The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-10-05

Ipa1A ~ 70 Wy AulkllVuE W lhlbolAt 4uk
will lead you into the path Of peace,
REBuRR.
Ths large audience listened with close
attention, and frequent applause marked
their approval OF the principal points
made. When the Governor had taken
his seat on the platform, Frank ], Ferrell,
the COlored member OF the delegation
, from District 40, OF New York, whose as
soCiates refused tO take up their quarters
In the hotel where he was refused
admission on an equal footing, assembled
the platform, and taking the stand beside
! the presiding officer, said;
"His ExGellenCy, Governor OF Virginia,
and gentlemen Of the convention, 1t is
with much pleasure and qualification that
Introduce to you Mr., 7, V. Powderly, Of
the. State oil Pennsylvania, who will reply
to the address OF welcome OF Governor
i, Lee, OF thls Stats, which Ia one Of the old
est statos In tho arena of political in
tuenCs OF our country"
When Mr., Powderly stepped forward he
was received with loud applause. The
Grand Master Workman expressed his
qualification at the welcome which had
been given the Knights by the people Of
Virginia, and more especially the people
oI, Richmond, MIR. Powderly continuing,
said;
PowDERLY's SPEECH.
"The men who owe allegiance to the
Knights Of Labor are engaged In aconflct,
but 1t Is Ia war Of truth against error.
1t is not as many honestly believe and
many more dishonesty assert, war OF
labor against Capltal-it Isl war in which
the manhood OF the American laborsr Is
fighting for recognition. In this war it
must be determined which shall rule,
monopoly or the American peopls, gold or
manhood. Oar battles are not fought for
the purpose OF determining whether On
individual Rhall rule u Stste or an Empire,
but to decide whather psople who ara
entitled to life, liberty and happiness shall
I've ~ the full enjoyment Of their rights
and liberties as becomes Cltizsns Of q Re-
public.
mo member must feel, as he turns
away iron the city OF Richmond after our
work here is doue, that he can safely or
Conscientiously thrust aside the grave re-
responsibilities aud duties OF our American
citizenship. Popular dgr0gard Of politi.
cal duty and tolerated, continued political
corruption, will weaken our Government
and destroy our liberties, for the worm
can eat Its way through the oak which
storm or tempest could not bend, and pol.
itiCal dishonesty will strike where the
lightning could never reach. II this land
was worthy that brave men should die
for 1t, 1t is AT least worthy that uusehsh,
thoughtful men should live and work in q
grand devotion to the ideas OF q real, 4
true Democracy. We come here not alone
10 settle the question oil a dispute in 70.
gard to wages or hours Of labor, Wa come
here partly to study aud leNrn some les.
sons Of the head aud heart in practical
citizenship. We are engaged in a work
which to the thoughtful observer means
moro than childs play; more than the
regulations ot trade matters, and the work
will not end to-day, nor will the youngest
among us live to SEQ 1t completed. To
remedy evils VIC complain Of Is q difficult
undertaking. The need OF strong hearts
and active brains was never 80 great "a ct
the present time. Tho lash was stricken
from the hand Of tho slave owner OF
twenty-five years ago, and 1t must be
taken from the hand Of the new slave
owner as well.
THE MoNoPoMST.
In conclusion Mr.. Powdorly said: "Ths
nonopolist Of to-day is more dangerous
than the slavs,owner OF the past. Mo.
nopoly tAkes the land from the people in
mlllion.aCro plots, 1t sends It's agent
abroad and brings hordes OF uuetfucated,
desperate men to this country; II Imports
Ignorance aud scatters it broadcast through
out the land. II, and italone, is responsi.
bic for every manifestation OF anarchy
that cur country has witnessed. All nsn
may not bs willing 10 admit that this state.
monti Is true, but when monopoly dies no
more anarchists will ho born unto this
country for anarchy Is tho legitimate child
Of monopoly. While condemn and de.
nounce the deeds OF violence committed
In the name OF labor during the present
year, | am proud to say that tho knights
Of Labor, as an organization, Il not in any
way responsible for such conduct, He il
the true Kuinht Of Labor who with one
hand clutches anarchy by tho throat aud
With the other stranGleS monopoly. Itis
not just to charge the order with wrong
doing because one member or ono Assem-.
| bly, violates the laws Of the ordsr or the
land. Nor Is 1t right for Knights OF Labor
to hold all employers responsible for an
act OF oppression by an individual EN-.
ployer. "Hear both sides and ludpe.n il
q maxim worthy Of remembrance,
S)me ot ths mem6srs OF tho visiting
IIulhVniinnu uyh Nf lawha. Al
their brothers, Mr. Powderly said, could
not hnd places In some Of tho hotels. This
was in accordance with what had long
been the custom here, and old customs
and preiudlces do not readily vanish.
There had been particular mention made
| Of ono instance where delegation mum.
berng sixty members had only one color.
cd member among them. He was refused
admission to the hotel whore they intend.
cd 10 90, and tho delegation, standing by
the principles ot the order, which rooo4.
niSes no distinctions OF or6ad nationality
or color, went with their colored brother,
That, he said, was why he made the geleo.
ton Of that brother 10 Introduce him 10
them so that 1t might 20 forth that thew
prNCtlCed what they preached.
At the close OF his address Mr.. Powder.
| ly requested that Rll those present who
were not delegates should retire, and
thanked them for having come to The
opening session.
Mr.. Bennett, Of the Richmond district.
moved vote Of thanks to Governor Lee,
and alter this was heartily and unani.
mously given 1t was followed by burst
Of rousing chcorS for Vir4inla's Governor,
All but tho delegates then left the hall,
aud tho convention settled down 10 the
practical work that had called them TO-.
gether aud In which they bid fair to bs on .
gagged for tho next two weeks or more. In
, secret aesslon the only business done waB
tho appointment Of q committee on minor
credentials. An adjournment was then
taken 10 . o'clock tomorrow morning.
THE COLOR QUESTION.
Tho race issue raisCd when colorcd
delegate was refused admitLanCs to a hotel
sI III ,,,kttn i,s.lt,, ,s "A tnnaAaa ~ fNi.t.it