Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-04
THE KNIGHTS, CONVENTION.
Important Questions 20 Come Before
the Assembly In Richmond.

N I6HIb' ONvN AVNs
Important Questions 20 Come Before
the Assembly In Richmond.
GROWTH OF THE oRpER-FULL REPORTS OF THE
CONVENTION TO BE GIVEN TO THE PRESS
SECRETARY TURNER SAYS PowDERLY WILL
BE UNANIMOUSLY REFLECTED.
OF Labor, which opened at the armory in Rich
mond this morning, is really the ninth, as two
conventions were held in 1879, one in January
and the other in September. At the former IL
was decided to hold future annual conventions
toward the close rather than at the beginning
OF the year. The convention will be one Of the
most important ever associated with the order,
and emphaticalty the most representative of
organized labor that has ever assembled In the
and from New York to San Francisco delegates
of the order will assemble, and at least 1000
duly accredited representatives will voice the
sentiments and direct the aspirations of close
upon a million Of men. The inaugural business
of the convention will be tie election ofa general
will probably provoke a heightened and ami
mated discussion, but is likely TO eventuate in
the reelection OF Mr.: Powderiy. If eiec,eda mo-
ton will be made later on i,i the proceedings
that his salary be increased from 81 500 TO
$4,000 per annum.
MILLION MEN IN THE ORDER.
The order has grown to very large proportions
since last years convention. The number of
assemblies organized this year is equal to that
in existence when the last annual convention
adjourned. A Richmond special to the N. Y.
Times says: Secretary Turner puts the member
Was ano prior to the
special assembly held at Cleveland that the
order had outgrown its constitution. The spe-
change in 1t, though 1t was called for that pur-
pose but 1t paved the way for a change by APP
pointing a revision committee, consisting OF
MQSSrQ man Ztrr,n
This committee will report at this weeks con-
vention. The report is ready, but the nature OF
1t, according to Secretary Turner, has been re-
vealed to nobody within or without the order.
The plan Of allowing each state to manage its
own affairs, with national board as q sort of
court of last resort, was discussed at the Cleve-
land assembly, and 10 Is not unlikely that the
committees report will advocate such q meas
ure. 1t will require two-thirds vote to maze
change in the constitution, but this vote will
be forthcoming II Mr.. Powderly stamps the
report with his approval. This he will proba-
and would hardly present measure unless he
felt certain it would suit his chief Except the
revision OF the constitution and the election of
oHcers, there will be comparatively little for
the convention to do. These TWO tasks, how
ever, and the intermnable discussions to which
the former. if not the latter, too, will give rise
are expected to occupy the attention of the
convention for at least two weeks. 1t is held
in the armory, and the building could only be
rented for fortnight. The armOry will accom-
modate 1000 persons, and between 800 and
300 delegates expect to occupy seats in II to-
day. A very large majority OF these will come
from the eastern and middle states. New York
and Massachusetts will be by far the strongest
states in the convention.
P0WDERLY WILL BE REFLECTED BUT SECRE-
TARY TURNER HAS STRONG oPPosITIoN.
The complexion of the general executive
board for the coming year will depend upon the
committee which has in hand the revision OF
the constitution. II the board be enlarged
some Of the present members will have a more
favorable chance OF retaining their positions
nnGn2nUQd-
DERBY will probably be reelected by acclama-
ton. The opposition to him has been unable
OF a chance. The other members Of the board
will fluid the path to office more thOrny. Con-
siderable dissatisfaction exists with the man.
ner in which Frederick Turner has performed
the combined duties Of secretary and treasurer.
Complaint is made on all sides that he is mat
tentive. In many instances the complainants
are themselves to blame. Mr.. Turner thinks
he will be reelected. He may and probably
does expect some determined opposition. 1t
will be led by his predecessor, Robert Layton,
of Pittsburg. Not many months ago the gen.
era! opinion OF prominent Knights was that
board, would be snelSed, and that barry would
be reelected. The arrivals are too few TO de-
termine how the tide sets so far as they are
convention on Monday, as its time will be occu-
pied by the open session OF the llOrning and
the usual unimportant but still necessary work
OF the first day. Messrs. Powderly, Bailey,
Barry and Hayes have arrived. MIR. POwderiy
thinks the convention will occupy at least two
Wc6kS. III TIE MASSACHUSETTS QeleRateS L0SF6
are about forty women. Frank X. Foster,
democratic nominee for the lieutenant gov
ernorship OF Massachusetts, is a delegate.
ABLEsr MEN In THE ORDER.
A Richmond special to the New York Sun
says: The session will be eight hours day
from s to II in the morning and to In the
afternoon. AS to the important issues relative
to strikes, boycOtts aud knights OF LABOR rum
ming tor political offices, which Mr.. Turner con-
cedes will be the leading topics, he says he is
not prepared to venture predictions but he
intimated that the action OF the committee on
the revision of the constitution will be adopted
and that the fight would be In that committee.
MIR. Turner said the men that he considered the
ablest members OF the body to be here would be
OF Chicago; w. H. Bailey, OF Ohio; T. B. barry,
of Michigan; Chas. d. Litchman Of Massachu:
sets; Richard TreSelick OF Michigan, and
FULLER PRESS REPORTS.
He said the committee who at former sessions
furnished the press with matter did not do the
work satisfactorily, and this time Mr.. Powderly
and the executive board would attend to
that business and the reports would be much
fuller. He considered that much harm had
been done the order through the meagerness Of
the reports given to members OF the press here
tOfOre.
With respect TO the refusal of q hotel here to
give accommodations to q New York deiega-
tion which had a cOlored man in the party he
said people at the north are surprised TO see
such friction between the two races down south.
At the last republican presidential convention
in Chicago there were q numDer OF cOiored dele
gates, all OF whom stopped AZ the Palmer house,
when is considered to be one OF the first hotels
in the country. They ate at the same table with
other guests, and had the same accOmmOda-
tiOns that the other guests received. MIR. Pow
derby will be reelected unanimously, he pre-.
dicted.
THE RICHMOND BOYCOTT.
The action OF the assembly upon the subject
OF boycotts will probably be affected somewh hat
by the peculiar condition OF affairs in Rich
mond now. For many months the paper and
printing house OF Baughman Bros. has been
boycotted by the Typographical Union and
bitter state of feeling, especially as the mer.
chants and Others have organized u branch Of
the Law and Order League, with Q member.
ship of over two thousand, and 1t is aggressive
in backing Baughman and in fighting this boy
Been indicted by the musings court grand ana
jury tor conspiracy, and the Indications are
that the trial will take place during the time
the assembly is holding its session. The prose-
cutiOn have two OF the ableSt lawyers at the
bar, and the union is also strongly represented.
The point is now made by the prosecution that
no man who is q knight OF Labor should be al
lowed to act on the jury, as he is, they tend,
an Interested party. II these men are convicted
and imprisoned, as their opponents declare
they will be. the three daily papers here would
course all this causes bitterness. All attempts
at arbitration between Banghman Brothers
and the printers have proved dismal failures
The question OF Knights of Labor running
for political office is also likely to be Influenced
by local surroundings w. Fl. Mullen, district
master workman here, Is running as labor
candidate for Congress. George %. WISE the
den,oNrRfic nominee In s,rTonoUf nd IN.