Democratic Sentinel, Volume 10, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 October 1886 — KNIGHTS OF LABOR. [ARTICLE]

KNIGHTS OF LABOR.

Proceedings of the Richmond Convention. Tha tenth annual convention of the Knight* of Labor assembled at Kichmond, Va., on Monday, the 4th of October. Gov. Fitzhugli Lee welcomed the delegates to the city and State in a neat speech. Frank G. Farrell, a colored delegate, introduced General Master Workman Powderly, who delivered an address, remarking that the lash of the slave-owner had been stricken from liis hands twenty-five years ago, but that the new slave-owner—the monopolist —is more dangerous than his prototype of antebellum days ; and that it should be the duty of the Knights of Labor to clutch anarchy by the throat with one hand, and strangle monopoly with the other. After Mr. Powderly'* address all but tho delegates quitted thehall, and the regular business of thw session was begun in secret. Nearly a thousand delegates were in attendance at the opening. Nothing was done at the first day’4 session boyond the appointment of committees. Mr. Powderly addressed the convention again, at the second day’s session, urging the members to abstain trom the use of strong drink while in Richmond. As individuals, he said, he had no right to dictate us tu what they should do, but they were not here as individuals, but as representatives of a vast constituency. The eyes of the world were upon them while here, and their constituency would be judged by their conduct. The time of the convention until 5 p. m. was occupied by the reading of the long roll of over eight hundred names. The committee had reached a decision oil all but eight or ten names, and these were referred to the convention itself. A warm debate on the report was had, but finally it was accepted and the delegates whose seats were in dispute were requested to leave the convention. They retired quietly. The work of assigning seats to the remaining delegates wa3 completed at 7:30 p. m., when an adjournment was voted. The fight over the right of eight or ten delegates to hold seats occupied the entire attention of the eonveution at its third day’s session. There was a very warm debate, punctuated by bitter attacks on the “Home" Club. Tho findings of the Credentials Committee were approved in one instance and condemned in another, but the question of the admission of Mr. Morrison, of New York, remained undecided. The sensation of the day was the threat of Secretary Turner to a Western delegate who had denounced the Home Club. Turner informed the young man that he had better be careful, ns his own seat in the convention was not very seeuro. A Richmond dispatch says : “Throughout the city the principal topic of discussion was tho admission last colored Delegate Farrell to a seat in, the orchestra circle in the Academy of Music, a section of tho auditorium in tho Richmond theater hitherto strictly guarded from the intrusion of all persons of his race. The general feeling among Virginians hero is one of bitter resentment, and they regard tho delegates from District 49 with anything but friendly feelings. It is said that a majority of tho local Knights nro much provoked at tho action of their visiting brothers, and it was reported that a few Knights living here declared their intention of abandoning the order and joining tho Law and Order League, organized liore in sworn opposition to the Knights. It was rumored to-day that tho delegates of District 49 would again escort Farrell to tho theater, and Mrs. Powell, tho proprietor, appealed for police protection, intending tocompel Farrell to sit in the negroos’ gallery. The Chief of Police called on Mr. Powderly to request that he use his influence to prevent an attempt to force admission of the colored delegate, ns it would cause trouble. Mr. Powderly sent word that he was too busy to sea him, but sint Mr. Hayes, of the Executive Board, instead. The latter said he thought Farrell would not try to enter the theater, but he would give no assurance on tho subject. The Chief and thirty-five policemen and a thousand curious people were at the theater when it opened, but the colored delegate failed to put in an appearance.” Very little was accomplished at the fourth, day’s session. It was decided to admit the delegation from District Assembly 1-26 of New York, headed by John Morrison, with the exception of Mr. llisden. As the Committee on Credentials desired further time for the consideration of the case of contesting delegations from St. Louis, the rules were suspended and the cohvention proceeded to discuss the question of giving the support of tho order to the locked-out cotton workers of Augusta, Ga., tho curriers and tanners of Peabody and Salem, Mass., and the journeymen plumbers of New York. There are 3,000 men in each, of the first-named bodies, and about fourteen hundred in the last. It was decided to support them. An extra force of police was on duty in the evening at both tho Richmond Theater and. Academy of Music as a procaution against trouble if any further attempt should bo mado by tho Knights of Labor to introduce colored men to seats from which they are excluded. Noattempt was made, however. Nearly the whole of the fifth day’s session was occupied in discussing the report of tho Committee on Credentials concerning tho St. Louis contesting delegations. Tho question at issue was whether the delegates elected at a meeting held at 7 o’clock in the evening or at a subsequent meeting an hour later were tho regularly elected dologates and entitled toseats in tho convention. The report presented to the convention and accepted by it was in favor of the delegates elected at the 8 o’clock meeting. Mr. Powderly’s address was finally read, and the roport of tho committeo appointed to investigate the case of the Home club of New York was made and adopted. A number of committees were appointed. A resolution was adopted authorizing tho appointment of a special committee of five to prepare and send a telegram to some proper person in. Providence, It. 1., with rogard to the limitations of tho right of suffrage in that State. Tho committee drafted and sent the following communication : “To Charles E. Gorman, Chairman of the Equal Rights Democratic Association, Providence, It. I.: Tho order of tho Knights of Labor, in general assembly convened at Richmond, Va., indorse your efforts in behalf of the elimination of unjust discrimination from theconstitution of your State, and pledges its moral support to you until success is achieved.” The committee was also directed to send a similar t degram to the District of Columbia in view of the disfranchised condition of its inhabitants. At the sixth day’s session it was ordered thata telegram be sent to tho Postoffice Department at Washington, protesting against tho letting of contracts for erecting public buildings at Baltimore to persons employing convict labor. This was done, Mr. Powderly said, because it was understood that a firm employing such labor intended to bid. Tho roll was called for presentation of resolutions, etc., and fifty or sixty were received. All were referred to the committee on distribution, which will distribute them to the committees. The same action was taken in. reference to all reports submitted and reports of tho Secretary and Treasurer. All these reports were presented in printed form. The roll of districts was then called, after which the roll of the local assemblies was called, and each presented such resolutions as it desired to lay befor ■ the General Assembly. They were referred to tho committee on distribution for submission to appropriate committees. Printed copies of tho reports of the Executive Board, the General Secretary, the Treasurer, and other officers were given to each delegate. A standing commit ;ee of thirteen on finance was appointed, as well as tho following special committees : Chinese and foreign contruct labor, emigration, legislation, relief schemes, and the Pennsylvania and Baltimore and Ohio Railroad corporations.