Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-17
THE CONSTITUTION.
he yswspapss scheme on the Table
Trades uaiens Rseognired-will
Probably Adjourn fo-xorrow.

he 1ewSpApee scheme on tne TABLE
Trader ualsns Rseognirsd-will
Probably Adjourn fo-xorrow.
GcucrskM Master. workman Powderly was
TOO unwcII TO attend the morning session OF
Tie Convention yesterday, 20 Mr.. Charlie
L,tchmxn, Of Massachusetts,. recently
elected general secretary, presided In his
stead.
The Convention. Is usual, took recess
Of two hours 1t II O'clock, and few
minutes after that time Mr.. Litchman met
the newspaper men and gave out what had
been done.
LAID OK THE TABLE.
The report Of the special committee OF
six appointed to consider the proposal OF
AN. Dewey, OF Detroit, Mich, 10 estab-
lrsh weekly labor journal, which shall be
the organ OF the order, which occupied the
attention Of the Convention for two hours
and was still under discussion at the hour
Of adjournment Friday, was the first mat
ter 10 be considered. IL was, without fur
ther discussion. laid on the table.
Mr.. Dewey proposes 10 furnish en- eight
page weekly paper at % cents per copy per
snnum, to be sent free TO every member OF
the order In good standing. The money Is
70 be paid him by the general treasurer, and
20 be raised by an increase OF tue per capita
tax TO the General Assembly. The plan
uroyides for the appointment by the Gene
raj Assembly or the Executive Board OF an
inspecfor. without whose sanction nothing,
noi even advertisements, shall be published
in the paper. The committee reported unan-
Irnousiy in favor OF the proposal, but msuy
Of the delegates were opposed 10 It, some
urrcd that the capitalists supplying money
70 start the paper might throw Dewey over
board. nut a tool OF their own in his place.
and convert Il into an enemy OF the order.
II is not improbable that the question VIII
be referred 10 the local assemblies Tor ap'
proval or disapproval, and power VIII os
0ranted to the Executive Board 10 act II
the decision should be In favor OF the pan.
or THE CONSTITUTION.
Next was taken up the report OF the CON-
mittee on Law on the Revised Constitution.
The proposed new constitution will be con.
sidered by sections. The section with re-
ference 10 the duties OF the general officers
was adopted, and the one relating to State
assemblies was under consideration at the
hour OF adjournment for the noon recess.
The amended constitution makes little or
no change in the duties OF the general off,
GERS.
Afternoon Session.
Mr.. Litcbman presided again at the after
noon session, Mr. Powderly being still too
unWeIl to be out. He did 20 out on the
street, however, later In the evening, and
said he was feeling much better. As soon
rs the Convention met the work on the con-
stitution was proceeded with. The first
subject taken up was the section in relation
to State assemblies, which was under dis
ctssion at the hour of adjournment. IL
was adopted.
The amendment makes State assemblies
permissiye instead OF compulsory, as at
present, and further provides that the iuris-
dlction OF existing districts shall not be
changed unless said districts are willing to
have the change made. The national dis
trict assemblies remain as at present. These
are assemblies OF unions In which mem.
bers OF the same trade all over the country
are membership Telegraphers' Union,
fol- instance.
REPRESENTATION CHANGED.
The next question considered was the
proposition TO decrease the basis OF repre-
sentation. The committee reported plan
BY which the Convention would always in
future be composed OF 200 delegates.
Their idea was to have one delegate for
every 5000 members in good standing, or
majority fraction thereof, while the mem
bership aggregates 100000; one for
every 10000 when il increases TO
double that number, and so on. |
There was a hard fight for the report, and |
some favored reducing the representation |
even more than that. All the delegates |
present had seen the evil OF so large a Con-
vention, and were therefore in favor of
making change, but did not favor so
great reduction. After a spirited
fight Il was decided TO reduce the basis
from one for every one thousand members
20 one for every three thousand. II the |
order increases In membership during the |
next yesr as 1t has done in the past one, |
the Convention at Minneapolis next year |
will be as large as the present one-155 |
members--wbIch is entirely too large for |
auy legislative body. a resolution was |
also adopted that hereafter the mileage OF |
deIegates-four cents q mile each way
shall be paid by the General Assembly.
TRADES UNIONS.
What has been considered one OF the !
most important things to be acted upon by |
this Convention was the attitude TO be as
sumed by IL towards trades unions. This |
subject was taken up yesterday afternoon,
and il was decided TO have an Interchange
of workipg-cards upon the following con-
dition: That the Knights OF Labor will
recognize the card Of any union which will
recognize the card Of the Knights.
TELEGRAPTIC SYSTEM.
Mr.. Tom O'Reilly, president OF the
Telegrapbers' Union Of New York, said to
the members OF the press last evening that
on Monday he Will introduce resolution
providing for the establishment OF Gov
erpmental system OF telegraphy. lie says
that such a system rs In vogue In all other
civilized countries except the United States
and Canada. He further said that such
system had proved q success wherever
tried, and Is absolutely public necessity.
ABOUT REPRESENTATIVES.
TIE following are two OF the amendments
TO the section OF the Constitution which was
adopted with reference 10 the meetings OF
the General Assembly and representation
"Any general officer, whether repre-.
sentative or not. is eligible to rejection
And "apy representative or past-repre-
sentative OF this General Assembly, or past
general officer, II eligible to election for any
Office IN the General Assembly except that
OF general master workman"
In clause OF section 4, relating to the
duties Of officers, an amendment was made
by which, IN case OF the death, resignation,
or removal OF the general master workman
the general worthy foreman shall succeed
him to perform all the duties Of and become
general master workman till the next ses-
sion Of the General Assembly, when there
shall be an election TO I'LL the position.
ABOUT BoycoTTNG ARMOUR.
A Telegram sent from Chicago Friday
stated that Mr.. 4. b. Barry, who WAS sent
70 that city BY the Convention to look after
the strike there, would return TO Rich
mond yesterday, and that he thought the
Convention would order general boycott
on Armour Il Co.'s meat. Mr.. Litchman
was asked II anything had been said or
done In the Convention about boycottlng
Armour. He said there had not. He also
said be had no information as TO when Mr..
Barry will return. II was understood that
Mr.. Barry was to leave Chicago Friday
night or yesterday, and that he viii be here
tomorrow.
WILL PROBABLY LEAVE TOMORROW.
Mr.. Litchman said yesterday evening that
the days work had been q very satlsfac-
tory one, and that in all probability they
would complete their iabors and adjourn
tomorrow evening. Many still think II
viii be impossible to get through before
Tuesday-p probably day or two later. II
h generally conceded TO be the intention OF
the Convention that many propositions
made and not acted upon In the revision Of
the constitution shall be referred back to
the local assemblies for ratification. The