Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-15
POLITICAL CIRCLES.
WoRKlNGMEN'S MEETING AT THE
OlD-MARKET HALL LAST NIGHT.
Address on the knights of Labor-Demo-
cratic Candidates at the Club
Meetings.

member Of the National Executive Com
mittee, of the Knights of Labor, addressed
mass-mceting of workingmen in Old
Market Hall last night.
The train upon which he came was de-
layed so that he did not reach the hall
until few minutes before 9 o'clock. In
the mean time those who had met together,
some $50 or 800 persons, were entertained
with speeches by Messrs. J. L. Chappell.
John :. Bethel, James Horner, and }. Z.
Mcdowell.
no POLITICS IN THIS.
Mr.. Chappell who called the meeting TO
order. explained that Grand Master
Workman Powdery had been invited to
be present and make an address, but found
1t impossible TO come and had recon-
mended Mr.. Wright.
Dir. Chappell took occasion 10 say there
were no politics IN the meeting-no Jim
Smith. Republican. or Democraticp politics,
and he wanted this distinctly understood.
Messrs. Chappell, Bethel, Mcdowell.
and HOrner urged upon the worklngmen
the Importance of organizing all trades.
etc. into one order if the labring man ever
expects to accomplish the principles for
which he is cOntending.
Mr. WRIGHT
Mr.. Wright came in with Mr. W. II. Null
len, who introduced him TO the audience.
He is a Canadian, but for some time he has
resided in Philadelphia. though he has
never changed his citizenship TO this
country. He IL a man of rather large
stature. wears heavy slde-beard. and
has a pleasant address. He stands quite
high in Knights-of-Labor councils. He can
state n proposition and argue it very
oleverly.
THE KNIGHTS YET SURVIVE.
His speech was mainly to show the adj
vantage TO workingmen to combine into
one great organization. The Knights OF
Labor he thought the best order 10 accom-
plish what is being aimed at. If some
should object to the Knights he advised
such TO Join trades unions. Though not 80
numerous rs when their convention was
held in Richmond in 1886 the Knights, he
said. are better organized now than ut that
time. Then they were nothing more than
body of unorganiZed strikers. The or.
der is still growing and Is composed OF
better material than a few years ago He
advised strikes only AZ the very last resort.
HOW TO BE POLITICIANS.
Mr.. Wright advised the workingmen to
take part IN politics. He did not want
them to be such politicians as we are ac-
customer 10 III llllN iOuilAiN VI III HIS Wv
land. He did not advise his hearers TO be
Democrats or Republicans. but suggested
that with their immense vote thev might
regulate the character of the men chosen to
Office. Ii would he well. he sald. TO try and
force the majority party in congressional
district to nominate man IN sympathy
with their cause, and failing at this then
look TO the minority party to nominate a
man who would vote for measures de-
manded By workingmen. and II they re-
fused then nominate and vote for labor
candidate whether he can be elected or
not
Heurged his hearers TO do all they can 70
force the Government 20 get control Of the
railroad and telegraph lines. These are
measures, he stated, that the Knights OF
| Labor are contending for.
HARD on CHURCHES.
Mr.. Wright several times during his re-
marks intimated that there is more reii-
| zion in tho principles of the Knights of
| Labor than in many of our modern
| churches. He criticised rather severely
what he termed fashionable churches. He
| had never heard minister Of one of these
! congregations preach against usury, but
| still the Bible classes this along with the
crime of murder. If a preacher should
spesk against rsurv in many city churches
I ne W0flU nc dShttl Alf ntAN my " 'f'"NN
and his successor would have a watch put
! ovc. hiu for ak months 10 see II he would
preach as did his predecessor.
Mr.. Wright spoke nearly two hours, and
was listened TO very attentlYely.
UNION DEMOCRATIC CLUB.
This club held a well-attended meeting
! AZ Springfield Hall last night.
After routine business, addresses were
| delivered by Thomas B. Hicks, candidate
for CITY Sergeant: ID. ;. Gates, for Sheriff 4;
| Nessrs. Peasants. Bowden. and Hayes, for
| Aldermen; and Nlussen and others, for
| Councilmen.
The next meeting Will be on Friday night
next. when all the candidates are invited
to attend.
A mass-meeting for Marshall Ward, at
! Corcoran Hall, is in contemplation.
JAcKsoN-wARD CLUB.
The Fourth Precinct Jackson Ward
| Club met last night with large turnout
ot voters present. and speeches were made
| bv Messrs. Evans. SpotswOOd, Smith,
Hicks, Epps. Powell, Carter, Jarvis, Gates,
! Culiingworth. and Garrison.
Refreshments were furnished at the close
/ of the meeting.
CLAY-wAED ACTIyEs.
The Clav-Ward Actives celebrated their
| nineteenth anniversary on Thursday
night. The attendance of the members
and candidates was very large. Speeches
we're made by Captain +. W. Cunningham,
candidate for Collector; s. Taylor Evans,
for Commemorative Attorney; j. +. Wing
field, for Common Council; X. B. Nun
! ford, for Commissioner OF Revenue; o.. l.
/ Philips. for Common Council; Alexander
/ Calder. for W. II. Cullingworth. candidate
for Commissioner of Revenue; Evan Snead,
/ for Board Of Aldermen, Captain John ID.
Perrin. for Justice of the Peace; CAPTAIN
Charles II. Epps. for City Sergeant; Q. W.
/ TYLER. for Justice Of the Peace K. i. Davis,
| for Board of Aldermen; Charles II. Lang
/ ford, for Common Council; r: Leslie
/ Powell, and Thomas b. Hicks. for City
Sergeant, and Messrs. j. Ii. Capers and j.
! Taylor Strat.on.
After the speaking refreshments were
served.