The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-14
Notes from Another Correspondent

Correspondence of the indianapolis journal
RICHMOND, Va, Oct 1l-Since the terrible
excoriation the representative correspondents on
the inside Of the assembly received last Thurs
day. the delegates are very reticent, and news is
obtained with difficulty. Much has gone forth
p1rporting to be information direct from within
the veils but which, in fact, is the veriest bosh,
utterly false, slanderOus. and calculated TO bring
in disrepute the order. The most correct re-
ports are those received by the Associated Press
and the manager here has been dealing fairly
with Mr.. Powderly, the executive board and all
concerned. Mr.. Powierly meets with the press
representatives daily and communicates such
matters as are allowable to 90 forth to the
world. A majority of the press correspondents
have enlarged and exaggerated the news given
them by placing their owr construction upon the
items and celebrating upon them in such mau-
ner as to wipe out all semblance of what was
told them The Associated Press is acting in
good faith, and up to the present time its reports
are reliable.
Organizing the assembly has been tedious
business, and nearly the entire week was con-
sumed in it. Now the committees are appoint
ed and from this time forward rapid progress In
anticipated. There is much to be done, and there
is no telling, if all the work mapped out ia
brought to completion, when the assembly will
adjourn All hope it will be during the present
week, but if the labor of the constitution tink-
ers, appointed at the Cleveland session. is acted
upon the Christmas holidays will still find US
in session. The report of this committee on ro-
visiog the constitution makes seventeen long
printed slips, wide measure. in type, and many
changes are contemplated by it. The basis OF
representation, the mode of establishing bound
aries, and various other matters connected with
the plan of organization, are to be considered,
and will excite much heated discussion. and
great deal of time will be consumed
in acting upon them. Taking this, and
the fact that the afternoon OF
the first business session, under:cal Of the roll
by districts and locals, that 2s2 resolutions were
offered, some idea may be formed of the work
outlined for the convention. In addition to this
there will be the reports of the General Master
WorKman. the executive board. the general
secretary treasurer, the general insurance sec
retary and the committee woman;s labor
yet to be acted upon. Each OF the documents
have been printed and are now in the hands Of
delegates, who are "cramming themselves with
information on the various topics contained
therein, preparatory to outbursts OF oratory to
overwhelm the public and confuse and delay the
work of the convention. There are some ex-
cellent debaters here and more niserably poor
ones who are continually thrustng their half
Matched views upon the assembly.
Mr.. Gould, of Indianapolis has made public
speech nearly every night since he reached the
ctr, IL the interest of the labor candidate for
u.
are three congressional candidates in the race,
Messrs. Wise, Democrat: Weddell. Republican,
and Mullen, workingman. Mr.. Mullen is draw
ing so largely from the colored vote that il is
contemplated drawing off Mr.. Weddeli and the
Republicans and workin gmen combine on Mr.
Mullen for the purpose of defeating Mr. Wise;
and from what / have seen since here believe
this coalition would have that effect. At any
rate it is viewed with alarm by the Democrats.
The parade to-day was a tremendous affair,
on6 fhan hn prt1ixo af AknN
Knights in this locality anticipated It wasNp-
ward of an hour iu passing given point There
were from 1.500 to 1000 colored men in line
wanted to make count, but ii is a difficult thing
to do. One colored assembly Gid count. There
were l50 fours-GO0 men-in this one local, and
there were eight or ten other colore3 assemblies
in the line, each turning out fair representa-
tion. The assemblies of whites were equally
we'll represented, while the delegates to the
General Assembly, on foot and in carriages,
headed by District Assembly ~ marshaied by
Thos. b. Mcguire made handsome showing
with their badges all alike and canes at shoulder
The banquet portion of the entertainments was
strictly an invitation affair 1t is difficult to say
what effect it might have on the much agitated
color-line question. / know that many of tho
colored delegates here do not desire to force
themselves upon the whites contrary to the cua-
toms of the community, aud in this respect are
showing much more regard for harmony and
good feeling than are many OF their white
brethren
Much unjust criticism of Mr.. Powderly has
been INDUCED IN by the press of this city on ac-
count of his attitude with reference to the social
equality question. He has been either misun-
derstood or Intentionally and grossly maligned.
He simply means, by the position he has taken,
to stand by the principles OF the order, which
recognize no distinctions of creed nationality
or color" He is laborng in the cause o. human
ity-the elevation of tho human race He be-
lieves the color of the skin does not destroy the/
right of q human being TO 'life liberty and the
pursuit of happiness" If this means social
equality, then. in my opinion. Mr.. Powderly
favors that doctrine.
Another Account of the knights Bali.
Richmond Special in Philadelphia Press.
The grand ball, the fireworks and the speeches
for the evening ended in colossal
fzzle. After getting some thousand people TO
the fair ground to take part in the festivities it
was decided about o'clock not to proceed with
them. 1t was rumored that the white men In
tended to dance with the colored women. This
sight had never been witnessed in Richmond.
1t was decided that the whole thing had better
be abandoned. A large number of people was
on hand ready for the dancing but al the ap-
pointed hour there was no band and the head
and tail of the committee had disappeared. By
10 o'clock the crowd had left the fair grounds,
and nothing remained but restaurant men in
various degrees of chagrin and rage These men:
30 they told me, had rented the stalls and fur
nished the provisions with special regard to the
ball, and they had gallons of oysters, icecream
and other Or visions left on their hands.
What is the troublep said to the most in
telligent of these unhappy men.
.The fast is, sir" he answered, this Mr..
Powderly has undertaken to upset things down
here He began by having niger introduce
him to Governor Lee. and he then encouraged
40 to take the niggers to the Academy
Of Music in this city, which was something we
Virginians arc unaccustomed to- and if it had
not been for the chief of our police sir, they
would have also taken niger to the Richmond
Theater, sir. Now, we know how to treat col
ored people. | am Virgnian. My father
owned slaves. served threeyear and fo' months
in the Confederate army. and am the commander
of the Lee post and should be there tonight We