The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-09-08
KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
Address by MIR. Frank X. Foster III
City Hall.

Last evening Mr. Frank K. Foster, edltor
of the Haverhill Labor, delivered an address
in City Hall, upon the subject of labor ana
its relation to the Knights of Labor. The
hall was about two-thirds full and the au.
dlence gave good attention to the close ol
the meeting, applauding frequently.
Rev. Henry Blanchard presided, and upon
taking the chair spoke for about fifteen MIN
utes, mentioning his pleasure at being called
upon to preside over the meeting, and con-
graduating the members of the organization
upon the success of the Knights OF LABOR.
lie said that he was glad the order mad OPP
posed violence, and spoke OF objections nc
entertained to certain rules of the organlza-
tlon. lie thought 1t unWlSe to exclude law
yers and bankers from the association, put
expressed his qualification that no rumseller
is allowed to obtain membership. The chair
man advocated a system by which questions
of Importance might be discussed in the
meetings of the assemblies. MI. Blanchard,
at the conclusion of his remarks, introduced
the speaker of the evening.
MIR. Foster spoke for about an hour and
quarter, using no notes. His remarks were
chiefly of general nature, touching upon
the different phases of the labor ques-
ton and the purposes and demands OF the
Knights of Labor. He said that he did not
intend to make political speech. The ques-
ton of American labor is behind the politl-
cal questions of the day, and will last after
election. Every great progressive movement
goes through three stages, that OF rldicule,
that of persecution and the final condition OF
success. Anillustration of this fact is found
i'll the anti-slavery agitation which finally
brought about the emancipation of the slaves
in this country. The Knights of Labor to-
day are in the era OF persecution, but look
ing ahead begin to see the dawning of sue
cess.
nm. IL e r 10
mandS a fair days pay for a fair day S work.
They want to give employment to the vast
number of idle men in this country by re-
ducing the number of hours in the working
day. Modern economists treat labor as a
commodity but it must be governed by diff
ferent laws than those in relation to merchan-
disc. Theirs is a moral law which must be con-
sidered. Labor is not controlled by the laws
of supply and demand but rather is power
over them. The more people there are en-
ployed and the better the wages they re-
ceiye the greater will be the demand. Over
production. the speaker said, cannot exist
while there are so many people in the world
in want of the necessaries of life
Politically the Knights Of Labor, said Mr..
Foster, should look above party ties. The
promises of politicians to the labOring men
are good as promises, but they are generally
nothing else. Here in Maine, it is idesired
that the members of the organization shall
endeavor to secure the passage OF ten hour
law as Il UISb SGeP tOWUIuS u SbdGuIc uldkluS
eight hours days work, and law forbid
ding the employment of children under fif-
teen years of age in factories and other
places where they would be required to per-
form hard labor.
The speaker said that the capitalist should
be treated in a spirit of friendliness by the
laboring men, but that the latter objected to
partnership where the one did all the boss
ing and took nearly all the returns, and the
other did all the work. OF labor saving in
ventions, Mr.. Foster said that they annually
threw ten thousand men out of employment
in this country The farmers daughter who
fifty or sixty years ago turned the spinning
wheel, had a comfortable home and enjoyed
the advantages of good society. Labor saw
ing inventions have placed the wages of the
factory girl at mere pittance and closed to
her the door of good society.
The speaker opposed the acquisition OF
land in this country by the subjects of any
foreign power, and in closing said that the
labor agitation is one for better food and
clothing; for better homes in which may be
found articles of comfort and taste, which
will serve to educate and uplift
AND THE LABORING, AND LOWER
CLASSES; THOSE PEOPLE WHO LA
Dor FOR THEIR BREAD.-WILLLAM
TT HT TEEOPn Ar NOPTIT r EPVTCK