The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-02-24
THE DIGNITY OF LABOR.
The Order OF WOrkingmen Addressed
BY B. W. G0Odhue, OF Chicago
An Able Discussion.

At Harper's theatre last evening Mr..
B. W. Goodhue, OF Chicago, delivered an
able and interesting address on the labor
question. The attendance was fair, but
would doubtless have been much larger
had the event been properly advertised.
The speaker of the evening was intro
duced by Robert Bennett. master work.
man or the Knights of Labor organiza-
tions of the state of Illinois.
MIR. Goodhue commenced his remarks
by abiding to the rapid growth of the
labor organizations and the formation of
local assemblies all over the country, as
far as bis observation had reached. He
spoke of the extension of the movement
to all parts of the United States and
boundary line into Canada, across the
Atlantic into Europe. and the
Pacific to Australia. He reviewed
the objects of the society and the causes
which led to the organization of its sub
ordinate branches. He favored separate
trades unionism as the first step of bring
ing all crafts under the principles of one
organization, in asserting the rights of
any particular branch of labor. He fla
vored strikes as one of the means of &C
conplshing laborer's deserts. He be.
leved in a united movement, complete
organization being the only cause to be
pursued by labor in achieving its just res
wards. He thought these organizations
deprecated strikes, but favored arbitra-
ton as the first remedy for harmonizing
differences between the employer and the
employe. TWAS the first course of action
in these disagreements, and in ninety nine
cases out of one hundred II would bring
about harmonious results without public
ity. The only cases, be asserted, where
strikes have been ordered and sustained
by organizations were where the Knights
of Labor were ostracized. Employers
who prohibit their employees from joining
labor organizations, should be brought to
their senses They have no right to in,
terfere with the actions of their employees
outside of labor hours, and this assump-
ton on the part of employers, the Knights
of Labor will not submit to. Practice and
system, Mr.. Goodhue said had made" wage
slavery" seem right. There was time,
an d he could remember ttoo, when chat
tel slavery was looked upon as a matter
of course and men who denounced it as
wrong were called fanatics and often
mobbed by respectable people, 1t was
only when another generation has grown
up that African slavery was understood
10 be a degradation of free labor and
northern people were called "mudsills'
and greasy mechanics The wrong OF
chattel slavery was swept away. But
wage slavery still remains. and labor
saving machinery has largely superseded
the skilled workmen, and great hardship
has ensued.
The speaker claimed that mines, found
cries, glass works, potteries, etc. had been
bought by subscriptions in the order fol
the benefit of ostrascized members of the
Knights of Labor and managed in CO.
operation thereto. He outlined the prnci
pie, that the product belonged to the pro
ducer, and the employe had as much right
full ownership in preparations to the EN-
ployer, and showed that the practics
way to secure the profits of Labor is
through cooperative enterprises, which
the Knights of Labor propose shall
supplant the wage system. The wage
system has made, on the one hand, the
Vanderbilt, and on the other hand
the tramp. He asserted that
one principle of the organization was the
issue of money independent of banking
institutions. The object of the knight:
of Labor was to place labor upon basis
from which manic cd would appear-as
is neutrality-suspicious. to wealth, Simple
justice was the aim of the organization
in his opinion, and that aim should bt
fulfilled.
Mr.. Bennett then introd uced the fol
lowing resolution, calling attention to tht
silver meeting at the court house tonight
after the adoption of which the meeting
adjourned
Resol0ed, That we heartily approve ant
indorse the bill now pending before con
gress. establishing national department
of Labor and Agriculture, the executive
officer of which shall be cabinet officer