Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-06
X. OF L. CONVENTION.
Opening Address of Grand Master Work.
man Powderly.

Opening Address of Grand Master Work
man Powderly.
RICHMOND, October 4.-The TAPPING q
Master Workman Powderly's gavel a
1918 o'clock this morning gave the sigma
for the opening OF the tenth annual conven
tion of the Knights of Labor, in the arm
ory OF the First Virginia regiment, in thi
city.
HE STOOD ALONE
upon q small plain pine platform at tn,
fnrther end of the spacious room. anC
looked out on the faces of thousand dele
gates, assembled from every part of tn,
country. White and black faces, the faces
OF men and women, bound together by "a
common object, met his view. The session
was to have been an open one, and in ad
dition to the large body OF delegates were
as many others not of the order as could
find seats, or shared what little standing
room there was, with the members.
GOV. FITZ HUGH LEE
was introduced by the Richmond delegates
and made an address OF welcome, in which
be cited that it has been claimed there was
an irrepressible conflict pending between
capital and labor. He said all good men
would support the present movement if it
fought against incorporated rascality and
combats the great money corporations
that sought to control legislatures by
bribery and corruption. He declared that
all capital was not employed for such
vicious uses and that differences be-
tween workmen and employers would be
settled as the great constitution had been
drafted, by conciliation and fair COM
promises.
Mr.. Powderly, general mas4er workman,
then addressed the assembly, reviewing the
WORK OF THE YEAR
and declaring it was the most eventful and
we are guided by the experience of the
past year." said the speaker, land act &C.
we can place the order on foot
ing SO safe and sound that no assault from
it's enemies can injure it. If we are not
guided by that experience, if we fail to read
Alright the signs of the times, we shall fail
to properly represent those who sent us
here" He cited that in one year more
than
1000 NEW ASSEMBLIES
had been organized. He said that quite Il
few had entered the order and at once
plunged into rash strikes contrary to the
policy of the order. He spoke Of the south
western railway strike at great length. He
said he did not approve of that strike, but
Il was only when the threat was made to
stop every wheel in the United States that
he raised his voice against it. He did that
in defense of the order and the country.
That the strikers had suffered
great wrongs was true and it was his
firm belief that the railway companies with
full knowledge of what these grievances
were had precipitated the fight themselves
at a time to make it appear to the world
that the strike was for an insignificant
cause. The eight hour strike was not sue
cessful because neither the workmen nor
their employers were ready for it. re-
duction of hours of labor was necessary
and sooner or later must be had, but the
Knights must not forget that in many
places the ten hour plan in not yet adopted.
The speaker said the proposed
REDUCTION OF WORKING HOURS
caused millions OF dollars worth OF work to
be left unfinished and undone because ol
the uncertainty in regard to taking con
tracts. Never was it more clearly demon
strated that an injury to one was the con-
Germ of all than in the movement he men
tions. The move was in the right direction
but the time and circumstances were not
suitable. A plan should be adopted, some
suggested at the Cleveland meeting which by
the corporation of workingmen's orders
and manufacturers associations could oe
nut into operation without a strike or up
setting business. He declared that before
the short hour system could be OF any ben
eft, the relation which workmen bore to
LABoR-sAvING MACHINERY
must undergo q radical change. The ma
chine must become the slave OF man, IN
stead OF man being subordinate to the ma
chine. A plan OF cooperation through
which the man may control the machine
must supercede the present system" Re
ferrine to child labor, he said it should b'
the duty OF every assembly to see that al
children should attend school. Opposltlol
to child labor was to insure that he ehouit
acouire education, to equip him Tor the du a.
ties which fall upon him as a man ana citl
zen. He asked that a special commute
I'm education be appointed to prepare ane
recommend a plan for the better education
of The American youths. He also treatet
~ tho relations between the knights an(
trades unions and recommended co'opera
ton. .r,,
Mr.. Powderly, continuing. said: I'm
mon who owe allegiance to the hn'ghCs
Labor ara engaged in d conflict, but II is
war OF
TRUTH AGAINST ERROR.
r. ia not az many more dishonesty asseI'
q var Of labor against capital. IL ls Cd
go in which the manhood OF the America ~
,ahorer ;s fighting for recognition: Ia TN
.so. ~ ,nust he determined which shaA run
monopoly or the American people; i.gbt gbtd 20 .
,ao onhpod. Our battles are not iougnt 10
Siyiduaf Siv shall rule the state or an , empr;
hnt tn decide whether the people VINO 30. o.
entitled ena to s and hsppnssss; ss
live in the full enjoyment OF their FL r;sne' "r r.
liberties, as become citizens u
p'o"'' THE MoNoPoLIsr OF TO-DAY
n,s %or' Monopoly takes land from the Pc
pis % in million acres plots and it senus ,,nsd' =
agents s abroad and brings herds .o1atr9. o1 r1s'
Gated desperate neu to thus eouA''