Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1886-03-25
KNIGHTS OF LABOR,
The's State Assembl- Rsorganize for Work.

Inc state Assembl- 6eorganlze Tor WORK.
The State conference Of delegates from local
! assemblies OF the Knights OF Labor, met in
Lansing March o, There were liz assemblies
represented by ninety-seven delegates.
The convention was called 10 order at ii
o'clock by Andrew Forbes of assembly 90l OF
Detroit, he being the senior delegate Of the
senior local assembly Of the state. Joseph A.
Labad.e of Detroit was chosen temporary
chairman, and George w. Malthew OF Detroit
temporary secretary. The only business ac-
complished during the morning session was
the appointment OF committee on credentials.
On re-tonvening in the afternoon Ills COM
mittee reported that | ~ assemble were rep
resented. The old officers made their reports,
which showed that the old assembly was free
from. debt and that the new organization
about TO be effected could commence opera
, lions unhampered by any obligations whatever.
The afternoon was taken up by a discussion
of the subject of this organization Of a State
Assembly rs pro posed. A ballot was taken
and the organization duly ordered by most
| conclusive vote.
The following is the text of Master Work
! man Deviin's address,
| "BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF THE CONVENTION
Once again it becomes my pleasure and my
duty TO preside over convention composed oi
the repres sentative members OF the knights OF
! labor III the state OF Michigan.
LAS have Matched the growth OF the order
! IN our state and beheld the generous responses
10 the dcta es Of duty and the unselish effort
10 alleviate the sutlerings of those upon whom
! the burdens OF a vicious social system bears
with IA crushing hand, ! cannot refrain nom
! rendering you n hearty congratulation and
bidding you Godspeed In the noble work
when you have set out to accomplish, ant
| which you have accomplished so well. Since
our last meeting, the growth of the order and
the spread of the great truths embodied in our
| declaration of principles have indeed been
marvellous. From the little band of despised
workers seeking TO upliit the masses from the
| reign Oh "a capltallstIc terrorism has grown "A
compact, powerful. all-embracng organization
ramlfying mo every nook and corner OF these
! nlted States
"Looking to our own state we have just
cause 10 be proud. From ever quarter come
the cry "What must do TO be savelH" Send
organizers that we may be embraced in the
iold, and become with you apostles and co
workers In carrying the gospel OF light and re-
generation TO those that struggle in darkness
ana would he Free yet are the more entangled
! From the little cloud upon the Losom O
the sea no bigger than mans hand we have
| grown to gigantic proportions and bid fair TO
| spread over the face OF the earth with the ir-
resistible force OF the whirlwind carrying not
havoc and confusion, but Joy, hope, order and
! Jaw, where before were dependency and CON
fusion.
"The cause in which we are embarked. the
! advocacy OF the rights OF labor, Las so forced
/ itself 10 the front as burning question that
! philosophers and humanitarians have pro-
/
which will not down, and lave urged upon
statesmen the necessity of graphing with Il
/ problem which RANKS high above comparison
with ali others with which the Legislator is
! called upon To deal. While / am sensible OF
/ the demands of that wing OF the order which
deplores any further extension of the functo .
and prerogatlves OF cOercye government and
| whose maxim is Let the workingman work
/ out his own salvation Independent OF eSisla-
tion,' | cannot ignore she facts presented by
/ hn lfr nj NJ al int aTfaE
within certain limits.
lit is rightly urged by the latter that the
! questions OF national defense, the issuing of
tie currency, the protection of life, property
| and the honor OF women, find their reaulest
! and III fact only solution at the hands OF an
| organized representative body delegated by the
| eOple and armed with the power 10 compel
oDeulence.
within the brief space of a few short years
| the Knights of Labor have spread themselves
as vast network over the face OF the country
honored by their friends anu feared by their enc
mics. THIS has been brought about by the mod
Grafton OF their demands the sagacity Of their
counsels, and their answering hdelty to the
! grandest Oh all moral nciples-Justlcel
"A little q CUP OF men meeting IN secret in
/ PHILADELPHIA in 1863, under The lead oil Uriah
/ stephens, has grown and grown, until to-day 1t
4 Is sald that their members are approaching
/ lO0U,OO0 OF persons attached 10 6,OOJ local as
/ sembiits, all actuated By one and the same i'm
!
marching in tue ranks side by side 10 one com
| mon haven.
lin los the order opened its ranks to all
trades and conditions oil honorable labor in
the City OF philadelphia and IN 1915 their
! stren5t tn was over l5UOO mCmDerS. when a dis
trict assembly was formed composed of dele
! gates IRON The various locals.
"ln le1J general ASSEMBLY embracing the
entire United states was iormed the first ma.
tlonal conference was held AZ Reading, Pa, Ge-
.tiC haf
"In 1880 the ranks were thrown open TO wom-
en- anu In 1901 the gieat host iirst moved to
their hrst Of EN- crUsaues WITH an army oil 4U,UOV.
'Early in the year 1852 1t had recruited its
strength 10 10000 rank and file.
'What and where We are to-day is a matter
| OF common knowledge, nom 30J 10 400 assem-
Dles benz formed every month.
''Our onward march has indeed been a pro-
| longeu trIumphal progress with victory perch
ID upon our tanners, and our policy toward
/ our enemies one of justice and magnanlmty.
"A member OF The oruer Las rlgntly said:
''TLc new movement known as the knights
| of Labor" Is tie attempted concentration OF
all the forces of labor. Al is armed with strike
and 10, colt and get holds out the olive branch
! "a arhilration. IL teaches hope OF a peaceful
solution. 1t holus IN check the mob and at
ahe same time walks in tie streets and Dy-ways
mastering Its forces under the banner of mu-
tual assistance Tor mutual good IL lifts its
voice IN legislative halls and may soon be
seated in the councils OF q great nation. Its
mission is TO redeem women IRON the lust of
/ greed OF wealth anu passion. IL is the labor
movement OF the Republic OF the New Century
Oh Liueryp
40 single organization within this century
has set ltseh noDIer TASK To perform than
tIat unuer. aiken by the knights OF Labor, and
10 cody Ga men has ever approached "A difficult
and dangerous wCrk with greater tonscien-
tiuusnesS and more deadly earLestDess.
/ Avowedly the champions OF peace and order
we seek Quairel-with no man. AS in the
past, SO In the future we shall forbear up TO
| the limit when lorDearance ceases to he a vlr-
tue; but let war break out once, our enemies
will not lind us sleeping on our arms, nor
lacking the courage to maintain our rights let
the CONSEQUENCES be what they may.
II should perhaps come to the discussion
of more concrete details, more practical adj
vice in dealing with questions that more near
| ly concern our own needs and wants right
here III the state OF Michigan. l can, however,
advert To but two or three OF the most press
ing questions.
Let me Tor moment call your attention
10 the need of keeping an eye on the mil
lionaire senators anu congressman from this
state in relation to the uemonitiZation OF
silver. In the letter OF February IL, 1855, adj
dressed 10 Mr. Cleveland By ninety-flve mem
bers OF the last House OF Representatives, 1t is
said
1T can be shown that it will take more
OF the produce of labor to pay what remains
of our national debt than it would have taken
at the close OF the war. Eighteen million
bales o. cotton were the equivalent in value
of the entire Understanding debt in 1861
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