Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-29

Presidents. T. v. Powderly. W. j Smith, Presi-
Evans, Secretary Of the National Federation Of
Miners; David Kirk, Greenbackers: j. s, McClevy,
q. Lewis, Master workman National ti District
knights Of Labor Miners; P. J. Mcclure, Secre-
General Executive Board Knights of Labor:
Union. PSisdelp6is; Henry e George, sifss edisor
the Standgrd: New York; T. f. Fitzpat-
America, Cincinnati; Carroll d. Wright, Uom-
missioner of Labor; Marcus Hanlon, Philadelphia:
| =. b. Weaver, editor OF the Tribune, Des Moines
Ia; Danie! McLauEhlin, Illinois Miners; 8. F.
| Norton, editor of the EEpress Chicago; John Nc
Robert Fisher Indiana Miners; Richard Robin.
| son, editor ofthe Wheeling het1S- Letter; Robert
Linn, Kansas Miners Union; 7. z, Gray, Coal
| Valley, w. Va; Miners; George Harris, Presi-
| dent of the Pennsylvanta Miners; George DoYey:
PsSGE Rohard al De1G
Seeret+,Ey j. p. M Kelly. Pittssurg Irgaon ia; Rev
David Jones, James Campbell. = Peter Shields, 4.
| p, Burchfeld. Isaiah Phillips, j. 3. R1tenour,
William Martin, G. b. Moore.
IMPERlsHABEE GRANITE.
After Is months of unremitting efforts, the
Executive Committee at meeting held jan
uary s. 1889 decided to solicit designs for .
suitable monument to cost $780, Messrs.
Martin, Moore and Shields were appointed q
subcommittee to attend to this part Of the
work and report in due time. A sub-commit-
monument was also appointed, consisting Of
Messrs. Sturgeon, Kelly and Ritenour.. These
subcommittee reported at subsequent meet
Ings of the Executive Board and the contract
to erect the monument was awarded 70 A Z.
Windsor & Co., of Allegheny. The article OF
agreement with the said company stipulated
that the work should be done by union men
in union yard. This beautiful location on
which the completed structure now stands
was chosen by the Committee on Site, and
kindly donated by the Park Commissioners Oh
this city.
THE ORATOR OF THE DAY.
Secretary William Martin announced the
orator of the day, Miles S. Humphries,
manager of the Oliver Iron and Steel Com
pany. That gentleman was applauded as
he stepped forward. He delivered his ad-
dress in a good, clear voice. He had COM
mitted it thoroughly, and its delivery was
listened to with close attention.
He spoke first OF the great Improvements
of the passing century, and said:
The struggle between oppression and liberty,
inequality. and Justice, slavery and freedom.
involving all within the domain of right and
wrong, as 1t relates to the welfare of mankind
has been vigorous and earnest In these varied
struggles and advancements. men have become
renowned for their ZEAL skill and scientific at
tainments. and have left the results of their
life work as a valued legacy to their country.
They were men Of courage as leaders, men OF
into useful systems, plans and procedures, and
thus their lives became beacon lights to sue
ceedIng generations In honor of their men,
ory the land is studded with columns of mar
BILE and of granite, denoting to the wayfaring
that through the efforts of onethe realms of the
starry heavens have been unfolded to the
knowledge and gaze of mankind or again, that
the earth with its manifold treasures had
been explored, and their great usefulness
made subservient to the will of man, or he may
have been profound exponent Of political
lii.
and mighty warrior, or still, perchance, he had
with great clearness made plain the teachings
of Holy Writ, and in a warm spirit of eager
n1Srnr snd nsntsnf thTonSb n:tbs IsG ri,i ,SG sne
to haven of triumph. But Thomas A. Arm
strong.
A CHILD UNVEILS THE STATUE.
At this name the speaker paused, while
he pointed to the statue. Little Thomas
Armstrong Highberger, sitting on his grand
mothers knee, pulled the cord which re-
leased the drapery around the statue and
the canvas slowly fell away, revealing the
splendid figure standing out clear and clean
against the cold gray sky. The speaker
continued:
whose name we desire to perpetuate, was of
a different type-save that he braved the
to-day in great multitude, with warm hearts
and tenderly cherished memories. to do him
honor in the dedication of this monument. He
left no record of scientific attainments or ex-
mechanism, no charitable bequests distributing
enormously accumulated wealth, but he left |
the record of pure and upright life, during
which he mingled with his kind and by wise |
counsels and honest efforts endeavored to lead |
them to plane where Justice and equality |
would abound; and in this great life-work, he !
combated every unwarranted obstruction, !
until he became known throughout the land as |
the inscription SO aptly indicates, "The AdVo- |
cate of the Rights of Labor" These were |
rights that involved the reformation of evils |
that were widespread, deep rooted and of long |
continuance, evils that were blighting and op- |
pressive to the human race. Rights that in |
their very nature would transform the social |
edifice from prison house of groaning servi- |
tudo. indigence and degradation. to a condition |
of manly and brotherly dependence and then |
jointly to apply remedies that would take away |
the ulcers that were eating the very vitals of |
humanity. Rights that demanded that the fogs |
Of prejudice, the clouds of oppression should !
be removed and the light of truth and immortal |
justice dawn upon all people struggling to /
themselves from q groveling con |
dition imposed by arbitrary mammon.
OPINIONS ON LABoR's MISSION.
Mr.. Armstrong; early life and service in
the army were eloquently described, and his
work after the war, in building up trade
unions, was then gone into at some length.
Mr.. Humphries then said:
The great economic function of union was not
merely to resist the encroachments from with
put but to protect labor from undue aggres-
;ions from within. He would have organization
give the workman a just sense of his power, in
still into his mind the principle of manhood and
and learn him to feel as citizen
md not cringing as the slave.
He would have it teach him the value of
thrift and prudence, by compelling him. if need
De, to save, and teach him the worth of sobriety
)y showing him the value of his weekly earn
Dgs. He loved peace and good fellowship. and
hus was opposed to conflicts between EMPLOYER
md employed, when possible to avoid them; yet
It times there seemed to be no escape, and in
uch cases he affirmed that the pecuniary
osses sustaI sed by the workmen were the pre-.
tentative of still greater, as it Kept them from
mixing from depths to lower depths, and there
% remain; that there were times when strikes
became, as it were, capital sunk to produce re-
nunerative wages, Just as capital is oftentimes
unk to produce remunerative profits; and while
le deplored these struggles, he cherished the
'elief that they might be the means, in part at
east, of eventually leading men to the adoption
# a system of industrial partnership.
If he warred against one evil more than
mother it was against the so-called Truck
ystem," and to his persistent efforts can the
radual decline of that nefaripus system in our
tate be largely attributed. Labor faithfully |
In his estimation, was entitled to |
eceive its earnings in money at the earliest |
ractical period, in order that its wants might |
o be independent Of creditors is the first con-
ition of self respect and as cash is worth more
nan the highest credit, he plead that labor
bould receive frequent and prompt payments,
Or it would not only promote good morals but
-ould instill a spirit of manliness which is
lways perceptible in the workman who is free
TOM debt.