Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-03-14
K. Or [. LEADER SOVEREIGN.


|
worltingmen-fiis Recommendations to
Those Who Have to Labor for "a Living.
James L. Sovereign of Iowa, General
Master Workman OF the Knights of Labor
of the United States. addressed n meeting
of workingmen in Smyth Post Hall, Third
and King streets, Friday night. Owing to
the fact that the meeting had not been ad-
vertiscd until Friday. the attendance
was not very large, Richard Monck pre-
sided and introduced the speaker.
Mr.. Sovereign spoke for about an hour |
and half on the issues of the day. His |
remarks were attentiycly listened to, and |
he was frequently interrupted by APP
platse lie advocated organization among |
workingmen and advanced arguments ana
gave illustrations to show that the time
had come when the WorkinBman should
vote for the cause OF labor.
He said there are to-day IN the United
States 100000 workingmen who compose
| an army of enforced idleness, who are
destitute and compelled to roam about and
depend on charity. Many. he said, are
| becoming felons, us they have lost all their
hope and with it their manhood,
| lie spoke of the immense wealth OF the
country and how tbs produced by the work
| ing people, while the wealthy are getting
richer and the actual producers poorer.
The ingenuity and skill of the American
| workngman was also dwell on at length,
the speaker going back for several CELL
turtles and coming on through the succeed
ing years and showing the rapid strides
and magnificent progress OF Invention;
Vet, he said, the people who produce all
this wealth and possess all the ingenuity.
nre in a worse condition than the slaves OF
our forefathers
The speaker said the life of the nation
depends Oh the life of the working classes.
lie drew an illustration by likening the
people to chain; that is, taking none
tarv view. The wealthy class represent
the strong links and the poor the weaker
ones. Tine strength of "a chain depends
upon the strength of the weakest link ana
as soon as that is broken the chain is use,
less. Great stress was put upon the tact
that the rich people OF the country are get
ting richer and the poor people poorer. IL
was explained that the existence OF trusts
is the direct cause of such Il condition and
said that lust as long as they arc tolerated
and given protection by the government
matters will continue to grow worse
. For that reason his hearers were enjoined
to organize and to vote against trusts. lie
blamed the workingmen for this condi-
. ton, in that they had not voted against
trusts in the past. He also advocated vot'
ing In opposition to men who have shown
by their actions in legislative bodies thai
their motives are selfish.
The necessity for better educating the
: working classes was also shown. Inc
: speaker commended that if the working
(: people were better educated on economic
! questions they would more readily discern
! the defects aud would know what remedy
: TO apply. He said he hoped to see the day
u when the children will be taken out OF tht
Q mills and workshops and sent to schoo
y and the work done by their fathers.
y The national money question was alst
:, taken up. The government is discriminat
u ing in favor OF the bankers. the speake
. SAID, while the merchants, the mechanic
y and the people who fought to save tn
u country receive no recognition at the hand
of the people at Washington.
Strikes were given some consideration
= The speaker said they are not a new thing
u They did not originate with the presen
% labor organizations, but records OF then
~ can be found on the pages OF ancient his
P, tory and even i'll the Bible. The workin
~ people are not the only strikers Th
III trusts also go on strike when they war
n. bigger dividends or desire to impose on til
&c producers of their wealth. They rebel an
g. close up the mills. If the workingmen {
n on strike, he explained, the militia
re called out to subdue them, but if the trus
go on strike the same force, the militia,
called out to protect their property. NJ
To Sovereign said lie is not in favor OF striki
as as long as differences can be settled in an
~ other way. He argued that men should
ed treated with persuasive force and not mil
ne tary force when they complain of il
" justice.
ms The speaker illustrated the discrimin
,cr ton against the poorer classes in favor
the monopolists by telling how he HI
th once seen Il milkman arrested and hustl
or, off to Jail for watering his milk, while
m, railroad magnatc can water his stock wi
ey IMMUNITY and is not only free from pu
nd ishment, but is allowed to go to Congre
= and legislate for the people.
Mr.. Sovereign spoke III an easy, pleasi
manner and made his address pla
throughout by giving everyday illusti
of tions.
After he had finished Mr. Monck q
nr nounced that other speakers would
nd heard here in the near future in the
He terests OF labor.