Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-15
sPKcIAL TELEoRAh TO THE prsP ArcH. !

KENNETT SQUARE, PA, June IA
Situated in Chester county, about three
miles from Kennett Square, is a beautiful
stretch of timber land known as Longwood
Under the shade of this pleasant grove this
afternoon the thirty-eighth Longwood year
ly meeting of Progressive Friends was
brought to close. The lovely weather and
the excellent condition of the roads brought
q great many visitors. ALI around the
grounds there were teams of every descrip-
tion.
During the morning session addresses
were delivered by Miss Elizabeth v. Yates.
of Maine; II. B. Blackwell. editor of the
Women's Journal, of Boston. and the Rev.
Hugh o. Penteeost. The afternoon meeting
was called to order by Frederic A. Hinck-
ley, of Northampton. Mass. the Chief
Clerk of the meeting. A resolution memori-
alizing Congress to grant pension to Annie
e. Carroll for her services during the late
war was adopted, and three memorials were
adopted in memory of Oliver johnson, Re
becca Way Taylor and Dinah Mendenhall.
THE ORATOR OF THE DAY. ...
In short speech Mr.. Hinckley then in
W,
Master Workman T. V. Powderly, of the
Knights of Labor, who, among other things,
said: ...s--
many gatherings but this is certainly one of
the highest in character of those to whom I
have spoken, and night now let me say some
thing about the order which represent. The
Knights of Labor as an order has striven to do
tnat which no other organization ever thought
OF doing prior to our formation. and that Is the
bringing of the toilers together. Our highest
seeks to benefit humanity. We know no
creed. no color and no nationality We stand
on the high plane of desiring to assist one and
all, as you can see by the following preamble:
Mr.. Powderly then read the preamble to
the constitution of the Knights of Labor
and continued:
We admit both sexes to our order and we aim
at securing for both sexes equal pay for equal
work. The statement that the woman is not
the equal of the man will hold good no longer.
A lew years ago. when along the country roads
the shoemakers and the Iailors had their shops
and did the work for the community the
woman indeed was handicapped. But all has
changed. Capitalists organized and massed
their fortunes together. They erected in the
cities large buildings eight and nine stories
high, and each floor has been stocked with
machinery and these roadside tailors and shoe
makers were called to the towns.
AN IMPORTANT FACT
These men working side by side In the fac
tories knew practically nothing of their own
condition until they realized that their enemy
was the machine, and their salaries were being
reduced. Then they organized, but in doing
this they overlooked one important fact-the
admission Of women to membership. Finally
the machine has gradually had its effect
Work tnat formerly required the strength of
man can now be accomplished by the most
delicate Of women in as short a time and while
she is producing as much as the man she is
underpaid. When you purchase a pair of
shoes you of course never know that of two
made BY a woman at a smaller rate of compen-
sation.
Because OF our stand on this matter the
Knights of Labor have been condemned by
some, but we believe that We are right. A
woman does as much work as a man, and she |
does it as well. Why should she not be paid |
equally for it. We have taken this stand since |
1889. when committee reported favorably to |
our convention a resolution providing for |
for the government of women. I |
ruled the report out OF order. and since that |
time they have been In our organization on an |
equal standing with the men. In regard to the |
eight hour question, l would say that the |
knights of Labor have always advocated the |
shortening of hours, but while the men are |
working at home from sunrise until late at |
night =
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.
trouble. The time will come when woman
will be able to direct machinery which will per-
form labor which now requires a strong. mus
,ular man. When this time arrives the men
will be even more glad to combine with the
women for their own protection in the matter
,f wages. Now then, friends, we believe it to
De true also that if woman Is to have the
,ame rate of compensation as the men. it is
light that she should be able to deposit her
1ote side by side with the ''lord of creation"
20 decide the questions of national importance
% both of them. which will come,up for their con-
Iideration. Now there is no doubt but what the
lours Of labor should be reduced. Franklin
laid that during his time four hours work a
lay would amply supply the worlds demand.
II that was SO then, it is even more applicable
,o-day, in this age of machinery But we are
lot in favor of strikes. We think they are
uicidal. l will say that l have never known of
strike which has been won by the men where
he evil consequences have not overbalanced
he benefits. They always cause a disagree
nent between the employer and employed,
md if the employer does surrender he will GER
ainly have chance Of revenge upon the
men.
Mr.. Powderly closed with a plea for bal
OF reform and for temperance