Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-06
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
The Annual Address Of General Master
Workman POwdeFly.

THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
Ene Annual Address Of General Master
Workman POwderly.
The report of the credent ial committee of the
knights Of Labor convention at Richmond was
not presented until O'Clock yesterday after
noon Then roll-calI of the 500 members of the
convention was proceeded with, and was not
finished until $50. The com mittee had reached
decision on all but eight or ten names, and
tnese were referred to the convention itself.
Inc report presented was I'M animous. Protests
were made on behalf of delegates excluded by
the decision of the committee. Arguments
were made for and against acceptance of the
report, and If the statements OF delegates who
lett the hall during the debate may be believed
the feeling shown on both sides in several cases
was very strong. At length the report was ac-
cepted. and 1t was decided that those whose
names mad been read from the roll prepared by
the committee on credentials were entitled to
seats. When this result was reached the others
We're requested to leave, and quietly retired
VIII De from 8 to IL a. m. and toe p. m.
THE COLOR QUESTION.
The committee of arrangements of local
knights, appointed to determine the details of
the entertainment to be given the visiting
Knights next Monday, have decided to let the
question OF the commingling of white and col
Qred people at the ball that evening settle ITSELF
IL mas been arranged to have two dancing
Lynch said 1t was not the intention to assign
one 70 white Knights and the other to colored
hnlghts This order recognized no such dis
!lhctlons, put at the same time the feeling here
In regard to social intercourse of the races was
| SO Well understood they anticipated no trouble
on That score. The same attitude was taken
regarding the banquet.
Mr. Powderly yesterday received a telegram
T rom hlchmond, Ind, signed by James l.
| Ing him for the stand he had taken in behalf of
| the colored race
Mr.. POwderly's Annual Address
General Master Workman Powderly will to-
day present his manufactures to the conven-
| ton. 1t has already been made public The
main points in it follow. In opening Mr..
Powderly told the Knights that If they were
guided by the experience of the past they
would place the order on such firm tounda-
tlon that no assaults by its enemies could in
!ure II. Calling attention to the remarkable
increase in the order since the Hamilton con-
vention, 1868 assemblies having been organ
lied in one year, the address says the new
! members SO suddenly brought together could
been attracted toward the order through mere
curiosity; others have come for purely selfish
motives, while the great bulk of new recruits
nave Joined for the good that they could do.
MOI lew Joining the order for the purpose of
| Iedressins some immediate wrong, plunged at
| Ing anything OF the duty OF the knight to the
order. The troubles coming from this direction
began while the last general assembly was in
ganized under promise from the organizer that
they would receive aid, unStinted. in case of a
strike. Even before the receipt OF their charter
tney were On strike. Their proceedings were
characterized by such utter disregard for our
| laws and teachings that the paid aud known
agents OF their employers, the detectives had no
difficulty in securing the passage of motions OF
violent character. 1t is an established fact
that men who were employed by detective
agencies stood upon the floor OF that assembly
made lnf1ammatOry speeches urging the men
| to deeds Of violence, and urged that the prop
erty OF the street car companies Ue destroyed.
IL was only the good sense OF the men that pre-
vented such outrages from being perpetrated
although these agents of u neiarous spy sys-
tenn induced some desperate men TO blow up
the cars upon the streets. For these outrages
the order was in no way responsible The ST
Louis car troubles were but the beginning of
the tidal wave of strikes and boycOtts which
swept over the country, and which strained
the strength and resources of your general Off
GERS almost beyond their powers OF endurance
The southwest strike began when the time aud
attention OF the general officers were taken up
with other matters OF vital Importance. No
notice OF the contemplated action Was given to
us. and we knew nothing whatever concerning
II or the causes leading to 1t until it had been
In progress several days.
Continuing, Mr.. Powderly said: at has been
asserted that condemned the men while they
were on strike. No such statement ever es-
capped my lips. The only statement of mine
That could be made to appear in the light OF a
condemnation was that contained in my secret
circular OF the 18th of March, IL copy of when
Is herewith submitted. l did not approve OF
that strike. could not do SO, since confidence
enough was not reposed in the general eXecu-
tive board to give them chance TO examine
into the grievances which the members OF ID,
A. 1O1 complained OF. 1t was only when the
threat was made to stop every wheel in the
the difficulty, that raised my voice in denial.
did that in defense OF the order and the coun-
try. L am quite willing to assume all the re-
sponslbiities attached to the act, and would do
the same again under similar circumstances
That the men of the southwest suffered wrongs
Is true; they were many and grievous and 1t is
a raj W. % 0f,srN. All
with a full knowledge of what these grievances
were, precipitated the fight themselves, ut u
time when il would APP Gear to the world that
the strike was Tor an inslg niticant cause"
THE EIGHT-HOUR MOVEMENT.
Referring to the discOuraging outcome OF the
eight-hour strike, Mr.. Powderly said:
1.-The Federation of Trades recommended the
LIST OF May, but adopted or suggested no definite
plan by which the shOrt-hOur system could pc
inaugurated. cautioned our members against
rushing into this movement. had the right
to do It, and am firm in the belief that had
not done SO great loss would have been en- tailed
upon vast numbers OF our assemblies. What 1
said in my secret circular OF March Ii has Teen
severely criticised, and have been accused of
opposing the eight-hOur movement. No state
ment ever was further from the truth. Op-
posed the strike on May because knew that
neither wOrkmen nor employers were ready
for it, because the education which must
alway precede intelligent action had not been
given to those most In need OF II, because no
definite, business-like plan tor the Inauguration
OF the eight-hour movement had been mapped
out. A reduction OF the hours OF labor is neces-
siLy and sooner or later must be had, but we
must not forget that in many places the ten.
hour plan has not been adopted yeL The very
discussion OF the sudden Introduction of the
eighthOur plan injured business, SO much SO
that in many places men were reduced TO half
time or thrown out vi employment altogether.
Millions of dollars worth OF work was left I'M
done because OF the uncertainty in regard 10
taking contracts or In making engagements TO
perform work. Never was it more clearly DEM
onstrated that IAN injury TO one is the concern
OF all than In the movement am speaking OF.
Before the eight-hour plan is adopted the
Knights of Labor and the trades unions of
ferences, come together, name u day on which
to put the plan into execution, adopt the plan
Of action, which must be gradual and such as
will not infiict injury upon either employer or
workman. The plan presented by MIR. Norton,
OF Chicago, to the special session OF the general
every particular, ana ii the workingmen's or
ganiZatiOns ana the manufacturers associations
agree upon tue putting into practice such plan
IL can be done without a jar or friction"
Under present conditions II the e1ghthOur
plan was inaugurated the only result would
and mere children put feeding them. The adj
vocate of short hours does not desire to curtail
production. They wish to make production
gradual, healthy, and have it keep pace with
the wants of the consumer, keeping all men en-
piOyed, SO that idieness will disappear and the
producer remain . consumer TO his fullest
capacity. = The machine must become
the slave of the man, instead OF keeping the
man in attendance on and subordinate TO the
machine. A plan Of cooperation through which
crates may one day supersede the present
system.
THE QUESTION OF CHILD LABOR.
~. q fog~