The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-10-10
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR
PROTEST AGAINST THE EMPLOY.
MENT OF CONVICT LABOR
BY Government Contractors "A Com
mittee Sent 10 ChicagO TO In.
teryIew the Packers.

RICHMOND, Va, October s.-Tbis is
the sixth day that the General AS
semblY Of Knights Of Labor has been
in session here, and the first TO begin
with matters in such shape that the
bu.iness Of the convention can at once
be taken up and carried through.
Each delegate, as he parsed through
the doors entering on the convention
hall this morning, was presented with
a bundle of printed pamphlets and
circularr. One OF these was the sup
Elementary report written by Ralph
H. Beaumont, chairman Of the Com
mittee on Legislation, in which be
proposed a congress OF workingmeD at
Washington, to sit while the United
S'a'es Congress is in session. Another
YVES a proposition tf A. M. DewTy, OF
Detroit, Mich, 10 es ablish weekly
journal as tbs organ Of the order.
The purpose OF THIS wss that each
member should be fully acqu 'inted
with the several subj ecs when b ought
up for discussion.
The Committee on Distribution set
to work even before the convention
met dfsscting ths various pamphlets,
etc, intending Mr.. Powd .rly s address,
and distributing portions OF them to
The committees charge d with the duty
Of considering the subjects Of which
the respective portions treated. OF
the committees to be appointed only
a portion were named yesterday, and
when the convention met the work Of
completing the lis was at ones re-
sumed. Even today the work being
done is mainly preliminary. Doubts
are expressed as to the possibility Of
the convention completing its work
within 'bs two weeks for which Ar
mory Hall is engaged, but Mr.. Pow
derry says he thinks 1t can bs done.
l. il the pre- eUt intention OF the
nm tteemen aud delegates to carry
the work through as expediti0usly as
possb BILE and make every endeavor to
be ready for sdjournmt mt week from
today.
At the close of the morning session
the following additional acc 1unt OF the
proceedings was obtained from Mr..
Powderly:
Reports were received from commit
tees, among them the report of the
committee st the last convention at
Hamilton, Ont, on woman's labor;
the report OF the COMMITTEES appointed
at Cleveland ON the revision OF the
constitution of the order; the report
OF the committee accompanying the
Congressional Committee on the tour
to investigate the Southwestern rail
road strike. Mr.. Powderly was author
lied to send the following telegram:
Michael Cudahy, President Of the Packers
Association, Chicago, H.:
Will you postpone the contemplated
ection on the impending troubles be-
tween the packers ard the stockyards
employees until the General Assembly
can appoint a committee to call on you
with a view OF settling the difficulty
Answer. T. v. PowDERtY.
The following Telegram was sent to
II. b. Sullivan, Cohoes, N. Y:
Will you open the factories at Am
stsrdam and allow ali employ es now
out to return to work as they came
out and meet our Executive Board for
settlement OF this trouble and to pre-.
vent future troubles?
T. v. POWDERLY,
On motion II was resolved to ser d
Thomas Barry, OF the Executive
Board, to accompany Master Work
man NJ. j. Butler, of Distr ct No. 81,
to Chicsgo for the purpose OF endeav-
oring to settle the trouble between the
packers and employees. They will
leave here on the first train, which
starts at 8 o'clock this evening,
1t was ordered that Telegram be-
sent TO the Postoffice Department at
Washington, D. o, prott sting against
the letting OF contracts for erecting
public buildings at Baltimore to per-
sons employing convict labor. This
was done, Mr.. Powderly said, because
il was undertt cd that firm employ
ing such labor intended to bid. The
roll was called for the presentation of
resolutions, ETC., and fifty or sixty
were rt 4ived.
All were referred to the Com nittee
on Distribution, which will distribute
them to the appropriate committed s.
Tne same action was taken in refer
ence to all reports of committees sub
mitted and the reports CT the secre-
tary and treasurer. All the rep rte
were presented in printed form. The
roll OF districts was then called, ana
occupied the remaining time OF the
session. This afternoon the roll call
of the local assemblies will b. called,
and 1t is expected it will take up the
whole afternoon.