Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1886-10-08
KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
Tenth Annual Convention Assemblies in
Richmond, Va.-Larger Repre-
sentation Than Expected.
Governor Leo welcomes Them to the Cit,
lilo Advises Them to Accomplish
Their Aims by Peaceful Meth
ods--Long Session,



RICHMOND, Va, Oct 1.-The first sesslor
of the tenth annual convention of th,
Knights of Labor was called to order b.
Master Workman Powderly in the armor,
Of the First Virginia Regiment in this cit,
to-day About thousand delegates from
every part of the country were present. anC
| rs the session was an open one, many Others
not Of the order crowded the hall. Gov.
ernor Fitzhugh Lee was introduced by
Mr.. Powderly, and made an address tC
the delegates extending them welcome
on behalf of Virginia and offered them the
hOspItalities for VIII ch the capital has been
so widely known in the past. lie referred
eloquently to the prominent part which Vr.
| ginia had played in laying the foundation OF
the republic, and asserted that the problem
OF free government had been solved by the
| trainers of the Constitution. The South had
| put q different Interpretation on that instiu
ment from that held by the people of tn Q
| North, but bows in submission to the settle
ment which had been reached, and now,
| having common government, common
| flag and common destiny, IL is as much in
| terested in the prospective grandeur of these
| United States as they. Governor Lee then
referred to the objects of the Knights OF
Labor, saying that he had been told by Mr.
of the science of government. Were the
rights and privileges of American citizens
being trampled on by organized capital?
Was war to be declared against that, and
was 1t to be war to the knife? Or would
there be peaceful issue to the contract?
The Constitution was only framed by a
compromise, and compromise will solve the
question of the hour, Referring to Mr.
Powderly's assertion that the Knights of
Labor would never be n political party, al
though its members might cooperate with
other thinking men in forming party, Gov.
ernOr Lee sad there had always been and
always would be two great pol tical parties
He advised the Knights to follow their lead.
efs advice and keeping away from politics
fight their battle on the or gnal plans. They
could draw the fangs from the the money
kings who seek TO take possess on of the
great telegraph lines, but all cap tai was not
used in that way, and no war should be
made on those who used their good fortune
to alleviate the sufferings of mankind Gov
ernor Lee then discussed at some length
the relations existing between employer and
employed and the possibility of bringing
happiness and prosperity out of contention
and strife by the use of cool Judgment
charity and fairmindedness. Mercantile
and manufacturing classes could not be
verge of starvation 1t was well to have
peace between conservative capital and the
laboring classes He counseled arbitration
at all times, and called the attention of the
delegates to the grave responsibility which
rests on their decisions.
At the close of Governor Lees speech
Delegate Frank Terrell, colored member,
assembled the platform, and, taking his stand
beside the presiding officers table, intro
duced Mr.. Powderly to the convention in
short speech.
In his reply to Governor Lees address to
the convened Knights of Labor Mr.. Pow
derly said that the Knights of Labor were
grateful for the kind words of welcome
which had Just been uttered, and they would
always remember to.day's reception. The
hospitality of the Southern people was pro-
verbal, but until now many of them never
knew what IL meant. They came to Rich
mond, not as an army bent on destruction,
nor as representatives of any section, but
on mission of peace Some of those vel
coined to-day were men who, years ago,
stood on the sacred soil of old Virginia as
mortal enemies, but 1t was neither desire
nor duty to speak of the conflict in which
these men opposed each other The curtain
had dropped forever upon the last scene in
which the common people of the United
States would stand arrayed as enemies.
Knights of Labor were engaged in a con-
tlct, but 1t was war of truth against error
and not, as many believed, one of labor
against capital. The manhood of Ameri-
can labor was fighting for recognition. The
knights of Labor had come together, not
alone to settle wage dispute on hours of
labor; they had assembled to also learn some
lessons of the head and heart in practical
citizenship. Every member was burdened
tNtitI fN,- L. 4
pledged his knightly word to work until sue,
cess had crowned his efforts or death puts
an end to his labors on earth. "We ara
Knights of Labor" said Powderly, "because
we believe that the rights of the poorest man
or woman of toll should stand forth more
clearly and be treated with more respect than
the privileges conferred upon, or stolen by the
wealthiest in the nation; because politicians
and political parties have deceived, de,
graded and debauched the people; because
they have too often gained power through
deception and fraud, and in return for the
confidence repOsed in them have basely de.
serted the common people and knelt at the
shrine of gold" Mr.. Powderly asserted
that the new slavery was worse than the
old, and that the power of the new slave
owner did not end where the Ordi'
nary day laborer bent beneath its
rule. II controlled the mechanic, tile farmer
the merchant and the manufacturer, and
counted among its victims servants of the
state chosen TO exact the peoples will
Even in the hall of the National Congress
Will be found its most willing, cringing
slaves. In the pages of the public press
will be found the proof. The lash was
stricken from the hand of the slave-owner
twenty five years ago, and 1t must be taken
from the hand of the new slave owner as
MnnnnntU "a iG al fn ava
manifestation of anarchy which has been
witnessed. II is the legitimate child of mo,
nop0y In conclusion Mr.. POwderly said
that 1t was the duty of every Knight of
Labor TO assist in creating healthy public
opinion on the subject of labor, and justice
of its receiving full and just share of the
values or capital II had helped to create.
knights of Labor had made mistakes, but
being mortal, they could not do otherwise.
These mistakes have been magniied into
crimes. Individual members have gone
astray and the order has been held respOn
sbe for their oifenses. These things are
wrong. 1t is not just to charge the order
with wrong doing because one member or
one assembly violates laws of the Order
or of the land. Nor is Is right for Knights
of Labor to hold all employers responsible
for an act of oppression by an individual
employer. "llear both sides and judge"
is maxim worthy of remembrance
At the close of Mr. POwderly's reply a
delegate secured the floor and offered res
OntiOn of thanks to Governor Lee for his
speech, and 1t was carried unanimously
Mr.. Powderly announced that tile visitors
would now retire from the hall. The as.
sembly then went into secret session, and
soon adjourned until nine O'clock this
morning.
s
Gave Himself Up.
EVANSVILLE Ind, Oct 5-Alfred Kay