Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-06
WHAT TIE PAPsRs SAY.
Press Comments ON tho Convention
aud tho OPENING Address.

Baltimore american: Master. Workman
POWdeTly's reply 20 the address of welcome
Of Governor Lee at Richmond Yesterday
was IN his usual style. II was vigorous
and interesting, and Il was evidently writ
ten with great care, 50 that through the
medium Of the newspapers il might reach
a larger audience than that which gave it,
strict attention to the speakers words.
ANY one who reads 1t will not doubt for an
ln,ilt the zeal and sincerity of Nj. Pow
dcrly. He l. wrapped up In he cause OF
which be i the able head. lie ha- gained
"A very wcll.descryed reputation a. the
maker OF apt phrases.
Baltimore sun: Governor Lee, Ot Nir-
cinia, Yesterday extended in the name OF
the Mother of states a cordial welcome 10
the hundreds oi representatives, OF labor
who have assembled in convention at Rich.
moud TO consider the interests OF their or
der. lis AIMS, the Governor showed, II
wisely conceived. may be realized IN cntire
harmony with The interests oi the rest OF
the community.
Baltimore Herald: II wa, the last Pow
Derry. address, that the country was
looking toward TO with some expectancy,
and we must say that Mr. Powdorly az.
quilted himself creditauly. III, speech
Greatbes the same spirit of moderation that
has characterized all hi, past uttefances.
He declared that there i no dght between
labor and CaIiial, but A War Of labor on
mCnoQoly. which latter be hhl responsible
ior the eauarchical displays tbI, have recently
disgTaccd this country. y, 10 the attitude
Of the workin.men on this SUBJECT, be said:
" lie j. the true knight OF l. .bDr Who with
one hand clutches anarchy by the throat
aud with the other >,rIugiyS monopoly"
National Repubhcan: The opening day
II tie great Convention at Richmond was
rendered peculiarly impofttn', - much by
the speech of Governor Fitzhugh Lee a.
by the able summary of principles mIdeby
GranG. Master POwdeIly. We know sOmc-
thing about the general position ~ the lat
ter gentleman, who has been prominently
before the public for years, but Of the
opinions on the labor question held by one
Nho j. the nephew of Il. T.. lee and Cow
crnor of the Old Dominion. much hI' not
been made known until yesterday. The
Governor u.ed many strong express
Sions, although, perhaps n one in such
authority was compelled To do, he qualified
and modified their strength by tbc addition
Of 4 go0Gly number OF comm0npliceS. For
instance. It was not necessary that man
should come from his grave tp tell knights
Of Labor "It is great mistake 10 think
that all classes are hostile 10 the llb0fi0g
class" or that arbitration j. good thing.
or although Samson OytTthrew the temple
Of the Phil!stineS il j. Instructive 10 70
member Whist became Of SamsOl.' Doubt
les. it IS well to know ana remember all
such matters. but they are not al all likely
10 be forgotten.
However. the Governor wl> hot blowing
bot and cold when he uttered The follow.
ing words: Here the RopUIiicm quote
What Governor Lee said about war agains,
incorporated rascality.l
No man could have used words which
eAprcr> more strongly the necessity for Or
ganizallon and cooperation. aud. as Goy-
ernor lie, ENJOYS the reputation Of one who
does rot believe that the sole function OF
language i, 10 conceal thought, his advice
10 the KNIGHTS VIII come With all efficacy
aud authority nom the Tact tDat he clearly
believes in what be says.
Philadelphia Times: The boycott j. the
first weapon that organized labor should
discard. II j. antI-Amcrican, unlawful.
and despotic, and il has been used IN nine
cases out OF ten without either Justification
or the semil lance of discretion. n j. the
fayorite weapon Of the idler. the lawicss,
the Anarchist; Il is unjust 10 both labor
and capital, and II las cost industry ten
fold more than il has cost capital. II Of
iends the universal sense of justice that II
cherished by free people, and 70 labor
organization can endure that employs IL.
Even II not violation Of the letter OF the
law, It is a clear violation Of the whole
spirit oi our institutions, and all who en-
ploy ii will surely perish by IL. The boy.
cott. as commonly under,tood and prac-
ticed. can no longer have any recognition
in industrial organizations industry
would command the respect and power IL
so well deserves in a land where labor Is
the fountain Of national grandeur aud
prosperity:
We regard the Richmond session Of the
Grand Assembly OF the knights OF Labor
a. the crucial test Of the ability OF the or
ganIzatiOn 10 consummate Il, great aims
by assured prosperity 10 labor. lt can do
50 il IL will; It can easily make sbipwreca
OF its cause and OF Itself ii 1t shalt fail TO
SUMMON wisdom TO guide it In the solu-
ton Of the vast problem II must meet. 10
was born in a Government Of liberty and
law. and it can 1--we aud prosper only by
scrupulous fidelity 10 the liberty and law
which have dignifed and prospered labor
when all other peoples OF the earth have
degraded and impoverished Il.
Philad, lphia North american The
knights are now in Richmond and have
begun the work OF their great Convention.
The action that they may take upon the re-
vision OF their organization is more impOr-
tant to The order than TO the public. but their
course In the matter Of strikes and boy
cots concerns the whole community. Tbs
10 be made on this tuDortant
point will show whether TIE knights Of
Lator Is an association that possesses the
spirit q advancement. aad is therefore des-
tined 10 live, grow, aud do good. As 10
strikes, there l. a very commoa principle
known 10 all men and all nations which the
Knights can safely follow. \ strike lswaF.
War is never popular unless The cause is
good. The cause is never sufficient until
All peaceful means have failed. And peace
iul means have never failed until one side
utterly refuses 10 engage In or continue
peaceful negotiations.