The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-17
POWDERLYS RECEPTION.
HE TALKS ON TEMPERANCE, LABOR
AND THE THIRD PARTY.

Knights OF Labor EZplained-The
Labor Saving Machinery Question
The EiEht-Hour Law Advocated-The
Strike Question-The Third Party
Movement-EIr. Powde-lY Enter
tanned.
General Master Workman Powderly Of
the Knights OF Labor spoke ct Masonic hall
last night. Never before was the hall so
crowded. Every available space was occu-
pied, and people almost crushed one another
in their endeavors to gel a glimpse Of the
noted labor leader and hear his eloquent
address on the wroags Of the Iaboring
classes. Even the stairway was packed.
1t was representative audience; men from
every walk of life. from ministers Of the
gospel down 20 the commonest laborer
There was sprinkliug Of ladies, and they
sesmed to greatly enjoy the lecture.
On the stage. besides Mr.. PoWderly, were
Rev. J. <. l.. Holmes, Rev. Il II. LOOMS,
Mayor Schwarz. Aldermen Myers, Fall
lgaut, Carson. Harmon and Reid, William
Kehoe, 2. J. O'Connor Esq, Waring Rus
sell, Jacob PaulseD. Solomon Cohen. Capt.
Henry Blum, John O'Driscoll, s. G. Suther-
land, John F. Crohan, Daniel Hogan, Ssh
Onion Krouskolf, James F. Lane, Jacob
Cohen, A. R Fawcett, Lemuel c. Downs,
and others
At o'clock Chairman Downs announced
p. J. O'Connor, Esq, who had been selected
to introduce the speaker of the evening.
Mr.. OConnor began by saying that the
city of Savannah extended to the general
master workman of the Knights of Labor
most cordial welcome and an open-heartea
hospitality. 'He comes here tonight
said Mr.. O'Connor, "as the representative
of that great order of laborers which was
organized by the workingmen of America,
under their God-given right and preroga-
tive, for self-protection." Mr.. OConnor
then introduced General Master Workman
Powderly, wAs arose amid applause. which
did not subside for several minutes.
MR. PewDERLY's ADDRESS.
81 am aware OF tbs fact" said Mr..
PoWderiy, "that sincs arrived in Savsn-
nah at noon to-day have been treated with
the utmost cordiality aud kindness, not
only by the Knights Of Labor, but By the
citizens generally, and | wish to return my
sincere shanks before beginning my ad-
dress
After q few general remarks, Mr.. Pow
derly gave an account Of the organization
of the great labor order. Twenty
five years ago." said he, lat the close of
that struggle to which we all look back
ing scenes are past, the soldiers of the south
found, on their return, all their industries
crippled and their homes devastated. Those
of the north likewise found their mills
closed and the condition of the working
people at a low state, and they Immediately
set about to remedy matters. From those
exertions has come the present great labor
organization.
'The men engaged in the garment trade
PbiipnnlThTa fxJo
society in 1862 for their own especial bene-
fit In 1869 their membership numbered
but 500, wages had fallen and the hours Of
work increased. They could not understand
why things were 50, and began to
discuss it One of them, an
old gentleman, said that although the
society had been a generous one helping its
distressed members aud burying the dead,
yet 1t had not accomplished any great re-
suits. He advocated that toe society take
an other trades, and be courageous and
tmanly enough TO go into the workshops and
regulate matters, making shorter hours, so
as to give the idle men a chance 20 make q
living.
THE KNIGHTS EARLY CAREER.
But the members were selfish, and
rather than help their fellow creatures they
disbanded, and divided the money in the
treasury-about 81 600. As the men began
to leave the hall, this same old man arose
and requested all who were in favor of
establishing an organization that would
help to elevate all the workingmen of the
country, and lend helping hand to each
other, TO remain. Only six besides himself
answered the sunmons-seven in all. Those
courageous men met frequently and dis
cussed plan. and in December,
lS69, at meeting held in an
Old engine house Of Philadelphia,
the Knights Of Labor came into existence
an order which is now known all over the
the world wherever u civilized people live. ~
Mr. Powderly dwelt upon the struggles
and trials through which the new organiza
ton had passed cefore it secured its great
foothold. ut was an organization" sale
he, "that was needed; an organization tina
would take within its folds men OF every
religion and nationality, and where every
one was on an equal footing"
NEITHER FOR NOR AGAINST STRIKES.
Mr.. Powderly SAID that he cid not favo
strikes, neither did he oppose them. Their
were times, he said, when men were com
PEELED to rebel, and when that time cam
Mr.. Powderly's advice was to strike with nj
their might. A strike may not always b
won, he said, but it always shows tina
there was something wrong, and il become
the means OF eventually righting tina
wrong. he went on to show that strike
had come down to humanity since befor
the time of Christ, and thousands of year
ago men were put to death for rebeilin
against wrong imposed upon them b.
tyrents.
1.-THE Knights of Labor" said Mr.. Pow
dsrly, do not countenance strikes, bat the
are often forced upon us, as was the recen
one on the New York Central I gas cor
demned at that time for jumping into til
breach, as some said; because / ordere
1T, others said. But never knew anythin
about It until it had taken place. When
went TO New York | found q man-on
man, whose tyranny had caused all thi
trouble. For seven days l endeavored {
see Vics President Webb, and when at las
j did SEQ him. he declined to agree to an
adjustment. He would not talk about tn
causes which led TO the trouble, and absc
luteiy refused TO listen to reason. / said (
him: II understand you claim that the me
discharged were put away for drunkenness
Show these men, and they will be put asids
but he answered No. That strike wa
forced by the road to break up the orde
and keep the worknen from asserting thei
rights and getting protection. Then 1t wal
after all my vain endeavors to get settls
ment from the corporation, that i, with a
the fire of my spirit, issued that appel
70 the American people to sustain thos
poor men against the oppressio
10 which they were subjected, and l al
proud to say that the appeal met with
prompt and generous reeponsA