Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-09-11
MULLEN NOMINATED.
PLACED IN THE FIELD BY THE LABOR
CONVENTION.
Meeting at Elletts Hall Last Night
About Thirty-rive Members OF the
Convention Bolt, &C.

A Convention composed Of delegates
elected from adjourned meetings OF the
Knights Of Labor Assemblies OF this
congressional district was held at
Ellett's Hall, Fifth and Marshall streets,
last night to determine what action they
should take with reference to this con-
gressional campaign. The hour for
which the Convention was called was
8 o'clock, but Eureka Assembly was
in session in the hall ut this time, and
the hour Of meeting was postponed Tor
thirty minutes.
TROUBLE WITH THE TRUSTEES.
One thing which delayed the time
of the Conventions meeting was
that the trustees of the property
bad rented the hall to certain So
cieties to be used for the nights
named in the contracts and not to be
used for political meetings; that the
trustees or officers OF some Of these
societies objected to the hall being so
used. This subject caused consider
able discussion in quiet way; but
the Knights went on and had th-ir
meeting despite the objections.
BY WHAT AUTHORITY?
About 500 the Assembly then Ia
session appointed committee of two,
who went into q committee-room, and
as each delegation sscended the stair
way they were ushered in, had their
credentials examined, and if found all
right they were told to walk in. Pre-.
sently, while several colored delegations
were in the committee-room and many
more were awaiting space for en-
trance, a gentleman walked in and
wanted to know if the Conven-
ton had assembled. When told
that it had not be wanted to know by
what authority this committee was
acting. A member told him that they
were not acting as Committee on
Credentials, but taking these precau'
tionary steps to expedite matters and
to keep any one but delegates from en-
teripg the hall. The gentleman was
not satisfied with this explanation, ard
expressed his disapproval of the pro-
cedure in the most emphatic manner.
He went into the Convention, and soon
returned perfectly satisfied and apollo
gized for what he had said. The COM
mittee proceeded with their work.
A SECRET SESSION.
The Convention assembled about $50
O'Clock, and was called to order by Mr..
Davie Gaines, of Union Hill Assem-
bly,, chairman of the District Commit
tee, who stated the object for which it
was called. AS soon as the Convention
was called to order the Dispatch repre-
sentative, who had up to this time not
had an opportunity to enter the room,
made application for entrance, but was
informed by the chairman, through the
doorkeeper, that nobody but delegates
would be admitted.
THE DELEGATES.
As soon as the meeting was called
to order the chairman appointed Com
mittee on Credentials, who retired and
in a few minutes returned and reported
all Of the persons in the room, with tbs
exception Of three, entitled to seats.
These three were soon shown the way
out. There were represented In tn
Convention about forty assemblies, all
of which sent their full quota Of five
delegates, one or two excepted. Abou;
seven tenths Of the delegates present
were colored.
PERMANENT ORGANIZATION.
No temporary organization was pro-
posed, and permanent one was effected
by the election by acclamation of Mr.
John S. Bethel, president of the Com
mon Council, as chairman, and Mr..
Charles Devote as secretary.
ABOUT THE NOMINATION..
AS soon as the Convention was or
ganized and everything was gotten into
smooth working order motion was
made that the Convention 60 into the
nomination of candidate to represent
the labor element Of this district in the
next Congress. Some one moved to
amend by adopting resolution bind
ing all the delegates present to " stand
by the action of the Convention" a
motion was made to lay the amendment
on the table.
At this iuncture member was heard
from the window to say, "Mr. Chair
man, my assembly sent me here as
delegate to a conference, and not to
nominate candidate for Congress. l
therefore am opposed to going into a
nomination"
Another said that he was opposed to
making a nomination unless some good
reason for so doing could be assigned.
He did not see any special necessity for
nominating labor candidate at this
particular time. He claimed that the
Knights Of Labor are not political Or
ganization, and should not meddle with
politics without very good reason for
so doing.
One said that he was opposed to
making nomination because several OF
the assemblies in the district had not
been notified to send delegates to the
Convention, and another thought the
best policy to pursue would be for
each man to vote for whoever he choses
to.
Mr.. Jones here rose to point of
order, and said that the gentleman
speaking was advocating the claims of
a candidate already nominated, while
the object of the Convention was to
nominate q candidate of their own.
After further discussion the amend
ment and the original motion to 60 into
q nomination were both adopted.
THEY BOLT.
AS soon as the motion binding ell OF