New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-10-13

Mr. Bennett. OF the Richmond district. moved
a vote of thanks to Gov. Lee, and after this
was heartily given. it was followed by burst
of rousing cheers for Virginia's governor.
the convention settled down to the practical
work which had called them together and in
in which they bid fair to be engaged for the
next two weeks or more.
GENERAL MASTER WORKMAN POWDERLY.
His Annual Address to the knights Of Labor.
At the present session in Richmond, Va,
of the General Assembly of Knights of
Labor, General Master Workman Powderly
delivered his ANIMAL address, as follows
The most eventful and trying year Of our ex-
istence as an order has ended. II we are guided
by the experience OF the past, and act accord
1nely, we can place the order upon footing SO
safe and sure that no assaults from its enemies
can injure it. If we are not guided by that ex-
perience, if we fail to read Alright the signs of
without having improved on the past, we will
fail to properly represent those who sent US
here: In one year 4,O68 assemblies have been
organized. The new members 80 suddenly
brought together could not be properly assimi-
lated Thousands have been attracted toward
the order through mere curiosity: others have
come for purely selfish motives; while the great
bulk Of our new recruits have Joined us for the
good that they could do Quite few have en-
tered our order for the purpose of redressing
existing wrongs and. before waiting to learn
the order. have plunged into rash and iii con
sldered strikes. 1t is an established fact that
men who were employed by detective agencies
stood up on the floor of the last general assem-
bly,. made infammatory speeches urging the
men to deeds of violence, and urged that the
property OF the street car companies be de-
that prevented such outrages from being perpe-
trated, although these agents OF nefarious spy
system induced ssme desperate men to blow up
the cars upon the streets OF St. Louis. For
these outrages the order was In no way respon-
stble. The st. Louis car troubles were but the
beginning Of the tidal wave of strikes and boy
colts which swept over the country. and which
strained the strength and resources of your gen.
eral officers almost beyond their powers of en-
durancc. 1t has been asserted that condemned
the Missouri Pacific men while they were on
lips That the men Of the Southwest suffered
wrongs is true: they were many and grievous:
and 1t Is my firm belief that the railway com
grievances were precipitated the fight them.
selves at q time when it would appear to the
world that the strike was for an insignificant
cause
THE E1GHT-HoUR STRIKE
which took place May 1. was not successful ex-
cept in cases where EMPLOYERS and employees
were willing to adopt the plan. In
many cases the system Of working long
Trades recommended the LIST of May, but adopted
or suggested no definite plan by which the short
hour system could be inau9qrated; ! cautioned
ment. I had the right to do it. and am firm in
the belief that had not done SO great loss would
have been entailed upon vast numbers Of our
assemblies. What said in my secret circular
Of March l3 has been severely criticised, and
have been accused OF opposing the eight-hOur
movement. No statement ever was further from
the truth. reduction Of the hours Of labor is
necessity, and sooner or later must be had, but
we must not forget that in many places the ten
hour plan has not been adopted yet. The very
discussion Of the sudden Introduction of the
eight-hour plan injured business, so much so
that In many places men were reduced to half
time or thrown out of employment altogether.
Millions of dollars worth Of work was left
to taking contracts or in making engagements
to perform work. Never was it more
clearly demonstrated that An injury to one is
speaking Of. Before the eight-hour plan is
adopted, the Knights Of Labor and the trade
unions Of America must lay aside their jeal-
Gusles ana h,eh ~ come together name
adopt the plan Of action. which must be gradual
and such as will not inflict injury upon either
employer or workman Before q short-Aour
system that will be Of any benefit to mankind
can be inaugurated, the relation which the work
man bears to the labor-saving machine must
undergo radical change. Shorten the hours Of
will not be emptied OF their idle thousands.
More machines will be erected and more chill
dren will be called into service to feed them. The
sires to stop production is false. Ity1s to make
production gradual, healthy. and have it keep
pace with the wants Of the CON
So that idisnes. viii disappear snG e:
producer remain consumer TO his fullest ca
pacity, that we desire shortening of the hours
Of labor Visit our large and small factories and
you find that the mechanic Of the past is but the
feeder Of the machine Of the present. We already
hear OF machines in course OF perfection which
will set the type and mould the cigars faster
tricity 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 his calling, will
stand face to face with the alternative of asking
for charity OF the adoption Of the calling of the
man who now seeks to array labor against labor
in asserting that the "$3 a day man should not
move in the same society circles with the man
who works for ST. day" will either seek to crowd
crumbs Of charity to sustain life History will
repeat itself, and the fight for existence will be
waged with unrelenting fury.
WHAT IS THE REMEDY
The machine must become the slave of the
man, instead Of keeping the man in attendance
on and subordinate to the machine plan of
cooperation through which the workman 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.
The thirteenth article in our declaration of
principles reads, "The prohibition, by law, Of
he employment Of children under fifteen years
OF age in workshops, mines and factories" The
end sought for in carrying this declaration into
effect is not that the child may live in idleness: