The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-06-17
KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
The Lecture of Hon. Chas. H
Litchman Last Evening.
A Large Attendance at the Pavilion
to Learn the Mission of
the Order.

to Learn the Mission of
the Order.
More than three hundred people, among
them many ladies, assembled in the Butte
Pavilion, last evening, to listen to the
speech OF the Hon. Charles H. Litchman on
s'The Mission OF the Knights Of Labor"
Music of a cheering character was furnished
by Orton's band.
The: meeting was organized by electing
VIM. Weir chairman. The following-named
persons were elected Vice-Presidents and
were called to the speakers stand-Messrs.
Holbrook, Killgallen, Boland, Holling-
wood, Maloy, Gilligan, Adamson, Haggerty
Hanson, Coulson, Blake and Drs. Sarchet
and Bacon.
The speaker of the evening was then in
PRODUCED by Mr.. Weir as follows
Ladies and Gentlemen:-We have met
here this evening for the purpose of listen
ing to a subject entitled "The Mission OF
the Knights of Labor" This organization
thus ~fayorably known in this part Of the
country, extends it's membership, which is
fast increasing, both on the Atlantic and
Pacific slopes. We have been somewhat
laboring under misapyrehension in this par
ticular part OF the country. The press it
seems has dropped a little note which has
left q bad impression on the people. Men
should consider that capitalists are too
ready to take this opportunity of using
their influence against, this organization.
They necessarily have done it ignorantly-
the press, probably is not to blame. Still,
nevertheless, these words were mentioned
in the daily press that we were to be classed
with thugs, thieves, Chinese, Mollie Ma
guires and such, and that we should go
peaceably if we would and forcibly if we
must. This set the Knights OF Labor to
thinking that this was a bad impression,
and there is no better way of answering the
castigation than this. We have here to-
night a speaker who will express the inter-
ests of this order to these laboring men
also the interests of this order to the CAPT.
talists DIS well. And further we have the
honor OF having one OF the speakers present
with us tonight who was one Of the
founders OF the first general assembly OF the
Knights OF Labor, which was founded in
January, 1878. l will not occupy your
time any longer but will most respectfully
introduce to you the Hon. Charles H. Litch-
man. (Applause).
Mr.. Litchman stepped forward, and at
once entered upon the subject OF his lecture,
as follows:
Mr.. Chairman, Brothers. Sisters and
Friends of Butte City:-The subject which
brings us together tonight, as my friend
has SO well said. is one which interests you
as working men and women, and which in
terests to an equal degreethose who employ
you; for under that condition of society
- - - lo- 4ho %onoa4 of %hn
employee and the employed are reciprocal;
what Injuries one Injuries the other; what
benefits ones mustlnecessarily benefit the
other. Two things 60 to make up the
wealth and prosperity OF a nation. First,
what it produces /; second a distribution OF
it's products, or perhaps, expressing it in
one word, consumption. Production and
consumption, then, are the elements OF a
nations prosperity. By production, of
course, we mean the use of what we need
as given to us in natures for the
good of mankind. Now, every man,
whether he be high or low, rich or poor,
proud or humble, must have three things;
He must lave something to eat, something
to wear and a shelter from the elements.
These three things are
THE MAGISTRATES OF LIFE. ,
We cannot obtain these three things only
in one of three ways. We can earn them,
we can buy them, wet can steal them-either
a w~orkingman, a beggar or a thief. We are
too proud to beg and, l hope, notwith-
standing the bad name that has some
times been given to us as an order that we are
too honest to steal. Therefore We prefer to
earn these necessaries OF life, and we will
earn them if we can receive What we believe
every ~workingman has a right to demand,
an honest days pay for an honest days
toll. [Applause.]
Then the duty that the employer owes to
the employed is to give him just remuner-
alton for his labor, and there are two sides
to the obligation. We have the right to
demand from those who employ us an hon
Those who employ us in their turn have
the right also to demand that we should
give an honest days toll for an honest
pay. Turn about is fair play, and l
would be false to my duty to you'll would
be false to my duty to labor-I would be
false to my duty to the organization which
| represent here tonight if l did not appeal
to every sense of manhood that you possess
give to your employers an honest days
toll for an honest days pay. (Applause).
Now, then, we have all around us here,
and particularly in this wonderland, where
you work, evidences OF the blessings OF the
ltllc CItdUOl upO III 4OCSA W.
have mineral wealth here which in the great
reality far
EXCEEDS THE Widest DREAM
of the tales of the Arabian Nights. Here,
locked up in the bosom OF the earth is
wealth which may enrich mankind for gen.
erations to come-all waiting for the magic
touch of laborto bring it to the surface and
to add to the wealth and prosperity OF the
nation. [Applause.] Labor creates all
values. Everything that We enjoy; the
clothes we wear, the food we eat; the house
hat gives us shelter from the elements; this
sembIance (pointing to a lamp) OF thenoon-
day sun, are all given us as the product OF
labor. Labor creates all values. Labor IS
at least entitled to a just share OF the wealth
that it creates. Applause. How can labor
obtain that? 1t is part OF my duty hereto
night to try to express one OF the many
in which labor can reach that result.
Perhaps, right here, some friendly critic
NAV say that labor is not the only element
in the solution of the problem. That capt.
tai is necessary. We'll, now, let us see: Let
lis be perfectly honest. l will not willingly
or knowingly make a statement here to-
night that | do not believe to be correct. l.
will not willingly or Knowingly make a state
ment that 1 do not, in my heart OF hearts,
believe to be true. Capital, our critic would
say, is necessary. Let us see. come lhCo
your camp, you may say, as many OF you
perhaps came, before all this wealth was IN
process Of development. l came scratching
along the hills to see if 1 could find colors.
I believe that is the expression that you
use; kindly correct me if it is not, because
remember kind friends, l am a shoemaker
and not a miner. [Laughter.]
WEALTH CREATION.
Rv the indications so well known to you
it all looks alike to me by the Indications
so well known to you, you scrlke a pay
streak. ( believe you call it. Now, we will
test this question, whether it is capital or
labor that develops this wealth. will say
| have it in my power to call to my assist,
ance on the one hand a hundred Thousand
dollars in gold. have on the other hand
a hundred men, with pick and shovel and
drill. l will put the gold on the surface OF
the earth. 1 could leave it there until every
individual eagle unfofds its wings and HES
and not a ton OF ore will come out OF
the ground. Then l will call up my hum
dred men, and 1 have only to give them
food before they make the first days work
nav for it. That will pay for the food they
eat. The second days work gives a bal
ance over their food for their labor, and IN
creases my capital. The third and fourth
-. ., @ on incr- Are caDltal and de-