Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-05

Ihe Question of Coior-A Harmonious
Session Expected.

OF the Knights of Labor convention at Rich
mond, the special correspondent of the Phiia-
deiphia Press says: The seven or eight hun
ored delegates present are certainly falr re-
presentation OF the American artisans, FARMERS
and workingmen generally. They are mostly
young men, ana at a rough guess should say
majority of them were under thirty. As rule
they are well dressed. IL would have been I'M
possible to find more attentive audience, and
every word Governor Lee and Mr.. Powderiy
said was listened 10 by all present. Both
speeches were read. The only dramatic Incl
dent of the morning was the appearance OF the
eolored delegate, whom Mr.. Murphy,
the hotel keeper, had refused to enter
terrain, the introducer of Grand Master
Powderiy. Thvre is good deal OF talk about
At, and il has shocked me ceilings OF some of
the old Nirgihians. This to be expected,
for, a. Mr.. Puwderiy very wisely said, custom
OF such long standing could not be obIiterated
IN day. In the meantime the knights are
gradually Withdrawing troin the hotels as last
they find suitable and less expensive
quarters in W hich to- board. Tue incident will
undoubtedly prove beneficial in demonstrat
The fact that the color line is being grad ualiy
obliterated IN the more progressive parts Of the
country. Meanwhile the hotel Keepers protest
that they are not prejudiced against colored
people, but that 1T Is merely matter OF bust
ness with them, and they regret exceedingly
that the Knights of Labor have seen tit TO bring
the matter 10 such a sharp issue.
Dir. PowderyS address bore evidences of
having been carefully written, but was of a
general character and in no way mapped out
The work OF the convention. Nor did me intend
to do SO, for his remarks on that subject will
probably be intended Tor the ears of the h nights
OF Labor only. Ills declaration that the organ
ization was not tor tile purpose OF IA war OF labor
against capital, but was "A struggle in which the
man hood Oi The American lab is H. biting for
recognition, was greatly applaudeG. This, in
my opinion Was the keynote OF his address,.
rong hopes for harmony and IA general
strengthening of the order entertained.
The reports To the contrary are characterized as
false. This Is tine expressed opinion OF the
leaders. IL Is, OF course, impossible to say
what their private opinion is. Many of the
delegates are intent upon having good time.
Iuey were To De seen tonight in the various
places o! amusement, chatting and smoking in
the hotels, listening to the numerous str, ct
bands with which the city seems so be filled,
while this afternoon they were driving around
IN carriages, seeing the sights and enjoying the
beautiful scenery of tie city OF the hills
so far as IL Is possible to crystalline ideas out
OF the chaos which prevails ii Is safe 10 say,
after conversation with half a dozen western
Delegates that they regard ihe New England
and New IOrk delegations as cannish. Said -
western delegate: '.Tue New England deiega-
ton are constantly pushing themselves TO the
front. They strike western men as being rather
pose of advancing certain interests peculiar to
their own section. There is no breadth to Them"
"HOw about assembly 49,
"Ihey wOr6 together. McGulre dSpOrt- |
ing himself around here last night like a |
speckied horse at "a country fair, declaring he |
controlled that assembly absolutely. have no
idea that either OF these sections can control the
organzation tor the west after all will have the
controlling power. We Tnd the Pennsylvania
and middle states delegates to be a much |
broader set OF men and we can work with them |
we'll