Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-10-13
THE VOICE OF LABOR.
It is Lifted Up in Convention at
Richmond To-day.
nth Annual Meeting OF Knights 0
Labor of the United States.
Addresses of Gov. Fitzhugh Lee and
Grand Master Powderly.
Pen Picture of the Convention Hsll-The
Work in Progress.

pavel at 1O:15 o'clock this morning
gave the signal for the opening OF the
first session of the tenth annual con-
vention of the Knights OF Labor, In
the armory of the First Virginia Regl'
ment, in this city. He stood alone
upon a. small plain pine platform at
the further end of the spacious room
and looked out upon the faces OF
1000 delegates assembled from
every part of this country,
representatives of 100000 men
and women. White and black faces,
the faces of men and women, bound
together by common object, met his
view. The session was to be an open
one and in addition to the large body
of delegates were as many others not
of the order as could find seats or
share what little standing room there
was with it's members. The large
room looked like an immense BAN
Quoting hall with tables formed of
plain pine boards almost the length of
the room, in rows, SIS close together as
the possibility OF moving be-
tween them would permit. On
either side Of these tables
we're seated the delegates. Neither
flag nor streamers broke the severe
simplicity of the white brick wallis and
the unbroken white paint of the arcbed
ceiling. The only things that even
limited at a. decorative purpose We're
Autograph portraits of Master Work
man Powderly and General Secretary
Turner, that hung on either side OF the
room, and a large gilt frame enclosing
photographs OF members OF the Joel
Parker Association that hung behind
the little platform. The latter is the
property of the regiment In whose
quarters the convention met and was
simply permitted to remain.
While the sound of the master work
mans gavel still re-echoed, footsteps
were heard approaching the entrance
doors. A moment later Gen. Fitz-
hugh Lee, governor of Virginia, en-
tered. Ashe walked up the central aisle
leading to the platform, escorted by
William z. Mullen, the master work
man of the Richmond District, and
Tom O'Reilly of the T'elegraphers' AS
senbly of New York City, he was
greeted with enthusiastic cheers
which redoubled as he stood on the
platform bowling in response to this
greeting. When the applause had sub
sided and Mr. Mullen had presented
Gov. Lee to Mr.. Powderly, the latter
stepped forward and introduced him
to the members, announcing that Gov.
Lee was to deliver to them an address
of welcome and through them to those
they represented throughout the en-
tire country. When the applause that
again broke forth at the mention of his
name, permitted him to do so, Gov.
Lee said:
GENTLEMEN; One of Virginia's greatest
statesmen has said ut is proper you
should understand what / deem the essen
tial principles of government" What were
the principles Of government laid down by
this wise man? Equal and exact justice
or political" Fly from the futtering folds
OF your flag that sentence, and the ground
on which you march will always be strong
and firm. We are told, gentlemen, the
organization you represent is formed
to elevate and protect the rights of the
working class. Who are interfering
with your rights and who tramples upon
ganized capital, do hear? Against that is
war declared. 'iWill it be war to the knife
and the knife to the hilt, - or will there be g.
peaceful issue to the conflict? Which, in
your opinion, is necessary to promote the
interests of both? The helm of the ship of
this republic was constructed by men of
different and apparently irreconcilable
views and the constitution was only
framed by compromise OF all conflicting
opinions. Compromise then gives US our
constitution and compromise will solve the
difficult problem of the hour which you
have assembled here to grapple with. The
battle, we are told, is one of labor against
capital But what class of capital
is there opposing you, and whose course
out by the founders of the republic?'
I divide capitalists into two kinds and will
go with you and give the command For
ward" and fight by your side against one
of these classes. Make war against incor-
porated rascahty and we will help you to
ride it down. Combat great moneyed cor
porations that seek to control your Iegis-
latures, federal and state, by bribery and
corruption in order that they may get
votes in the federal halls of legislation to
perfect and fasten upon the whole country
legislation for their benefit and not for the
benefit OF the people a. large. We will
march shoulder to shoulder with you in
that. Draw the IAngS from the money
kings who seek to take possession of the
great telegraph lines of the country,
and defect them from their legiti-
mate purpose by controlling them to
defeat the will of reepeoplein an attempt
to defraud the whole country of their con-
stitutional right TO elect rulers, and we VIII
order to your support "horse, foot and
dragons" in that. Organize against CAPT
talists who furnish money to carry elections
and then claim as their reward the selec-
ton of the men upon whose shoulders shall
be thrown the purple robe of the judiciary,
and we are with you in that. But 81 CAPT
ital, my friends, is not used in this way,
nor for such vicious purposes. Let us
make no war upon those who use their
good fortune to alleviate the sufferings oil
mankind, and whose eulogies are written
in the hearts of thousands on account
of their generous donation and noble
deeds, and whose money is employed
to whiten the ocean with sails and cause
the wharves to be laden with commerce
Employers, as has been well said, have nc
right to lock out whole shop full of hands
to bring few unwilling ones to terms, MOI
b.