VOL. II. MANNING, CLARENDON COUNTY, S. C., WEDNESDAY, MAY 5,1886. NO. 21.
THE FARMERS IN COUNCIL d
tI
PROCEEDINGS OF THE STATE CONV*EN.
TION IN COLUMBIA. ti
li
A Large Body of Good Make-Up-Nearly All }
the Countleo Represented-The Proceedinas
in Detail.
Pursuant to the call heretofore pub- a]
lished, the State Convention of Farmers e]
met in Agricultural Hall, Columbia, on al
the 29th ult. Promptly at 12 o'clock the si
Convention was called to order by Capt.
~B. B. Tiiiman, of Edgefield, who pro- e
nS
ceeded to deliver an address in substance
ec h
as follows: it
If I were much in love with myself, 11
this manifestation of approval you have
just given me might turn my head and a
make me egotistical. I hope to prove a
before I conclude what Ihave to say that. r
while I am a man who entertains positive t
opinions and am not afraid to express
them unequivocally when occasion de
mands, yet still I know who ! am and b
what I am. I have been asked to call c]
this convention to order, and state my
views as to the objects to be gained and
the proper mode of proceeding to attain h
what we have in view. In some respects
I am thus placed in a peculiar and em
barrassing situation. There seems to be d
a current opinion that I am a dynamiter, f(
a communist, who stands ready to sub- b
vert society and overthrow the Demo
cratic party. The newspapers and the
p
politicians have striven hard to thus pie- h
ture me in the mind of the public. I
have been christened the "Moses," and
the name has stuck and will continue to
stick. The application was first applied b
to me in derision by Colonel D. P. Dun
can, and it was taken up by the newspa
pers, and has constantly been connected
with me and the movement which I
claim the honor of having originated. h
Bat I am not ashamed to bear the name. 14
r- My friends even call me Moses. I hope
sincerely that I may, if even in the very A
smallest degree, resemble the great law
giver and leader of the Egyptians; and if a
I shall be able, like him, to benefit my
people-the whole people of the State
without regard to any one class-I will
feel that I have accomplished my highest
object. This is my mission, and hasb
been since, at Bennettsville last August,
I started this movement. Selfish, little
men-politicians and editors-have im-1
pugned mymotives, thus seeking to im
pair my influence and bring me into bad
odor. I shall nevertheless continue to
move onward till I reach my goal. You
must reform the fanning before you can
reform the farmers. There must be
among us more thought, more brain S
phosphates. This agitation has already ri
broadened into formidable proportions; c
it is now a grand reform movement
which will and must triumph over all
obstacles. The cry is ever heard that if
we are not very careful how we proceed
we will injure the Democratic party and te
divide our people. No man man in
South Carolina is a truer Democrat than c<
I am, but if necessary I would not flinch
even if our grand reform movement
should go into politics and rectify the 2
abuses in the Democratic camp and wash t
its dirty linen. c<
It was feared that I would be very
violent and communistic and advocate g
the rending asunder of all prevailing in
stitutions, but all I have to say is, that if
every man in this convention is as con- It<
servative as I am, no class.of our citizens g
will have any cause to complain of the
action of this body. o
He had somewhere seen a cartoon a
which had amused him much, and which e
had impressed on him an important lea
son regarding the attitude of the office
holders and rulers of the party toward
this farmers' movement. It represented
a large enclosure of glass, in which there
were a number of rats, each enjoying a le
piece of cheese. On the outside was a
cat endeavoring to get in, and mad at fl
the failure of her efforts to effect an en
trance. Beneath the picture the legend t1
ran, "You Can't Get In." There were a<
hungry political cats in South Carolina C
who were mad because they could not A
get into the Farmers' Convention, but
the farmers were inside just now; for r<
once they held the keys, and they in- g
tended to stay in, and as they -were in J4
they had better take a nibble at the tV
cheese, just to see how it tastes.
The farmers had been so long acens- 0:
tomed to the condition of dependence at
and vassalage to the unfavorable condi- t.
tions around them that they had reached b
a state where they were unwilling to
make an effort to release themselves or o:
to respond to an effort to secure deliver- o:
ance. He told the story of Sterne, who,
while walking near the Bastile in Paris, r<
heard a plaintive cry like that of a wo- C
man or child, "I can't get out!" "I can't V
get out!" His compassion was aroused, '
and following the sound he discovered 0:
that it proceeded not from a human pris- s<
oner, but from acaged starling,and, yield- r<
ing to the feeling of commiseration ex- C
cited by the cry and the sight of the
captive bird, he opened the door of the p:
cage. The bird hopped from its perch n
to the open door, surveyed the fields
around the prison, on whiich no single n
tree offered a refuge to tempt it to try t<
its long unused wings in~ fligh?t, and then b
turned discouraged back into the cagen
with the despairing cry, "I can't get e:
out!" This has been the condition of
the farmers of the State, as he could tes- it
tifv from his own experience. Made
captives by the adverse circumstances al
which followed the close of the war, sub- ir
jected for ten years to a relentless system e:
of brigandage and oppression, they had
reached a state from which there was ab-b
solutely no relief but in a new system of t<
farming.
The cage has been opened for ten si
years, and yet the cry of the farmers is e:
"we can't get out!"and they seemed until ii
wecntv +n iemfin to remain inacon- tl
ition of mental and political bondage.
'nless these shackles are broken and
icy would use the opportunity to assert
ieir citizenship and come out into the
ght and liberty which wats'their right,
a was afraid that when the era of the
ew South did come it would find the
nds of the farmers in the hands of
iens, and the sons of the present own
-s sunk into a condition of slavery more
,ject and degraded than that of the
aves which their fathers held.
"Say, you men of South Carolina,"
clainied Mr. Tillman, "who own the
)il and pay three-fourths of the taxes,
ow do you take this system of dry nirs
ig, this intolerable insolence?" He
rged upon them to find out what was
ie wish of the farmers on this subject
id then go home, and in the primary
;semblies aid in securing true men to
present them, he cared not what was
ieir calling, whether lawyers, doctors,
reachers or what not, so that they were
repared to do that which was for the
est interest of the farmers and all other
asses.
What the farmers wanted was self
verment. Since 1876 the negroes
ad been corralled in a convict camp
ith the Democratic party as a guard
ver them. The guards had sunk into a
ep sleep, while a favored few had been
raging the fields and reaping all the
enefits and emoluments. He earnestly
rotested his loyalty to the Democratic
arty, and said that "no private citizen
ad done or risked more than he had in
i76." If the reforms advocated by him
ere adopted he believed that the bottom
ould be reached, and the future would
e bright with hope and not dark with
loom as now.
In the years in which he had struggled
> his present position as a farmer he had
arned a little about farming, and when
e came to die he would probably have
rned about as much as he might have
urned in four years at a well conducted
gricultural College.
Capt. Tillman's address (of which the
)ove is but an imperfect synopsis) was
ell received, and was repeatedly ap
lauded.
At the close of his address Capt. Till
Lan declared the Convention ready for
asiness.
Dr. W. H. Timmerman, of Edgefield,
ominated the following-named gentle:
en as temporary officers: Chairman, J.
Tindall. Vice-Presidents-First Dis
ict, W. T. Brooker, Lexington; Second
istrict, W. J. Talbert, Edgefield; Third
istrict, J. A. Sligh, Newberry; Fourth
istrict, NI. L. Donaldson, Greenville;
ifth District, J. H. Hardin, Chester;
xth District, E. L. Stackhouse, Ma
on; Seventh District, George.Tupper,
olleton. Secretaries-0. F. Cheatham,
dgefield, and Thomas W. Holloway,
ewberry.
The Chair appointed Messrs. Timmer
an, Stackhouse and Thomas a commit
e to inform the Chairman of his elec
on, and they retired and soon returned
mducting Mr. Tindall to the platform.
Mr. Tindall returned his thanks in a
raceful speech, concluding as follows:
The grandest of all civilizations is
tat which is built upon the social
)untry life of an intelligent and virtu
as people. It shall be only necessary
>r this intelligent body to announce
eir wishes, and there wlil be found
o party in the State who will have the
~merity to stand in the way of their en
>rcement."
A committee on credentials, consisting
fone member from each County, was
ppointed, to whom it was referred to
~amine credentials. The committee re
red, and the Con'ention took a recess
ll3P.M.
ArTER~ooN SESSION.
On motion, Commissioner A. P. But
r and Master J. N. Lipscomb of the
tate Grange were invited to seats on the
oor of the Convention.
Mr. Allen, of Spartanburg, moved
iat Governor Thompson be invited to
~Idress the Convention. Mr. Evans, of
hesterfield, opposed the motion and it
as lost.
Mr. Williamson, of Sumter, moved to
consider. Mr. John J. Dargan sug
ested a rising vote. If there were ob
etions or charges against the Governor
iey should be made openly.
Mr. Evans disclaimed any reflection
the Governor, either as an official or
s an individual. He simply meant that
?e time of the Convention should not
e taken up with general speech.-makng.
The Chairman ruled the discussion out
f order, as the Convention was not yet
rganized.
After a little further debate a motion to
ceive the report of the Committee on
radentials was carried, and this report
'as made by Mr. Clarkson, of Richland.
he list of delegates included the names'
two hundred and seventy-five per
ns-every County in the State being
presented except Barnwell, Beaufort,
teorgetown and Horry.
The report was adopted and1 the tem
orary organization was made pernma
The Chairman said he thought the
atter of invitinig Governor Thompson
>address the Conventien should come
efore the body, and he hoped some
~ember would make a motion to that
Mr. Donaldson made the motion, and
was unanim~ously adopted.
Mr. Talbert offered the following pre
ible and resolutions, which were unan
nously adopted, as expressing the gen
rl platformi of the Convention:
Whereas, the farmers' movement has
en stigmatized by some as antagonistic
the interests of other professions; and
-hereas, it has been said by others that
da movement has for its object the
reating of a new party and injecting
ito~ our body politic false issues, etc.;1
aexeere he it resolved.
First. That we, the members of this
Convention, assert and reassert that our
object is not at all to antagonize the well
being of any other profession or profes
sions whatsoever.
Second. That we recognize the right
of all citizens to hold conventions and
consult together for the good of their
respective callings, and claim for our
selves only the same right in assembling
to-day.
Third. That we recognize and realize
the fact that our State has good, patriotic
and useful men in all avocations of life,
and we invoke the aid of all such to as
sist us in advancing the interests of the
whole State.
4th. That we solemnly avow our object
is not to create any new party or to bring
bout any dissensions or trouble in the
Democratic party, but simply to unite
the farmers of the State for the promo
tion and protection of their interests, and
to bring about any reforms in the admi
nistration of the State government that
may result advantageously to the tillers
of the soil in common with every other
lass of citizens iii South Carolina and
the United States.
5th. That while we are not here as a
political body to arraign the State admi
istration or any branch thereof, we
laim the right to discuss any questions
in regard thereto which may aflect our
interests as an agricultural people, and to
emand our rights as taxpayers.
6th. That we do not claim this coun
try as the farmers', the lawyers', the me
chanics' or anybody else's alone, but as
orn country, to be governed for the mu
tual benefit of all.
On motion a Committee on Resolu
tions was selected, one from each County,
to whom all resolutions were referred.
Under this rule a number of resolutions
were introduced and properly referred.
Col. .J. N. Lipscomb, in response to
n invitation, addressed the Convention
pon the matters proper for its consid
eration.
The Convention then took a recess till
, p. m.
NIGHUT SESSION.
A number of resolutions were were in
troduced and properly referred.
The Committee on Resolutions report
d favorably on the following, which
were adopted:
Whereas, The agricultumal interest3 of
the State demand protection, develop
ment and advancement, and to accom
pish an end so desirable, therefore,
Resolved. That in the opinion of this
Convention, there should be a permanent
armers' organization.
Resolved, That one delegate from each
Congressional District be appointed a
nommittee whose duty it shall be to draft
rules and resolutions for the government
)f said organization, and the same be re
ported to this Convention as early as
practicable.
The Chair appointed the following
3ommittee: Messrs. Stackhouse, Tillman,
Bradley, Dargan, Massey, Duncan and
Donaldson.
The Committee also. reported favora
bly the resolutions of Mr. Sligh, of New
berry, urging the Legislature to pass an
Act limiting the number of references in
ctions for the settlement of the estates
of deceased persons. The resolutions
were 1unanimously adopted.
The following resolutions, offered by
Dr. D. C. Tonipkins, of Edgefield, were
also reported by the Committee and
adopted:
Whereas in the report of tihe Comp
troller General it is stated that sonic of
the Counties return their taxable proper
ty at figures far below others, some of
the Counties returning horses at from
4$8 to $850 and others returning them
from $90 to $100; therefore, be it
Resolved, That the attention of the
next Legislature be called to this dis
repancy and a remedy provided.
After hearing an address fronr~ol. D).
P. Duncan, the Convention adjourned
till Friday morning at 9 o'clock.
Second Day.
The second day's proceedings opened
promptly at 9 o'clock on the morning of
the 30th ult.
A number of resolutions were offered
and properly referred, among them the
following: Recommending the primary
plan in nominating Congressmen; fixing
the per diem of the Legislature at $3;
that no member of the Legislature should
be the attorney for any corporation; to
dscontinu- ti e appropriation for the
militia.
By MIr. Rice, of Union-Fixing the'
maximum rate of interest at 7 per cent.;
asking the next Legislature to provide
for taking the census; also, inquiring
why a privileged class is established in
the South Carolina University.
By 3Mr. Prince, of Anderson-That a
committee of ten be appointed to exaqm
ine the books anud vouchers of the sever
al departments and report the result to
a future meeting of this body.
M1r. Thomas moved that the resolution
be laid on the table. The Chair thought
that the resolution ought to go to the
committee under the rule. MIr. Allen
said that it was competent for the Con-.
vention to deal directly with the resolu
tion. MIr. Prince said the charges had
been specifically made by 3Mr. Tillman
in his resolutions that there was malad
ministration by the government officials.
MIr. Tilhnan, from his place, said it
was not true.
The resolution was referred.
The resolution inquiring as to fees
paid to attorneys for litigation in the
matter of "Chisolm's Island," came up.
3Mr. Dargan said that what the Con
vention wanted to know was why the
conduct of this suit was not committed
to the Attorney-General, as the law ofli
eer of the State."
Colonel Butlar repliedl that it was be
cause he was the attorney for the Coosaw
aiin~g Comnpnv. and in view of that
fact it was deemed advisable to employ
another attorney.
Mr. Ransom, of the Agricultural De
partment, made a statement including
the resolution of the Board of Agricul
ture, authorizing the employment of
counsel-under which Senator A. T.
Smythe, of Charleston, had been retain
ed. Mr. Smythe was authorized to re
tain assistants.
The entire cost of the phosphate liti
gation, extending from 1881 to Novem
ber, 1885, which has been described
above, has been $7,818.42, divided as
follows:
Fees of Messrs. Smythe, Ver
dier and Lee, from Hpril,
1881, to November, 1885, - -$5,750 00
Costs, surveys, etc., - - - - - - 1,968 42
Fee of Mr. Samuel Lord, in
Coosaw case, - - - - - - - - - - 100 00
$7,818 42
On motion of Mr. Talbert, of Edge
ield, the explanation was accepted by
the Convention as satisfactory, and the
thanks of the body were returned to
Colonel Butler and Mr. Ransom for the
iformation.
The committee was then discharged
from the furtheir consideration of the
subject.
The committee reported favorably the
resolutions offered by Mr. Prince, sub
stantially as follows:
1. That the farmers be urged to plant
less cotton and more of tobacco, fruits,
melons, grains and grasses.
2. That farmers take more active inte
rest in the State Department of Agricul
ure.
3. That the Legislature take measures
o encourage manufactures.
These resolutions were unanimously
idopted by a rising vote.
Governor Thompson, at this stage, ar
rived and made an address to the Con
rention, which was frequently apphuded.
When the Governor took his seat, Mr.
Tillman rose to make a disclaimer. He
[iad been credited with charging "robbe
ry and misrule." He had used these
terms but applied them not to these offi
3ers but to a ring of politicians which
aearly everybody believed to exist. As
to the "robbery," he said he referred to
the lien law-"a system of as danmnable
robbery as was ever fastened on a peo
ple."
The committee reported favorably the
resolutions offered by Mr. Tillman,
which are in substance as follows:
1. That the Legislature establish "a
real Agricultural College", separate from
the South Carolina College, and modeled
:n the Agricultural College of Missis
5ippi.
2. That the institution be under the
,ontrol of the State Board of Agricul
ture, who shall receive bids for its loca
tion from the several counties.
3. That experimental stations be es
tablished in connection with the Agricul
tural College.
4. That Congress be memorialized to
pass the bill introduced by Mr. Hatch,
and now pending, which appropriates
315,000 annually to each State for this
purpose, and that we ask our Senators
ad Congressmen to use all legitmate
means to secure its passage.
5. That we protest against the money
for the Agricultural College being under
he management of the present Wpard of
prustees.
6. That the Trustees of the Agricul
bural College be chosen, not by the Leg
ilature, but by a State Convention of
armers, to be composed of representa
ives from each County Agricultural
Society.
7. That the privilege tax on fertilizers
be doubled to raise funds for the pro
posed Agricultural College.
8. That the inspection of fertilizers be
miade more thorough and effective.
9. That the Citadel Academy be abol
ished, and the money now appropriated
o it be devoted to raising the standlard
and improving the equipment of the
South Carolina College.
10. That the State establish an Indus
trial College for Females, similar to that
of Mississippi.
11. ;That a committee of one from
each Congressional District be appointed
to present the matters in these resolu
ions to the General Assembly.
Resolutions 1, 2, 3 and 4 were adopted
without debate. No. 5 was discussed,
but finnily adopted. No. 6 passed with
out debate. No. 7 caused some debate,
but was finally adopted. No. 8 passed
without debate. No. 9 created some
confusion, but was adopted by a vote of
140 to 26. No. 10 was adopted-Mr. Till
nian first expunging the words "dude
actory" applied to the Citadel, and
"moral graveyards" as applied to cotton
actories. No. 11 caused no debate. Thfle
resolutions were then adopted as a whole.
AFTERNOON SEsSION..
The resolution to appoint a committee
to inv'estigate the fiscal offices of the
State was reported, with the suggestion
that no committee be appointed-none
being deemed necessary,
Resolutions to call a Constitutional
Convention, to repeal the Lien Law, to
make Judges hold office for life, and to
abolish useless offices, were adopted.
The comimittee on permanent organi
zation recommended the formation of
"The Agricultural Association of South
Carolina," to be composed of members
elected by the county organizations, on
the basis of representation in the Legis.
ature. The committee suggested a com
mittee of seven to frame a constitution
or the Association.
It was resolved to appoint an execu
live committee of one from each county
to organize the farmers and keep up the
present agitation till after the meeting of
the next General Assembly.
Resolutions suggesting the imipove
ment of our tax system; recommending
diesity of crpa nda orming alleai
ance to the Democratic platform, were
severally adopted.
The following committees were ap
pointed by the Chair under the respect
ive resolutions:
Committee to Draft Rules and Regu
lations for the Agricultural Association
Messrs. Stackhouse, Tillman, Bradley,
Donaldson, Hinson and H. R. Thomas.
Committee to Memorialize the Legis
lature and Congress on the Subjects
Considered by the Convention-Messrs.
J. W. Summers, First District; B. R. Till
man, Second District; J. A. Sligh, Third
District; D. P. Duncan, Fourth District;
Iredell Jones, Fifth District; Charles
Crossland, Sixth District; H. R. Thomas,
Seventh District.
Executive Committee-Abbeville, J.
E. Bradley; Aiken,. Dunbar Lamar; An
derson, R. P. Clinkscales; Berkeley, J.
B. Morrison; Charleston, W. G. Hinson;
Clarendon, Jos. Spratt, Sr.; Chester, R.
T. Mockbee; Chesterfield, S. W. Evans;
Darlington, W. E. McKnight; Edgefield,
B. R. Tillman, Chairman; Fairfield, T.
S. Brice; Lexington, W. J. Seibels;
Marion, E. T. Stackhouse; Marlboro,
W. D. Evans; Orangeburg, J. H. Fel
der; Pickens, S. F. W. Clayton; Rich
land, Thomas Taylor; Sumter, H. R.
Thomas; Union, 0. E. Fant; Williams
burg, J. G. McCutchen; York, Iredell
Jones; Lancaster, L. J. Perry; Laurens,
G. W. Shell; Kershaw, L. C. Thompson;
Oconee, A. B. Broyles; Greenville, M.
L. Donaldson; Hampton, John Lawton;
Newberry, R. T. C. Hunter.
The customary resolutions of thanks
were adopted, and the Convention then,
at 5 o'clock, adjourned sine die.
31R. POWDERLY AT HOME.
ilN Views on the Strikes, the Eight-Hour Sfy
tem, and Some Other matters Now Agitating
the Laboring People of the Country.
(From the New York Star.)
Although General Master Workman
Powderly of the Knights of Labor is an
advocate of a reasonable share of rest for
the world's workers, he deems the entire
twenty-four hours too brief for his own
daily task. The click 'of the t-pewriter
is heard late into the night in the cozy
little back office of his unassuming resi
dence in the Hyde Park section of the
city where the labor chief makes his
home. When the correspondent of the
Star called to see the master workman
he found him hard at work in this office.
The way was led by a modest, courteous,
attentive and intelligent little lady, who
stands between the labor chief and
the hundreds who are continually calling
to see him. This is Mrs. Powderly, and
.she is a wonderful assistance to her hus
band in the performance of his exacting
duties. Having introduced the visitor,
she withdraws, and the folding doors
which separate the front parlor from the
office library are closed. The workshop
in which the general master workman
labors is crowded with books and papers,
but neatness, order and method are ap
parent in the arrangement of every
article, from the glass paper weight to
the pile of bound volumes that contain
copies of all the important letters lie has
written in the discharge of his official
duties during the six years that he has
been at the head of the greatest labor
organization in the world. A mass of
letters, brought in one dlay's mail, r-ises
from the car-peted floor almost as high
as the chair upon which he is seated,
and Mr. Powderly is carefully going
through these and making such notes of
their contents as he think they deserve.
"You must receive as large a mail as
the average exchange editor," said the
correspondent after the first friendly
greetings were over.
"Well, I donat know how much of a
mail an exchange editor generally gets,"
said Mr. Powderly, "but this is a fair
specimen of what comes to me every cday
through the mails, and my telegraphic
correspondence is not much less. As a
general thing the assemblies of the
Knights of Labor select intelligent secre
taries, and their letters are always in ex
cellent shape, but I receive sonie epistles
that would puzzle an expert calling for
decisions on knotty questions that would
stagger Solomon himself. There is work
enough in my office to keep six men fully
employed, and yet I am expected to do
it and at the same time have sufficient
leisure for philosophical essays on scien
tific and economic problems that would
tax the wisdom and scholarship of a John
Stuart Mill. Then it is astonishing how
quickly I am taken to task for the use of
some learned phrase or expression that
conveys the most direct meaning I can
think of at the time. I am always anx
ious to give my ideas the simplest form
of expression possible, so that there may
be no misunderstanding of what I say or
write. Such simplicity requires study,
and as I have no time for study or reflec
tion, the thought must be taken on its
own merits without regard to the setting.
What with sickness, worry and work I
have had a busy tinie of it lately, and I
see no let up in the near future. 0Oar
order is increasing with amazing rapidi
ty, and as a general thing new memb.'rs
arc more likely to misunderstand its mis
sion than the old ones. It ought to be
generally known that the order of the
Knights of Labor is enmphatically op
posed to strikes until all othermieWL &
securing a settlement of the m.atters in
dispute have fyledi. But I find that some
of th~ose who want to join us have quite
a diflerent impression, and appear to b:
lieve that we are organized fa rte pur
pose of conducting iinead of preventinig
strikes."
''Was the general executive board cog
nizant of the fact that there was going to
be a strike in the Southwest prhior to the
strike taking place?'
''We knew that the maen thtere hadt grie
vances, but we were not quite certain tht
the matter would culminate in a strike.
There was m-eat dissatisfaction among theI
men, owing to the obstinacy of Vice
President Hoxie, who refused repeatedly
to listen to their complaints. The dis
trict assembly was not required by our
laws, however, to appeal the matter to
the executive board before ordering a
strike, and this is one of the things that
we expect to amend at our next general
convention. We shall so amend the laws
of the order that no assembly can order
i strike hereafter without first submitting
the matter to the highest authority in the
)rganization, except at the risk of having
its charter revoked. There must be no
niore strikes if it is possible to avert
them, and I think it is."
"Is it true that a general effort will be
put forth by the order throughout the
2ountry, on the first of next month, to
nake eight hours the standard day's
work?"
"There is no truth whatever in such a
report. While I am, as you know, in
favor of shortening the hours of labor, I
recognize the great fact that the public
is not yet fully educated up to the re
:juirements of inaugurating the eight
hour system successfully. A reform like
that requires time for discussion.. We
want the manufacturers and employers
of all kinds to have plenty of time to
talk the matter over and see wherein it
would be of benefit to all concerned
the man who employs labor as well as
the man who labors."
"It is quite generally reported that an
2ffort will be made on the 1st of May in
behalf of the eight-hour system. Would
it have the approval of the order?"
"We cannot countenance it at present,
because we believe such a movemant
aow would prove abortive, and we want
to prepare the country for it. Just now
the public is unprepared, and the result
would be to seriously cripple industry and
prevent men from making contracts. We
ire not in favor of introducing any such
3haotic condition of affairs."
"Do you expect to see the eight-hour
iovement effective at any time in the
aear future?"
"Whenever we find that the country
is ready for it we shall urge it with all
:he earnestness at our command, but be
.ore that time employees and employed
ast have ample opportunity to become
icquainted with its benefits."
"What would be the principle benefits
f shorter hours of labor to the working
nen of the country?"
"A more general diffusion of labor and
,onsequently fewer idle men in th -. coun
:ry. The employed have not as many
>pportinities to improve their condition
vhen there are a great many idle men as
:hey would have if all were at work.
rhere are many other advantages to be
lerived from shorter hours of labor
which it is not necessary to enumerate at
present, since that would lead to the dis
3ussion of the question of labor-saving
nachinery and matters of incidental im
portance."
"How soon do you expect to see the
Aight-hour movement successful?"
"No time has been fixed for it, and it
,Tould be difficult to fix any time just
iow. It may be two, three, or more
ears hence, but not until the question is
.ully discussed and thoroughly under
tood by the country. There will be no
zeneral strike for the eight-hour move
nent in this country on tho 1st of MIay,
is some of the newsp~apeLrs supplose."
MIr. Powderly appeared before Con
gressman Curtin's committee of investi
gation at Washington on Tuesday.
(APTURE OF TlUE WHITE H!OL E.
Llildren Take Po eio or thie Grtd and
Rioll Easter Eggs All Day.
Washington has one observance of
Easter which is unparalleled andp eculiar
:o itself-it is the forcible entry and pos
session of the President's grounds on
Easter MIonday by the children under 10
yecars of age. How the custom origi
iated and when, nobody knows--only
that on every Easter MIonday all the little
:hildren in Washington, -directly after
breakfast, swarm to the White House to
roll Easter eggs on the green slopes of
the grounds. The grounds are in a meai
sure open to the public, but even the
Chief 3Magistrate is entitled to sonie pri
racy. But by 'a law of the children's
tuaking, all others are superseded on
Easter MIonday. No .part of the park is
sacred, and a crowd estimated from live
to eight thousand, all under 10 or 12,
riot at will over the grassy knolls. Ven
lers of Easter eggs drive a thriving
trade. The scene is highly picturesque
ind interesting. The young ones con
regate in groups, the girls andC boys
enendlly separate, excey. among the
ecry little toddlers, who roll themselves
is often -.i te Easter eggs down the hill.
Lte older boys p~ursue the sport scientifi
:ally, and the girls therefore exclude
them, as the boys would soon come to
liave a monopoly of the eggs. All day
long it goes on. and when the multitude
2as departed it looks as if an army of
ocusts had pased over the land. Presi
lent Arthur always came out and en
oved the scene immensely, and Presi
lent Cleveland enjoyed the gambols of
he children for a long time.
-The latest Lond.a device for attract
ng the :it'z on:~ of passers-by to a shop
.' ow is to run a .strong electrie cur
:ent along a brass bar pl-ed ou'tside ap
uarently fvr thililpurose of p)rotectinIg
:he gla's. Tou involuntauily place youlr
su on the bar and inunedidcelv receive~
i shock. The el~het is somewhat stairt
in, n t.e iemperament of the snifer
ri., htardly so ftened by discovering,
when it is all over, a .uaall card whereon
the p~roper1ties~ of the b~rass bar are ob
scurely set forth.
--A a last res~ort som.e doerors in Wise
Uo0i11, j. Ignia. 1 mrieul a rleuumatie
piatit up' to thle nteek in the ground, and
allowed lim to remain in that poGsition
JEFF DAVIS IN MONTGOMERY.
THE PEOPLE WILD WITH ENTHUSIASM
THE FAMILIAR YELL.
He Addresses the People From the Spot Where
He Took the Oath of Ofce as President of
the Coifederacr.
MONTGOMERY, ALA., April 28.-To-day
will ever be memorial in the history of
Alabama. Every locality was represented,
and many adjacent towns and villages
poured their entire population into the
streets of Montgomery. At an early
hour the sidewalks were so densely
packed that locomotion was difficult. It
had rained all night, and poured down
until 10 o'clock. Instead of going to the
park it was decided to go to the Capitol
grounds for the speeches to be made
from the very spot where Mr. Davis
took the oath of office as President of
the Confederate States. The entire city
is gaily decorated, and the City Hall has
United States flags fluttering out of
every window. Pictures of the Confed
erate Generals are fastened to the out
side walls, while the names of Confeder
ate Generals fluttered to the breeze on
streamers. The Capitol was beautifully
decorated. From the topmost point on
the high dome, towering far above every
thing in the city, floated the stars
and stripes. The entire front was cov
erea with streamers and devices, while
there was suspended along the front col
umns immense Federal flags reaching
down almost to the heads of the speak
ers. Private houses and business houses
all have a liberal supply of decorations
and devices and words of welcome to Mr.
Davis. The scenes around Mr. Davis
this morning an I tl.s great desire to see
and shake him by the hand are inde
scribable. Being feeble, it was more
than he could stand, and he had to retire.
The military escort formed in front of
the hotel and extended far up the avenue
leading to the Capitol. It was necessary
to form a square in order that the pro
cession might move. The companies
were formed and stretched out on each
side. A carriage with four white horses
was drawn up to the door, and promptly
at 2 o'clock Mr. Davis, escorted by
Mayor Reese, Governor O'Neal and ex
Governor Watts, formerly of his Cabi
net, stepped from the hotel and entered
the carriage. The shouts of the multi
tude as he was seen to emerge from the
hotel had a peculiar nervous jerk, which
characterized what became famous as the
"yell of the Southerners" the world
over. The next carriage contained Gen.
John B. Gordon and Captain W,- L.
Bragg, Miss Winnie Davis, youngest
daughter of Mr. Davis, and Miss Reese,
the Mayor's daughter. The third car
riage contained W. W. Screws, Mrs.
Gordon, Miss Gordon and Miss Walter,
the latter a niece of Mr. Davis. Other
carriages followed, with the trustees of
the Monument Association and the Gov
ernor's staff.
Amid the waving of hats and hand
kerchiefs, the booming of cannon, the
playing of bands of music and shouts
louder than ever before heard, the scene
presented was rarely ever witnessed in
any country; the demonstration being
in honor of a man proscribed by the
United States government and as a tri
bute to the dead soldiers of a cause that
was lost. The route of the procession
was about half a mile long. The avenue
is viery wide, but the crowd when it be
gan to move was packed from one side to
the other.
When the procession arrived at the
Capitol the gateway was cleared for Mr.
Davis, the military being formed so as to
prevent the overrunning of the buildings
and grounds before he had reached his
place. He was seated upon the historic
spot he occupied February 18, 1861.
Arrnged in front was a place for the
press and on the sides and in the rear of
Mr. Davis were the members of various
organizations interested in the building
of the monment, which it is proposed
to erect on the hill and immediately
north of the Capitol. People, men,
women and children, were packed from
the steps to the front gate, and while it
was impossible for a 'great part of them
to hear, they stood in their places out of
respect for Mr. Davis and a desire to see
him. When order had ban su~ecured
Mayor Reese advanced to the front and
said:
"My CocammE It is with profound
emotion that I prasent to you the fore
most type oi Southern manhood, Hon.
Jefferson Davis, ex-President of the Con
federate States of America."
The scenes heretofore enacted were
gone over as Mr. Davis advanced, and it
was some minutes before he could pro
ceed. It s the first time that thou
sands in the crowd had seen him since his
arrival, it being impossible for all to per
sonally reach him at the hotel The
shouts finally dying away, Mr. Davis,
leaning on his cane, with a Federal flag
hanging over him andi Confederate vete
rans before hint to had come hundr3ds
of miles to Lear and see him, in a clear,
ringi:.g voice, showing the deep intensity
of his feelings, but without a tremor or
pause, except when interrupted by the
shouts of his hearers, said:
"My friends, it woul'd be vain if I
shiould attempt to express to you the deep
gratifieation which I feel at this demon
stration. But I know that it is not per
sonal, and therefore I feel more dc eply
grateful, because it is a sentiment far
dearer~ to me than myvself. You have
passed through the ordeal of a war which
Alabama did not seek. When she felt
her wrongs too grievous for further tole
ration she sought a p~eaceable solution.
That being denied her, the thunders of
war came ringing over the land. Then
her people rose in their miajesty. Gray
haired sires andu beardless boys eagerly
rushedt to the front. It, was that war'