The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-13
The Quarrel Subsequently Renewed in Pub.
lie Place, and Personal Collision Be-
tween Two Delegates Barely Averted.
POwderly's Color-Line Letter Severely
Criticised by Richmond Papers.
Efforts to Compromise the Strike Of Chicago
Packing House EmplOyes-The N Y.,P.G
0. Strike in Process of Adjustment.
*. OF L. GENERAL ASSEMBLY.


Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
RICHMOND, Oct. 12-Work upon the revision
of the constitution of the Knights of Labor or
garization was begun at the session of the con-
vention to-day. This is the most important
business before the body, with the exception of
the election of officers and will embrace the
questions relating to consolidating districts into
State assemblies, recognizing trades-unions, in
creasing the membership of the executive boarS.
and the salaries of officers, aud all matters re-
latlng to strikes, boycotts, etc. The committee
appointed at the Cleveland convention to con
slider the revision of the constitution reported
when the delegates convened this morning
The report was printed ard copy placed in the
hands of each one present A motion to pro-
ceed at once to consideration of the report Dre-
vailed, and the discussion began. Some
of the various other questions submitted,
several hundred of them, will come up
as amendments to the report at various stages
of its consideration. The debate was very live
ly at times, and bitter personalities were in
dulged in, so much so that controversy was
renewed at one of the hotels this afternoon, aud
came near ending in an encounter between two
delegates.
Nearly every district represented herehas sew
eral propositions of local interest, and meetines
are being held by them to agree upon a plan OF
procedure in the convention. District 80. Of
Massachusetts, was the first to meet, and, hav-
ing reached no conclusion, are in session again
to night 1t is stated that the contention which
cropped out shis morning, and the feeling which
is being engendered here, has led the cool heads
to hope for an early adjournment With this in
view an effort will be made to clear up all the
work except the election of officers and some
minor points by Saturday evening next. Thic
will make it easy to adjourn by one week from
tonight
The President and Mrs Cleveland will visit
the State fair here one week from to-morrow.
and many of the delegates are fgasina on a1-
journmeEt to conform with that eyert, so they
can atterd the fair and leave for their homes.
1t was stated by one of lis official associates, to-
night, that Mr. Powderly had concluded to Ee-
consider his determination not to supply the
press with statements of tho work on account Of
adverse criticisms of him. and that he would des-
ignate a judicious delegate, tomorrow, to furn.
ish the proper amount of information.
So far as the white citizens of Richmond are
concerned it seems that Mr.. Powderly has not
helped himself by his letter published this morn
ing on the color question This evenings State,
an organ of public opinion hero, says:
Whatever Mr.. Powderly himself may think,
his friends must confess that he has made mis-
take on the social equality question"
The Whig, one of the most influential news
papers in the South, WILL in lengthy and care
ALI al Nv ~,
say, to morrow morning:
Like a great many explanations made under
similar circumstances, Mr. Pow ierlys explaining
his attitude with respect to the recent eruption
of the color line doesn't explain. Whereas he
had before only put his foot in. he now thrusts
in whole leg. Realizing that he made mis-
take he commits the additional blunder of allow
ing that knowledge to put him in bad humor,
as the tone of his letter clearly indicates So
far as any intelligent purpose is accomplishedhy
it, Mr.. Powderiy's letter might as well have been
left unwritten. If he is working on the negro in
the interest of a political motive or movement,
there is no reason to doubt that he has gone
about it just any other politician who ccurted
the negro vote would nave done. If it is his
purpose to wean the negro votes from their
fealty to the Republican party. and attach them
to the labor party, we can assure him that his
course is calculated to have that effect"
There was meeting, this afternoon. or edi-
tors of labor papers and other newspaper men
who are delegates to the convention. Frank K.
Foster, of Averill, Mass, was elected chairman,
and Albert Pine, of Hartford, Conn. seo-4 tary.
The object of the organization is the formation
of q labor news bureau, through which au-
thentc information with regard to labor matters
can be transmitted to the country. Every mem
ber of the organization will furnish every other
member with all the news that he obtains This
bureau will interfere in no way with the esta0-
lisnment of the labor journal proposed by A
NJ. Dewey. which it is understood majority
of the convention favors. The special commit
tee appointed to consider the expediency of es-
tablishing such a paper has met and expressed
it's views It asserts the necessity OF such
medium of communication.
Representatives of the machipists and black
smiths in the convention also held meeting for
the purpose of establishing bureau through
which information regarding their trades may
be distributed. The miners also held a meeting,
and will submit plan 10 the convention for the
better organization OF miners throughout the
United States.
The textile workers we're called together to de-
wise a method by which the exact condition OF
their business may be communicated to one an
other
The shoemakers irnet to form national
trades council which will not, however, inter
fere with the district associations, which Will
preserve their identity.
Representatives of the farmers IN the conven-
tion met to present plan to the convention by
WQicn hplpnts ol 1IaOol iho: Aoliu nn "iiiouNc
with the grange and with other associations OF
farmers.
A committee of three was appointed to make
collection of conspiracy laws of the several
States, by means of which firms and companies
encroach on the rights of workingmen. The
committee is also to collect evidence going TO
show that employers have entered into conspir-
acy against workmen, and to institute suits
against such employers under the conspiracy
laws 10 all cases where proofs are obtainabe.
Tha mann hara of the committees are In Ii. Moves
of Marirette Wis: A. T. Carleton, of Somer-
ville Macs, and Thos Armstrong, of Pitts
burg. Mr.. Armstrong is tie editor Of the Lar