Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-21
DISCUSSING THE KNIGHTS.
The Youths historical Society De
bate a Question of Interest.

The Youths historical Society De-
bate a Question of Interest.
The Youths Historical Society debated
last night at Masonic Temple the ques-
ton Are the knights OF Labor, as an or
| ganization, beneficial TO tine countryT
Messrs. A. S. Cohen and W. 5. Byck
were the disputants on the affirmative
and Messrs. A. +. Dryfus and F. j. kul-
man handled the negative side. Mr..
Henry Strauss was temporary chairman
and Messrs. Sol. Binswanger, Sig. Epstein
and Moses Lilienthel the judges.
The debaters in the affirmative asked
the judges to disabuse their minds of any
! prejudiced opinion concerning the
Knights of Labor which might have been
formed from colOred accounts in the daily
press. The purpose Of the organization
was explained from speeches of Grand
Master Workman Powderly, the
preamble to the constitution of
the order and official declara-
tions. Among the objects mentioned
were the abolition OF child labor and con-
Wet labor, the prevention Of the impOrta-
| ton of contract foreign labor, the substi-
tuition OF arbitration in all matters of
| dispute between workman and employer,
the establishment OF check on the ag-
gregatlon of immense wealth, the restO-
ration to the people of land stolen by
railroads, the attainment of Justice tor
| the wOrkingman, and the education OF the
masses to the knowledge of their rights.
One OF the fundamental principles of the
body was declared to be the greatest good
to the greatest number. 1t is an Organi-
zatlon OF labor against monopoly and not
against capital.
Powderly was quoted as saying, in sup
port of the order, that 1--WE believe that
the declaration OF independence is more
than mere words and phrases. Politi-
clans, however, had degraded and de-
feated some of its mightiest truths. Law
and order must prevail The burglar who
breaks a vault is no more criminal than
the man who breaks railroad or other
corporation. The land should belong to
the people. The slavery of twenty-five
years ago never created millionaire,
while the slave labor of to-day has Gre
ated hundreds"
Bribery and corruption need to be stop
ped, and the knights Of Labor are trying to
educate the masses to scorn and punish
bribers and cheaters in halls OF legIsla-
ton and temples OF justice. The prinei-
pies of the body we're declared to DE those
OF GOOD citizenship. The justice of strikes
was illustrated by the Augusta strike.
One of the affirmative speakers stated
that some of the employees in Augustus
cotton mills were getting but Sic. day
and it was resolved to further reduce that
figure. In twelve years past the mill
companies stock has paid 200 per cent. in
dividends.
The speakers on the negative declared
that the good which the order does for
humanity is more than Offset by the mis-
cry, suffering, violations of the law, and
injustice resulting from strikes and boy
colts. Even the representative men OF
the order were declared to be Indifferent
90 hs~ lfrlN g,FN k,srs folN
the leaders were charged with frequently
trampling on those rights. Children
sometimes must labor to prevent the sick
father or mother from starving. Stetson,
Il liberal minded hat manufacturer of
Philadelphia, was bOycotted because he
employed children under 10, although
they were offered the advantages of
school at night.
The street car drivers strike in New
York, the Armour pork packers strike of
Chicago, the strike on GOulds roads in
the Southwest, were referred to as exam
plies of positively inexcusabe injury to
capital, trade and rights. A workman
ON one of Gould's roads in Texas was dis
charged for incOmpetency. He was
member of the knights of Labor, and his
fellow members demanded that the sus-
pended man be taken back. A long
strike ensued, trade was paralyZed, and
lives were lost. Eight hours dav
were demanded in Chicago instead of ten.
1t was given a trial by the pork packers,
and they said the men would have to
work ten hours or the houses would have
to be closed. Other strikes in which the
strikers were ordered back were cited,
and 1t was asserted that the public has
time and again arisen, an impartial
judge, and condemned the acts OF vIo-
lence and the Doycotts of the Knights of
Labor. The negative disputants con-
cluded that an unbiased student of the
question. while admitting that the pur-
poses OF the organization are IN the main
laudable, would be convinced that the
boly mas not yet done as much towards
the prosperity OF this country and the ad-
vancement of the cause of humanity as
harm has been done by the strikes and
bOycotts.
The judges who decided upon the argu-
ments advanced, without regard to the
merits of the cause, gave their opinion in
favor OF the negative.
Cray Kate" a recitation by Mr.. A. S.
Guckenheimer, was well given.
number of Knights Of Labor were
present during the debate.