
you, the idea of our organization is that
an injury to one is the concern. of aG.n
[Applause.] That is the principle on
which the Knights of Labor proceed.
What we want is for every honest
Knight of Labor, and they are nearly
all honest, thank God, to put his shoul- |
der to the wheel and help on every effort
to gain our just rights.
Every far.seeing man knows that this
action of the Rio Grande road is a pre-
concerted plan for defeating this order.
One year ago our our organization in this
city numbered only about $50. 1t has
to day nearly 5000 members. lap
plause.] This is what has frightened
the capitallstic press and the corporations
of this state [Applause.] They have
been frightened at our growth and our
strength. They have seen that our men,
our members, are clean, respectable and
sober. There is one reporter, and all
honor to the reporters; have nothing
to say against any of them. 1t is the
editors who are against us. There was
one reporter who was present at the
meeting last Sunday who told me: Il
never saw more orderly crowd in my
life" l said, Eyes, and you could 90
around and smell every mans breath
and you wouldn't smell any whisky"
Now, this is what is worrying these capl-a
tabRts and the subsidized press. They
see that we have learned to keep our
wits about us and tnat we have got wits
enough, when we take care of them, to
take care of our rights. We propose to
stand by these Rio Grande men. Now
there are several other speakers here
and l do not desire to take up the time,
but |. feel called upon to say something
personal about myself. This is some
thing that shun, that have Stunned
right along, but 1 feel I should say some
thing. Yon are all aware that have
been made the football of subsidized
press IN this matter. This Infamous
paper said T instigated and egged on
this strike. That is a lie.' They further
said that l wasn't workingman. They
have attempted to attack my character
nv integrity and my standing as an
honest man.
Now, what want to say is this, what
Lam what have been, what will be
am willing to leave my fellow workmer
to Judge. do not ask you to go before
the readers of the Rocky Mountain News
the banks, the railroad offices, The
gambling hells, down on Holiday street
, but to the men and women before. me
A. .,nnnau nnmes thrnuRh HY llttlI