Omaha daily bee., 1886-10-05
Drawn AND MUSCLE MEET
The Great Convention of the Knights Of
Labor in Session at Richmond,
PoWDERLY's OPENING ADDRESS
The Struggle orthe Order Not Against
Capital but MonopOly-Anarch
istic Deeds OF Violence
Denounced.


The knights of Labor.
RICnMoND, Va, Oct. 4.--When the con-
vention of the knights of Labor opened this
morning Governor Lee made the address of
welcome in which he cited that it had
been claimed there was an irrepressiblc con-
ict between capital and labor. He said all
good men would support the present move
ment If 1t was fought against IN
corporated rascaity and conbattcd
great money corporations that sought to con
troll legislation by bribery and corruption.
lie declared that all capital was not employed
for such vicious uses and that any differences
between workmen and enploye would be
settled, as the great constitution had been
drafted. by Cancellation and fair compromise.
Mr.. Powderly,. general master workman,
then addressed the assembly, reviewing the
work of the year, and declared that 1t was
the most eventtul and trying one in the
existence OF the order. "lf we are guided by
the experience of the past" said the speaker,
land act accordingly, we can place the order
upon a footing 50 safe and sure that no
assault from the enemy can iniurc 1t. If
we are not guided by that experience, if we
will fail to properly represent those who sent
us here He cited that in one year more
tEan four thousand assemblies had been or,
ganlzed lie said quite a few had entered
the order and at once plunged into rash
strikes, contrary to the policy of the order.
He spoke of the southwestern railway strike
at great length He said he did not approve
of that strike, but 1t was only when the threat
was made to stop every wheel in the United
States that he raised his voice III denial. lie
did that in defence OF the order and the coun-
try. That southwestern strikers had suffered
great wrongs was true, and 1t was his firm
belief that the railway companies with a full
knowledge of what these grievances were,
prccipitated the tight themselves at time to
make 1t appear to the world that the strike
was tor an insignificant cause. The eight
hour strike was not successful because
neither workmen nor employers were ready
for it. The reduction OF hours OF labor was a
| necessity, and sooner or later must be had,
but the Knights must not forget that
in many places the tcn-hOur plan has not yet
been adopted. The speaker said the proposed
reduction of working hours caused millions
of dollars worth of work to be lett undOnc he
cause of the uncertainty in regard to taking
contracts. Never was it more clearly de-
mOnstrated that an injury to one was the
concern of all than i'll the movement he men
toned. The move was in the right direction,
but the time and circumstances were not
suitable. \ plan should be adopted, such as
suggested at the Cleveland meeting, which
by the cooperation of wOrkingmen'S Organl-
cations and manufacturers associations
could be put into practice without strike or
unsetting business. He declared before
the short hour system would be any benefit,
the relation which wOrkmen bore to labor
saving machinery must undergo a radical
change. Machinery must become the slave
of man instead of keeping man subordinate
to the machine. A plan OF cooperation
through which Workmen may control ma
chinery must SuperSede the present SYSTEM
| Referring to child labor, lie said it should be
| the duty of every assembly to see that all
children should attend school. Opposition
| to child labor was to insure that he should ac-
Quire education to equip HIM for duties which
| would fall upon him as man and citizen.
| He asked that special committee on cduca-
| ton be appointed to prepare and recommend
| plan for the better education Of American
| youth. He closed by treating of the relations
| between the knights and trades unions, and
recommended cooperation. He declared
| that he had been unable to reply to a tenth
! of the letters addressed to him. lie said
he had refrained from replying to
criticism, and while he had been accused
| of lack of nerve for so large movement,
| common sense had sustained him in carrying
the banner of the order He said they would
act according to his wish if they selected
another to ill his place, and he asked them to
vote without sentiment for the best man in
| their Judgment to guide the order.
Mr.. Powderly, in response to the remarks
of Governor Lee, expressed his qualification
at the welcome which had been given the
knights by the people of Virginia, and more
especially the, people of Richmond. Pow
derly, continuing, said: Men who owe allie,
in conflict, but it is in war of truth against
error. 1t is not as many honestly believe
and many more dishonesty assert, 4
war of labor agai9Est capital but il j,
American labor ls.tighting for recognition. In
this war it must be determined which shall
rule-monopoly or the American people
gold or manhood. Our battles are not fought
for the purpose of determining whether the
individual shall rule state or an empire, but
to decide whether the people who are entitled
to life, liberty and happiness shall live in
the full enjoyment of their rights and hbcr
ties as become citizens OF the republic. The
monOpOlist of to-day is more dangerous than
the slave, owner of the past. Monopoly
takes land from the people in million acre
plots 1t sends its agents abroad and brings
lordes of uneducated desperate men to this
country 1t imports ignorance and scatter
it broadcast throughout the land. 1t and i
Of anarchy that our country has wit
to admit that this statemen
is true, but when monopoly dies, no more an
archists will be born unto this country, TO
anarchy is the legitimate child of monopoly
While | continually denounced deeds Of vic
lencc committed in the name of labor durin.
the present year, ] am proud to say that TN
| knights OF Labor as an organization, Is no
In any way responsible for such conduct"
The race issue, raised when the colOret
DELEGATE, Ferrell, was refused admittnnce t.
4 hotel, and his white brother delegates o
without him, has appeared in anothe
shape. The knights of Richmond az
ran, ran ed for parade tournament AM
Pau Ihn s,iin nGXt Mon Monday IN honor %
|
ranEements was appointed. When the Fer
rel question arose il became a problem hoy
the ball could be given without bringing
up in a new and more veXatiOus shape
Ii is contrary to local customs and predju
dices to have whites and blacks a
ball together. II at the knight of LabO
ball both be admitted to the same hall man,
white knights here would refuse to attend |
in separate halls the visiting knights, espe
cially after Powderly's redeclardtlUn of IN,
principles of equality of the races to-day
might refuse invitations.
Another complication sprang from the fac
that William II. Mulln, masterworkman o
the Richmond district is a candidate fol
congress- and his influence is strong will
Tho committee, If it is decided 10 admi
whites ana negroes to the same ball, man
Of his White supporters would abau
don him. The committee OF
arrangements held meeting this evening
and al an early hour this morning had nc
decided what 10 do. Pending q settlement q
the question efforts are being made to kee
secret from the visiting knights the fact of ii
existence. 1t is thought possible that it ma
result in leaving the ball out OF the pre-
gramnle of the days entertainments.
Mrs. Lee and Miss Davis, daughter OF Jei
fersOn Davis, occupied box at the Richmon
theater tonight In the opposite box sa
Mr.. Powdery and Messrs. Hayes and Bailey
OF the executive committee.
Fifty Cents ON the Dollar.
ST. LOUIS, Oct, 4-lhe receiver of III