Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1886-10-05


The elevation and protection of the rights of
the working classes were Others
of hardly les importance; were
the rights and privileges of Amer.
lean citizens being trampled on by
organized captal2 Was war to I've declared
against that and WIS it to I've war TO the
knifel Or would there be a peaceful issue 10
the conflict: The constitution was only
framed by compromise and conn roniise
will solve the question of the hour.
Referring to Mr. Powderly's assertion that
the knights of Labor would never l,e polit-
ical party although its members might co
operate with other thinking men in forming
party, Governor lee said that there had
always been. and always would be, two great
political parties Room had never been found
for a third He advised the knights TO
| follow their leaders ADVICE and keeping
| away from politics. fight their battle on the
| original lines He divided capitalists into
| two classes and said that he would fight with
| them against the one which embraced incnr-
| porated rascality. moneyed corporations that
seek to control legislatures by bribery. They
| could draw the fan-s from the money kings
who seek To take possession of the great tele
| graph lines but all capital was not used in
| that way and NO war should be made on those
who Use their good fortune 10 alleviate the
| sufferings of mankind.
Governor Lee then discussed at some
length the relations existing between EN-
ployer and employed, and the possibility of
bringing happiness and prosperity out of
contention and strife by the use of cool
| Judgment, charity and minded
ness Mercantile and manufacturing
| classes could not be benefited by
reducing the laborerer to the verge of starva-
tom 1t was well to have peace between
conservative capital and laboring classes. He
counseled arbitration at all times and called
ihe attention of delegates to the grave respon-
sibility which rested on their decisions.
At the close of his speech, Delegate Frank
Terrell icoloredl, of assembly ~, New York
spoke. He is the delegate who caused Col
Murphy TO reject Il delegation on account OF
color He was formerly OF Richmond, and
has the genuine African stamp. His speech
was as follows;
GOVERNOR LEE AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
| CONVENTION: 1t is with much pleasure and
qualification that ! introduce to YOU Mr. T.
| V. POwderly of the state of Pennsylva
who will reply to the address of welcome Of
Governor Lee Of this state, which is one of the
oldest states i'll the arena of political influence
of our country He Is one of the thoughtful
men of the nation who recognize the i'm
portance of this gathering of the toilne
masses in this, our growing republic. Al
Virginia has led i'll aspirations of our country
In the past, ] look with much confidence that
she will lead in the future to the realization
of the objects of our noble order. 1t is witt
extreme pleasure that We the delegates from
every section of our country receive
the welcome of congratulation fol
our efforts 10 improve the condition o.
humanity. One Of the objects of our order is
the abolition of those distinctions which ar,
maintained by cIeed or color | believe
present 10 you II man above the superstition
which are involved in these distinctions. Nj,
experience with the noble order of knight
Of Labor and my training III my district
has tsught me that we have worked so ia
) fucc essfully toward the extinction of tho
regrettable distinctions As We recognize an,
repose confidence in all men for their wort
in society, 50 can we Tepose confidence in on
of the noblest sons of labor, T. V. Powde ri,
whom now have the pleasure of presentin
, to you
In his reply to Governor Lees address
Mr.. Powderly said that the Knights of Labo
were grateful for the kind words of WELDON
: which had Just been uttered and they wou
, always remember the reception. The no
, pitality of the southern people was prove
bal, but until now many of them nevt
knew what it meant They came TO Ricl
mond not as an army bent ON destruction, III
representatives of any section, but ON "A mi
: sion of peace. Some of those welcomed wei
men who years ago stood On the sacred soil {
old Virginia as mortal enemies, but it wa
neither desire nor duty to speak of ii
conflict in which these men opposed eac
other. The curtain had droppt
> forever upon the last scene, i'll which til
: common people of the United States woul
stand arrayed as enemies. knights of Labc
We're engaged in n conflict, but it was u VIZ
y of truth against error and not as many
? lieved, one of labor against capital. IT
manhood Of American labor was Hghtin