The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-10-12
A DAY OF DISPLAY
FOR THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR,
A Large Procession In which There was a
BIg sPrInkling of colOrsd knights
Speakers Announced FAN to Appear
-Powdsrly on the Color Line.

-Powdsrly on the Color Line.
RICHMOND, Va, Oct. 1l,-To-day wa
devoted by the delegates Of the Genera
Assembly of Knights Of Labor to the en-
ioyment Of the entertainment arranged Il
their honor by the knights Of the loca
Assemblies Of this city, In accordance
with the Mayors proclamation all thu
city offices were closed in order to psrmi
the employees to take part in the days iss
tiyitles, Nearly all the workshops, man
ulsCtories and other establishments were
also closed, Early this morning white
and colored Knights we're seen every
where, dressed in holiday attire, wearing
badges and insignia Of their order, The
delegates to the General Assembly were
to assemble at o'clock at Armory Hall
but 1t was long past that hour when they
received word IN fall In line and proceed
to Broad and Fourth streets, where tn 6
procession was formed,
Alter 10 o'clock, when tho word
"March" was given, the delegates and
local assemblies with headquarters weat
OF Tenth street, marched down Broad
street to Twentieth, where they were
Joined by the assemblies oi the eastern
end Of the city, Then the entire body
marched to MAln street, to Laurel, thence
to the State Far Grounds at the upper
end OF the city, The procession was
banlaJ hv a unuud nj nnItca pahinJ
them rods on horseback Grand Marshal
Lynch, white and Colored aids riding on
either side OF him. Behind the marching
men rode in carriages Mr.. Powderly,
members Of the Executive Board, other
leading Knight0, lady delegates, and the
baby delegate, the three.weeks. daugh-
ter Of District Master Workman Rogers,
Of Chicago. s
coLoRED WOMEN IN LINE.
A few Colorsd women rode in carriages,
bringing up the rear Of this part OF the
procession. The right lIus Of the local
Knighta was held by Pioneer Assembly
S,O72, Of Richmond, composed Of colore d
knights headed by Colored band. Then
came white assemblies again, and bring.
ing up the rear were colored assemblies.
Tho streets along the route was lined with
speCtators. The eastern end ol the city
especially was thronged, the entire color
ed population seeming to have turned out
10 witness the parade. Very few OF the
white members Of the local assemblies
responded to tho order Of the Master
Workman to participate In the parade.
1t is reported that fine Of 81 will be i'm
posed upon each contrary member. Tbs
refusal TO the whites to turn out was due
to the presence OF Colored Knights In the
proCeasion. There was not colored
Knight Of the city who was not In line.
The refusal Of resident whites to partici.
pate spurred them up 10 duty, and they
were highly elated. So far as could be
s,eD, good feeling prevailed. As the prt.
cesslon moved up the streets the members
ol District 40 received cheers and groans,
but the general officers were given uni.
versal ovation. Tho procession was ex.
aCtly 23 minutes passing given point.
Four men marched abreast, and by actual
count there were 2,S65 knights In line.
Adding those who were not Knights, but
were in line, tile procession was composed
VI auout 1IuVu PsAspnp'
PROCESSION REVIEWED.
The carriage in which Mr.. Powderly
rode halted at the entrance to the Fair
Grounds and from It he reviewed the pro.
csSson. AS II marched through the en-.
trance gates within the ground the Com
eral Master Workman held an informal
reception, large number OF Knights OF
Richmond, aud visiting Knights from
Lynohburg, Petersburg and other places,
who had come to take port 10 the enters
talumsnt, seeking an introduction to him.
Mr.. Powderly aud tho members OF the
Executive Board remained little more
than an hour at the Fair Grounds aud
then returned to Ford's Hotel to give the
rest Of the day to the Gay work awaiting
their attention.
During the afternoon at the Fair
Grounds there was bicycle race, trotting
race, and o tournament.
Before the races and other events on
the programme took place an open car.
riage was drawn up before the main build.
log on the grounds and Master Workman
MelvOr Of this district, standing upon the
scat announced that Senator. Elect
Daniels had been expected to speak but
was unayoidsbly absent at the centennial
celebration OF the charter OF Lynohburg.
Mayor Harrington was also expected but
was Ill and unable to bo present. Gov.
ernor Lees name was also on the list OF
speakerg but no explanation was given Of
bic absence. The chairman then intro
duCsd Rlph Beaumont, Mr.. TFevlyan and
Mr.. LltChman who spoke on the aims and
objects Of the order they represented.
POwPERLY ON TIE COLOR QUESTION.
In consequence Of questions which have
bean raised by the presence here Of Far.
rell and other Coiorsd delegates to the
General Assembly Mr.. Powderly has
written q lstter In which he says,
Much has been said and written
concerning eyents which have transpired
in tho city Of Richmond during tho past
ten days. As am responsible for great
deal ol agitation, II is but proper
that I should be permitted 10
speak to % large an audience %
that which listened 10 those who
have criticised, misconstrued aud diatort-
ed the words and ideas intended To be
conveyed by my utteranCes Of October 4th,
when Francis Farrell introduced me 10 the
meeting assembled in the armory. |
stated TO the Meeting that II was at my
request that Mr.. Ferrell, representative
Of the Colored race, introduced me. It
was lefs 10 me 10 make the selection and
did 80 after mature dellbBratlon and
careful thought. ! have not seen, nor
heard an argument since then that would
cause mo to do differently to-day"