Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-06

ana mould the cigars fuster than human hands
can do the work; and electricity Will soon
take the throttle lever from the hand of the
man who runs the locomotive. The day Will
soon dawn when these agencies will be doing
their work; and, when that day does come.
the mechanic. now so proud OF MS catllnR.
viii stand face to face with the alternative OF
asking for charity or the adoption OF the call
ing Of the street scavenger. When that dsy
comes, the man who now seeks to array labor
against labor in asserting that the "$8 day
man should not move in the same society cir
Gle. with the man who works tor 81 day.
will either seek to crowd the 81 day man
out of his place or accept the crumbs OF char
ity TO sustain life. History win repeat itself,
and the fight for existence Will be waged with
unrelenting fury.
WHAT is THE REMEDYf
The machine must become the slave of the
man, instead of keeping the man in attend
ance on and subordinate to the machine. A
plan Of cooperation through which the work
man may control The machine he operates
must one day supersede the present system.
To properly map out such plan requires
more time Than have had or am likely to
have at my disposal. | can only cooperate
with others in the work.
CHILD LABOR.
The thirteenth article in our declaration of
principles reads: THE prohibition. by
law, OF the employment of children
under fifteen years OF age in work.
shops, mines and factories " The end
SOuEnb iOF CATTylhH tule tltCthThllOu luIp 6i-
feet is not that that the child may live in idle
ness; 1t Is not that more adults may be en-
ployed. 1t is that the child of the poor man
may be enabled TO acquire an education TO
equip HIM for the duties which Will In future
fall upon him as. man and citizen. We
cannot afford to pass this question by and leg
lslAte on some sim pie question of trade disoi-
pine. The question OF child labor and edu-
cation Is the inost important hat can come
before us now or at any other time. With an
education, all things are easy of accomplish
ment; without IL, hope itself almest dies, and
liberty ls a farce. In our organizations OF
labor, and IL has been so from the beginning,
we take up the work Of reform when the sub
1ect is advanced in years-the new member
must be above six cen years before we admit
him. We attempt TO drive from his mind the
false ideas gathered in from the workshop, or,
possibly, the street corner. His habits are
formed, and the work that should have been
begun at seven years we take up at twenty
or later on IN life. 10 attempt to settle so in
tricate a question as the one we are grappling
with, or to successfully sJlve the question. IL
4 task so difficult that do not wonder that
men drop ont OF the ranks OF labor organiza-
tionE discouraged and hopeless. To make the
necessary prOgT ess. we must begin with the
Chl!d and see 10 it that he has an education.
IL the principles OF the knights of Labor are
right. and few men question them, we should
teach them TO the young 1t should ne part
OF the duty Of every ass ,'m0iv TO ascertain the
number Of children VINO do not attend school
IN Us vicinity learn what the causes are, and
take steps to nave them attend school.
ask that Special Committee on Educa-
tion be appointed to prepare and recommend
to this General Assembly a plau for the better
education Of the American youth.
TRADE UNIONS.
The trouble with trade unions IN which GER
tain Of our members and assemblies have been
engaged was greatly megniGed and distorted.
The proceedings OF the Cleveland sp -cial ses-
sion of the General Assembly. and the repUrt
Of the General Executive Board submitted 10
you to-day, will be sufficient. l need not en-
ter into detail further tnan to say that there
were mistakes made on both sides. some of
our organizers bare been so zgalous in their
way Of organizing that snoy have eHcToached
upon the prec0gAtives OF other ASSOCIATIONS,
and on several occasinns he rIgSts Of our
members have been eoiiously interfered with
bv members Of trade unions Since the spe
cial session of tho General Assembly over
fifty cas- OF dispute between parts of our
oruer and other societies have been
placed before me Tor adjustment. H. WAS
rot necess arE TO place these cases before tine
General Executive Board. \ few lines in each
case wac sufficient, and The trouble ended.
More trouble has been caused US by men
who profess 10 be members of the Knights of
Labor than by members of trade unions.
respect the man who, being a member of q
trade union. uoe5 G c5erythng honorable in his
power to defend ana perpetuatc his organiZa-
tion; but for tho hnIgnt Of Labor whO would
even attempt to subordinate oar order to any
other have nothing but contempt. In my
man, and that is oD the outside of our order.
IN SELF-DEFENsE.
have never, during the seven years that /
have served as Genrral Master Workman,
mate a member of this order It subject OF per
sOnal or public criticism or abuse. such treat
ulant mas not been accorded TO me. Whether
the intention was to have me reply through
the public press do noe know, but / have
made it IA rule never 10 speak in criticism
harsh or otherwise Of man except when
al n fapn with him M hov
as studiousiy refrained from replying TO or
denying ATTACKS or acGusatipns against me,
except in the presence OF those who IN ade
them. When called upon TO defend the order
or its principles have attempted TO do SO,
have been accused OF displaying a lack of
nerVe," OF 'waHt ot backbone" and of being
too weak "a man to lead strong movement" ="
| have never replied to Lhess charges, nor
will do 50 now. simply point bacs to a
record of seven years Of service and ask this
question: IT, while holding position such as
10 man living or dead ever held before, with
the fun baze of public scrutiny shining upon
my every action, with public opinion as
reGiy to condemn as TO applaud. I have dis
played q lack of nerve or backbone, why Is II
that million men and women Of nerve
backbone and common sense have gathered
around the standard which was plared n my
hands seven years ago Dy the founder OF the
order himself? If have been proven n weak
man, why do so many strong men support
me-
will now speak as have never spoken to
q session Of the General Assembly before
Representatives have been instructed to vote
for me fOr General Master Workman. / feel
comp mentcd, but release every member from
his obligation to vote for me. ou are free
10 vote for any other man you choose, and If
you act In accordance with my wishes you
will select another 20 Gil my place THIS
leave in your hands, / stand ready to serve
this order IN any capacity. either Us General
Master Workman or private in the ranks. In
voting for General Master Workman do not
be guided by sentiment or sympathy, but vote
for the best interests Cf Gods suffering poor
and the cause OF united labor. It is because
l believe it to be my duty that | talk thus
plainly, aud here face TO face with labOr's
representative men and women il the place
to say 1t.
1t has been ch arged that between members
OF the General Executive Board and myself
serious disturbances have taken place; that
rnptures have occurred OF \ serious G haracter
Others have charged that the board c0nstitut-
ed itself a ring to manage anairs. These state
ments, Inventions Of the emmy, have dam
aging effect when told TO the unwary. Tho
firsJ assertion Is utterly fase, for between
the board and myself there has been no rup-
ture or even difference. III at nret we did
not agree upon a question. we discussed 1t
until the fullest possible light shone upon it,
and, wnen we went to the world with II, we
went AS one man. Every attempt TO DIVIDE
us has been failure. That we have CON
stitnted ourselves ring TO manage
affairs is true; that is what you elected us for.
We are a ring, solid and uubroken; and
standing toget her in unity we have no apollo
gies TO offer. For myself say may IL never
be otherwise.
Costs of Trial by Jury Saved.