The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-10
THE SOCIALISTlC KNIGHTS.
Sensational Statements from a Member
of the Present General Assembly.
The Master Minds of the Organization Are Be-
lieversi in SOcialism-Gravity Of the Labor
Problem-The Power of the Knights.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the lndianapelis Journal.
RICHMOND. Va, Oct g. -''It is not altogether
improbable that another important epoch is
about to be marked in the history of the Old
Domini0n's capital" said one of the brainest
delegates to the Knights of Labor convention,
in discussing the outlook to-day. Richmond
was the center Of attraction twenty-five years
ago, and should be at this moment. You need
not be surprised" he continued, "when say
that there is quite as serious problem before
the people of the country at this time there
was thirty years ago, and l may add that war
is not any more out of the line of possibilities
now than then, if one is to reach a conclusion
from a study of the surface"
This somewhat sensational statement was
ringing in my ears when, an hour later, visited
Armory Hall, where the convention is being
held The session of the morning had just
closed, and the delegates were nearly all present.
'Yeu probably have never more intelli-
gent. and surely q more conscientious, body of
men before" said Pennsylvania knight who
stood at my side. "They are all sober, bright,
generally educated, always intelligent men. and
think of the contrast between this convention
and those that met in Chicago in 1884 to nominate
cduUluhOoS lie pE0St0eucy. I1aTuebbueSSs Cali
dor, determination in every eye here to-day.
There is no barter no treachery. The subject
most dear to every mans heart is under discus
sion-daily bread-and it marshals the best
judgment and the most honest action. My! but
this is momentous occasion"
l looked the man who thus spoke hard in the
eyes His face was blanched, his lips quivered.
Evidently something of magnitude was revolv-
ing in his mind Finally he continued:
Every master mind in this hall believes in
socialism,"
Upon my expressing surprise the gentleman
"Oh! it is true All of our best speakers, our
bright thinkers, the genius of the organization
throughout the country, believe in socialism.
Now, don't understand me to say they believe
in this rot represen ted through the press in the
definition of socialism These men do not be-
lieve in destruction or distribution of property.
They believe in an organization and an exertion
of such of its force as will make it impossible
for capitalists to buy labor very cheap and sell
it very high. Do you know there has for a
great many years been a corner laborl
True; and it is this that the Sc men would break.
Ii it requires war TO do it, let it be war. The
problem before US now is, How can the inter-
ests of labor and capital be leveled without
conflict"
The above were not the utterances of inflamed
minds, but those of as cool, candid and influen-
tisl men Is there in the convention, and /
regret thai they admonished me not to use
their names. | find, however, the greatest eau
ton exercised by delegates and officers in the
publication of their acts and speech. No one
seeks the newspaper notoriety SO common at I'll
great meetings. Scarcely one gives up informa-
ton except that it be with an iniunc-
ton of secrecy as to its source.
Even the members of the executive board do
not want to be commented upon individually;
and the members of the committee on creden-
tials made personal request of your correspond
ent that their names be not published. Asked
why this was so. one of the mem bers said
Owe do not know what steps may be taken by
a committee, and we do not want to assume the
responsibility of it. Why, member of the
committee at the Cleveland convention was
black-listed on account of something he advo-
Gated, and he found it necessary to seek en-
poyment under an assumed name. He is now
the leader of District 49, the Home Club, of New
York. 1t Is serious thing to take the respon-
sibility of some aggressive move capital.
Capital, you must know. is determined, power
ful. Commemorative, vindietive. Labor is humble,
weak. unless organized; then it is so strong it
must be curbed."
The ablest, coolest and most experienced
statesmen of the country readily acknowledge
that the labor problem outweighs all others be-
fore the country; that finance, commerce, the
tariff, Indian, foreign and ali other issues sink
wheel OF our institutions, labor, is considered.
And what to do to avert the threatened clash is
the great problem None Of the frank-spoken
delesates--aud such nearly all of them are-have
any hesitancy in saying that they have a great
power in their hands, and that they feel that
the climax is almost here.
1t is expected that some very fine maneuver-
ing Will be INDUCED in before this convention
ad1ourns-maneuvering to turn the tide of
affairs away from every vestige of current tend
InC CARn AlT1fin ond TAln ryoRi
the conservative men oppose boycotting in any
form. because they believe it has the most d-
rect tendency toward revolution, while others
take the ground that all violence grows out OF
strikes. and that strikes are to be more feared
by capitalists than anything else.
The mistake in having such large represent
alton Is very serious one, it is believed. One
hundred men are much more capable of dealing
like statesmen with momentous questions than
eight or ten hundred. It is probably very wise
thing that there are almost two dozen ladies |
among the delegates and partic Dants in the pro-
ceedings. They act as salt, and cool the ardor
of the irate. The ladies rank very high in in
telligence, education and practical experience.
This might be expected as they were selected to
come here solely because they were fitted, while
mon are often chosen by scheming and favorit- |
ism One of the lady deleeates-a tall. hand
some woman, with bright eyes and matronly
face-was made mother only two weeks ago, |
but loses none of her interest in the convention
by It, The presence, the speeches, the work of
the ladies, argues, some people say, that the
Knights or Labor are leaning toward womans
rights, and that they will be the first to
take the positive step in that direction.
have found none of the men who
desire o reduction of the pro rata
representation of the female membership in the
annual convention. They all take pride point
ing to the Difference shown the females, and
greatly enjoy their salutary presence.
Richmond has done great deal to make the
stay OF the Knights here enjoyable. The ca
pacious hotels were thrown open with renewed
accommodations and a hearty hand extended
till the colored delegates appeared; then the
doors were closed 1t is altogether out of the
question for frstclass hotel TO entertain a col
ored man at the capital of the Confederacy. No
native Caucasian would live under the same
roof. But the Knights came prepared for such
an emergency. They needed rallying com
mand. Like one man, they left the hotels which