Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-10-08
LABOR'S GREAT LEAGUE.
The Knights Assemble at Richmond.
Governor Fitzhugh Lee Giving
Them Welcome.
Mr.. Powderly Advises the Uprootin@
Of Anarchy and the Stran"lin@
of Monopoly.
dispatch from Richmond. Va. of

A dispatch from Richmond. Va. of
Tuesday, says:
The tapping of Master Workman L. V.
Powderly's gavel at 1915 this morning
gave the signal for the opening of the
first session of the tenth annual conven-
ton of the Knights of Labor in the ar
mory of the First Virginia Regiment in
this city. He stood alone upon a small.
plain, pine plGtform, at the farther end of
the spacious room and looked upon the
faces of 1000 delegates, assembled from
every part of this country, repres entatives
or 100000 men and women. White and
black faces, the faces of men and women
bound together by common object met
his view.
While the sound of the Master Work
mans gavel still re-echoed footsteps were
heard approaching the entrance door. a
moment later General Fitzhugh Lee, the
Governor of Virginia, entered. As he
walked up the central aisle leading to the
platform, escorted by William H. Mullen.
the Master Workman of the Richmond
district. and Tom O'Reilly. of the Tele-
graphers Assembly of New York City, he
was greeted with enthusiastic cheers,
which redoubIed as he stood upon the
platform, bowling in response to this
greeting. When the applause had snb-
sided, and Mr.. Mullen had presented
Governor Lee to Mr.. Powderly the latter
stepped forward and introduced him to
the members, announcing that Go yerpor
Lee was to deliver to them an address of
welcome.
The governor then spoke, and the large
audience listened with close attention,
/ and the frequent applause marked their
/ approval of the principal points made.
When the governor had taken his seat on
the platform, Frank j. Farrell, the color
ed member of the delegation of District
-, whose associates refused to take up
their quarters in the hotel i'll which he
was refused admission on an equal foot
ing, assembled the platform, and, taking
his stand beside the presiding officers
/ table, said:
HIS Erceiicncythe GorcrTtor Of Tuyinio and
! Gentlemen Of the ConreHhoH:
1t is with much pleasure and gratitica-
ton that l introduce to you Mr.. Z. V.
! Powderly, of the state of Penns ylvania.
who will reply to the address of welcome
of Governor Lee, of this state, which is
one of the Oldest states in the arena of
political influence in our country.
THE GRAND MASTERS ADDRESSES.
When Mr.. Powderly stepped forward he
was received with loud applause. The
Grand Master Nottingham expressed his
qualification at the welcome which had
| been given the knights by the people of
Virginia, and more especially the people
of Richmond. Mr.. Powdcrly, continuing,
said:
The men who owe allegiance to the
knights of Lator are engaged in con
fict, but it Is III a war of truth against
error. 1t is not, as many honestly be
lieve and many more dishonesty assert, a
war of labor against capital 1t is Il war
in which the manhood of the American
loborer is fighting for recognition. In
this war it must be determined which
shall rule monopoly or the American
people: gold or manhood. Our battles
are not fought for the purpose of de
termining whether an individual shall
rule a State or an empire, but to decide
whether people who are entitled to
| life, liberty, and happiness shall live i'll
the full enjoyment of their rights and
| liberties and become citizens of Il repub-
lie. No member must feel as he turns
away from the city of Richmond after
our work here is done. that he can safely
or cOnscientiously thrust aside the grave
responsibilities and duties of our Ameri
can citizenship. Popular disregard of
political duty and tolerated, continued
political corruption Will weaken our
government and destroy our liberties
for the worm can eat its way through the
oak which the storm or tempest could
not bend, and political dishonesty Will
strike where the hghtnings could never
reach. If this land was worthy that
brave men should die for it it is at least
worthy that unseIfish thoughtful men
should live and work III a grand devotion
to the ideals of Il real, true, democracy
We come not here alone to settle the
question of dispute i'll regard to wages
or hours of labor; We come here partly to
study and learn some lessons of the head
andheart i'll practical citizenship. We are
engaged in a work which, to the thought
full observer, means more than child's
play, more than the recognition of trades
matters: and the work will not end to-
day, nor will the youngest among US live
to see it complete.