The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-10
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
Colonel Maynard Tells of the Duty of Labor
ing Men to Organize.

The Knights of Labor met at Mozart Hall.
with others not members, the entire audience
numbering less than hundred, to hear the
address of Col j. B. Maynard. Samuel l..
Leffngwell was selected as chairman of the
meeting
Colonel Maynard, in his address, advocated
reduced hours of labor, opposed State armament,
and opposed the employment of criminals as a
source of profit to the State. The last he char
acterized as one of the most repulsive systems
that laboring men were ever required to con-
template. His speech, which was long, was
listened to with close attention and enthusiast
tically received. His speech concluded sub
stantially as follows:
labor, has what is designated as Labor Bureau
II is not department of the government re-
quiring secretary, a constitutional adviser of
the President when that high functionary wants
any information relating to the affairs of the
great Republic, with its ten millions of laboring
men, No; on such occasions, no laboring man.
no representation of laboring men is permitted
to be present Tucked away somewhere, the
Labor Bureau may be found by searching, and
when discovered it will appear about as much
home looks like st. Peters at Rome
While laboring men receive less
attention from the government than is bestowed
upon its mules. the Indian between fighting him
and feeding him, is the boss JOB of the country.
Indian agents are rated high in the official
market. but when a man is wanted to gather
statistics relating to labor, horsethief. in one
instance at least. answers the requirement. The
millions VINO toll, who create the wealth, who
till the soil and reap the harvests, whose works
are the only enduring monuments which mark
the march of civilization have no representation
around the council board of the Nation. Nor
will they ever have such a representation
until they federate for the one
grand purpose of making their rights, interests
and position felt and recognized in governmental
affairs. This can only be done by the intelligent
use of the ballot. which would place representa-
tive laboring men of convictions in legislatures
and in Congress- Labor has not now and never
has had commanding influence in the legislative
halls of State or Nation
Laboring men have not learned the power of
union, of federated effort, to assert and maintain
their rights. There is everywhere want of
labor forces for the grand purpose
of giving labor its merited prominence
in State and national affairs. There is
a want of that sympathy, that universal broth
erhood regard without which the millennial
era of labor will never dawn while moons shall
wax and wane. Laboring men must unite in
the sublime purpose of improving their condi-l
tion No intelligent laboring man familiar with
current events need be told that the present is
d tiIu6 WHEN ldUOF luLoT0SCS arc approaching d
crisis OF extreme tension and of profound solicit
tude A whole army OF labor questions are
coming to the front, and they are coming for
settlement ..3'f
God said: '"Thou shalt not steal;" which,
translated into modern statutes would read thou
shalt not corner wheat and corn, and meat
whereby consumers are robbed. Thou shalt
not reduce wages on the one hand and advance
the price of the necessaries of life on the other
hand, because that is double theft It is
cta linz md SC c&oa lino "a 10
robbery and murder combined. What labor
needs is that laboring men shall realize the dig
mites of their various callings and the power of
unifcation and federation. Until this grand
will remain practically unchanged Cast your
ballots for who will recognize your rights
and defend them. s'.ei
like the word federation. More than hun
dred years ago. by the power Of federation, the
infant American colonies wrested the scep-
ter of power from the British King
and established the great American republic.
In union there is strength. l like the signs of
the times, the slumbering energies of working
men are being aroused Order is taking the
wrong is losing its grip. The Knights of Labor,
thoroughly equipped for the crusade, are multi
plying in number; they are coming into line,
and are as terrible as an army with banners.
The star OF labor Is rising. Federation. your
Shibboleth word, has a conquering significance.
1t will usher in a new era of law and jurispru-
dence; it will eventually achieve the browning
glory of placing labor and the interests of the
laboring men where they rightfuliy belong-in
the front rank of questions which Congress and
Legislatures are required to discuss.
Then let us pray that come it may
As come it will for a. that.
That and worth DER a the EARTH
May bear the gree and a. That's
For a. that, and a. that
That man to man to warld Ger,
Shall brothers be for a that"
At the conclusion of Colonel Maynard's speech
Senator Bailey, horny handed toiler in the
courts of nisi prius, efoquently told his suffer
ings in the cause of labor, and buckled up his
champion belt notch higher. Mr.. Bailey is q
wholesale dealer in confectionery.
The meeting then adjourned.