Telegram-herald., 1886-05-30
KNIGHTS AND LADIES
Mrs. Perkins Tells the Labor
Convention Of Womans
Wrongs.
SHE HAS BECOME A SLAVE TO MAN,
4 Ped Hot Address-The Knights Viii
Help the Workingwomen-Aid for
Strikers in Jail-A Cordial Feel
ing Toward Female Suffrage.

CLEVELAND o.. May 29-The afternoon
session Of the Labor Convention assembled
at O'Clock, and after short discussion of
the motion made yesterday to refer the re-
port to the Executive Board on the relation
of the Order 10 trade unions 10 the Com
mitlee on the State of the Order. The
whole matter was referred 10 the committee,
after which recess was taken to admit Mrs.
Perkins, who is a delegate of the Ohio
Woman Suffrage Association, 10 present
the following address:
Honorable Brothers: As a member Of
the Ohio Suffrage Association come before
You 10 ask your honorable BODY 10 remem-
ber the wrongs of one-h halt of our Fathers
children; 10 remember that a married wo-
man IN some States has no legal right TO
her own children: to her clothing or 10
her own earnings; that ii she is "a teacher
she only gets One-half or two thirds of the
pay that men receive for doing the same
work. Yet she must pay the same railroad
fares; the same rent for her house:
the same price for her clothing and the
same taxes that men pay. She must obey
the laws that she never made. II she COM
mits a crime the same prison doors open to
her the same scafiOlds are erected for her
and she is classed IN the same category as
the male criminals. She has no chance in
law with the makers who frame the statutes
that she must obey"
The address, after stating it believes the
order aims to do right by all workingmen,
asks that it consider the wrongs
of the women of the country.
They used TO tell US, Mrs Perkins con-
tinued, THAT woman rocks the cradle that
rules the world Well SO she could if she
could keep the world in the cradle but She
can't. The boy soon kicks over the cradle
rail; although he loves his mother he loses
respect for her because she has no influence
and Is 50 pOwerless, and soon loses honor,
virtue and decency. Ii is perhaps the will
of Our Father in Heaven that one half the
human race should be slaves To the
other half What God hath Joined
together let no man put as5under at the bal
lot box. Therefore we ask our brothers TO
embody in new resolutions the need of the
boliot in wOman's hands, As a factor in our
future highest civilization. The working
men are IN the majority hence their wants
will be needed by the highest officials in the
land You belong to the royal knight-head
of Heaven for the great teacher said: MY
father worketh hitherto and | work
The address was frequently applauded. A
proposition was made bv the committee on
laws that whenever practicable unattached
district assemblies, was then adopted. After
which a letter from Galveston, Tex. re-
lating to the hardships of strikers confined
in the Jail at that city for contempt. was
read. asking that the General Assembly do
something for them to obtain the same
privileges which are accorded TO other per
sons similarly charged Resolutions de-
piOring the treatment Of the prisoners at
Galveston were adopted. and committee
Of two was appointed to draft suitable
documents 10 the President asking
him TO exercise clemency toward
the imprisoned members of the order. An
address was then forwar led To Mary T..
Frazer, secretary of the Womens Suffrage
Association, expressing thanks for the
recognition of The order by that body, and
stating that the Knights of Labor guaran-
teed 10 woman and man equal rights. rs
real mission IS the complete enfranchise-
ment and emancipation of all who labor.
The address concludedias follows: Without
women and the earnest and energetic CO.
operation of women, the guarantee
Of equality. the simple act Of
justice 20 woman, as incorporated in the
law Of the order. the manly new departure
Of the Knights of Labor will be a sound
ing basis and q tinkling symbol. and the
hope thar forms Of mum ane government
with civil lberty will become permanent
and perpetual The convention then adj
journed until : o'clock Monday morning.