Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-06-11

issued by MIR. Powderly % the order was
being Investigated. The majority of the
delegates do not believe that Mr.. Powder
~ had any hand in their publication and
expressed themselves To that purpose very
forcibly
The Knights OF Labor convention is
over. The general assembly at O'Clock
on the evening Of the 81 inst, after ten
days session, ad journed sine die The con
vention was called for the purpose of con
sidering five subjects-the southwest
troubles, the regulation OF strikes and boy
colts, the relation of the order with trades
unions the rapidly increasing member
ship, and labor legislation. The general
assembly has given TO the world no token
that il has touched upon the southwest
question. IL is said that something has
been done to shut Off indiscriminats strik-
ing and boycotting, but the
methods to he used have not been
divuged. The assembly has regulated the
reception of new members By recalling the
commissions of its 600 organizers. In
legislation il has petitioned congress to
give American land to American citizens
and 10 appropriate nonresident aliens
property. and has also asked congress to
regulate the banking system by establish
ing loan offices in every county. The
browning act was the reply TO the circular
of the trades unions, which il was hoped
would restore harmony between the or
derS engaged in labor reform,
DuNid X. tIlbSOD OF mann Ton, UNI.
Joseph X. Buchanan OF Denver, Col. and
Ira Is. A yesworth of Baltimore, Md. were
elected assistants to the executive board.
At the afternoon session the address Of
the committee on the state of the crderI
was adopted. It extended greetings 10 ally
branches Of honorable toll, and states that
the knights embrace all workers in every
branch Of honorable toll and is endeaVor
ing u restrict the power Of monCpHlies
and corporations. 1t recognizes the ser
vices rendered by trades unions but be-
lieves the time is fast approaching
when all laborers should be enrolled I'M
der one general head, and will welcome to
the ranks of the knights any organization
requesting admission. The knights pledge
themselves to cooperate with any organl-
2atiOn TO achieve success TO this End a
committee has been appointed to confer
with like committee from the trades
unions on any difficulties which may arise
or differences which may exist. Action on
the treaty by the knights is deferred until
such conference is held. The basis of
suspended, or expelled union men
or knights of labor, and an
interchange Of working cards. In demand
for an increase OF wages Of shorter hours
of labor Il conference with organized labor
should be held.
The trades unionists declare that upe adj
dress is unsatisfactory TO them The gener-
al assembly before adjourning issued an
address denying that the home club was
engaged in plotting against the welfare OF
the order, and saying that tho very best
of feeling prevailed among all the dele
gates. An address was also issued to the
grangers, complimenting them and asking
their aid.
Death of John Kelly
John Kelly the noted Tammany leader,
died in New York on the LIST inst,
John Kelly was born in New York city
in l524. His early life was an uneventful
one. Poverty and its surroundings pre-
vented him from receiving even an ordn-
airy common school education, but his in
domitable will and perseverance, aided by
his natural shrewdness, which was only
sharp1ned ny MS ADVERSE surroundings,
soon attracted attention to the young
man.
ke:-y nrst ventures IN politics were as
candidate for ward assessor and assistant
alderman against the regular Tammany
candidates and each time he was beaten.
In 1913 old Isaac Fowler who was waging
war against Fernando Wood, Augustus
Schell, and Tammany, took him up and
went inco -ne BOARD of aldermen by rous-
ing majority. He soon made his power
felt In 1854 he ran against Mike Walsh
for congress and was elected. In 1886 he
was reelected While in congress he gain
ed reputation for industry and earnest
ness with which he supported his convic-
tions. He was great friend of Alexander
II. Stephens and the two spent hours in
prOmenading the capital daily. As a
member of the ways and means commit
tee he was active in the support of the
homestead bill and in opposition to the
knOw-nothng movement. In 1859 he was
elected sheriff of New York, and was re-
elected in lsG4 In 1869 he went abroad
When Tweed was at the elimination OF
his criminal career Kelly was travelling in
Europe. where he spent year or two and
learned French and German with his wife
as a teacher. He came home in time to
find that an honest leader was wanted in
New York politics He completed the
rout of the ring and wheeled Tammany
hall into line with the reform element In
1876 he became comptroller and reduced
the city's debt for the first time in its his
tory From 1860 to 1876 the debt of New
York steadily increased till it had reached
the enormous sum of Sll2OOO,OO. Kelly
increased the revenues and reduced the
expenses, and during his four-years' term
he actually diminished the debt OF the city
no less than Sl2UO0,OOO.
His lecture on the Catholic missions has
brought in 100000 to charities. He was a
frank, straightforward, downright speak
err and his earnestness always interested
his audiences. He was worth at least
100000, and received more applications
for private charity than any other New
Yorker. The greater portion of his pos
sessions consisted in uptown real estate
in New York.
Mr. Kelly was n close and studaous read
err One Of his oft-quoted sayings was
uttered in a speech to Tammany: STUDY
the character and methods of Thomas
Jefferson and pay less attention TO Pat
Rooney.
In appearance John Kelly was not I'M
like Gen Grant. Like Grant he had a
square face, "A square chin, a square broad
head square shoulders, and cropped close
his hair and beard Like Grant, his man
ner of speech slow and deliberate. also
was strikingly like that of the dead gen
eral.
Kelley retired from the comptrollership
in 1850 and bitterly engaged in the local
political faction fighting for supremacy.
In the party he was the target for con-
slant severe criticism and animadversioa.
His integrity and ability were never ques-
toned.
Besides his importance in local politics
he possessed great influence in regard TO
national affairs and was member OF