The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-05-12
LABOR AND CAPITAL.
Judge Tilford's Recent Ring
ing Address in Denver.
HIS ADVICE TO WORKING MEN.
A Remedy for the Present Evils Ar
fecting the Land-Power OF
Public Opinion.

Inc ScCOuu dllll09A
and ball by the Local Assembly S,2ls,
Knights of Labor, was held at the
Mammoth rink a short time ago. There
was an immense gathering of ladies
and gentlemen, and the large hall did
not prove any too large. The early
part of the evening was taken up with
music by the orchestra and speeches by
Judge Frank Tilford and ]. r. Buchan-
an. About 10 O'Clock dancing was in
auguratcd and continued until a late
hour.
JUDGE TILFoRD OCCUPIED
about three-quarters of an hour in his
speech, and was given close attention
by the large audience. which occasion
ally accorded him hearty applause.
The Judge congratulated the organiza-
ton upon the success they had attained
in organization. He believed the OBJ
ject Of the organization was to acquire
and maintain an improvement in the
condition of the laboring classes OF the
United States. There never was time
when the world was so rich as it is to-
day, and there has never been period
when there has been such a diffusion OF
light and intelligence among the masses.
Ii is computed by the economists that
in Europe and the United States in
thirty years, wealth has increased three
times greater than the population, and
that the productive power of machinery
is more than equal to the productive
power of every man, woman and child
in the country. 1t Is a fact that this
nation is the richest and most prosper
Gus on the face of the globe, and il is
gratifying TO look upon the picture OF
our prosperity, but there is reverse
side to this picture. How is it that in
THIS LAND OF PLENTY,
among a most prosperous people, that
there issa murmur of discontentment
amonathe toiling millions who pro-
duce a this wealth. 1t is fact that
there are $4,000 workingmen in this
country out of employment, and many
more are compelled 70 work for wages
which furnish bare subsistence. Is it
wonder that there is hunger, misery.
despair and madness which seeks IN
revolution a hope of deliverance2
The Judge then appealed to the
Knights OF Labor 10 lay aside all pas
sion and examine the question with
reason. and endeayor 70 ascertain the
cause Of the distress and correct the
evil. It was their duty to search out
the cause and eradicate il If human
power could do it. he then went on TO
describe the wealth and power of the
wealthy classes of New York and the
wretchedness and helplessness of the
poor of the same city. which he said
would be found the same, only slightly
modified, in all the great cities OF the
country. Society, he said, was fast as
Stunning a European character. caste
based on the law of riches. The rich
were getting richer and the poor poorer.
Capital ruled in church, state and
camp. while labor lurked in misery.
But, he said, it was in vain to contem-
plate miseries and evils
UNLESS We DEVISED REMEDY.
AS he understood it, the. Knights of
Labor had three objects which were to
obtain wages of such a character and
amount as would support the laborer
IN comfort and educate his children.
and to obtain such limitation of hours
of labor as would give the laborer time
to care for his children. improve his
mind and partake of social enjoyments
without which he sinks to the level of
the beast. How was this to be accom-
plished-by the combination and con-
solidation of your interests. There
are, he said, lodges of the order all over
the country, with a membership OF
500, 900 law-abiding citizens. When the
master workman at the head of the
order telegraphs the word over the
country, all the locomotives and trains
Of all the great trunk lines of the coun-
try can be stopped, and the commerce
of 10000, COO people be paralyzed. 1t is
a mighty power to be used only when
as is the power of the Knights of La
boz, there is greater power. and that is
the irresistible power OF public opinion,
and TO that power must finally be made
all appeals for redress OF grievances.
The speaker dvelt some time upon
the power OF public opinion and the
necessity OF the laboring men acquiring
education and intelligence in order that
he might help 70 form that opinion
justly and derive the benefit of Its
power.
In speaking Of the regulation Of
wages he said that the old rule of sup
ply and demand should not apply" II
was false and unjust standard.
IS LABOR An ARTICLE
OF traffic which is to be regulated by the
supply and demand? 1t is lie. have
great hopes that all lies will die and this
lie among the others. i.
The Judge said that the lsboring man
needed legislation, and though he was
not one who believed in the miraculous
power of the law to procure good and
destroy evil-men must govern them
selves, the fewer laws the better-but he
still thought there was necessity for
some laws which would exercise q wise
provision over trust companies, banks.
insurance companies and railroads. He
also thought there was a necessity for
laws 10 protect the American laborers
against the importation Of pauper Ia
Dor from Europe. He would also have
a law to prevent the overcapitaliza
ton Of companies the watering of
stock rhSCh raCas s1fo Tod fha