Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-10-28
KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
Proceedings Of. the Richmond
Convention.

L
Convention.
| Considerable progress was made at the ses-
sions OF the General Assembly at Richmond,
| on tho 10th Mr.. Powderly was not feeling we'll
and was absent from the convention, remaining
In his room the greater part OF the day. In his
absence General Secretary Ltchman presided.
sections were acted upon. The duties Of on
GERS first passed, and the important que stion
OF whether the locals should DO compelled to
form State Assemblies was also settled. There
was big tight ON this matter j. E. Quinn,
OF New York, opposed the provision. and A. J.
schafer, Of Michigan, led the delegates who
| tho whole section was adopted. It provided
that the locals should form State assemblies
and be subject TO the action OF such. This was
hnally changed 30 as TO allow ten locals to form
State assembly, but those who decline to go
into 1t will not bo bound in any way by that
body Schafer declared that the whole section
having been adopted it could not be
sss S$a ssss%sa $s tRss sss
others. Let him go ON record" said the
Chairman to his clerks; The question OF dis
tricts settled TO the satisfaction Of all.
Amy twenty-five locals Of one trade may form a
National district. Another important change
was that locals which are attached to tho Gen.
eral Assembly shall not have representation In
that body. Then tho question Of representa-
tion was taken up and settled. There were q
score OF plans aud twice many amendments,
that hereafter the representation shall be one
from each 5000.
Thomas o'Reilly, of the telegraphers district,
offered resolution, at the Richmond assembly,
ON the 18th. that the knights OF Labor demand
tho passage Of bill by Congress authorizing
the purchase by the Government OF the tsle-
graph system OF the country. Tho motion TO
refer tho balance Of the revised constitution to
the executive board and committee of four
was adopted. This leaves the matter Of national
trade districts exactly where it was before the
convention. Similar action taken with the
balance OF the report Of the committee on law,
including all documents on the revision OF the
constitution. The Committee on the State Of
the Order indorsed the report of the General
Master Workman and General Secretary Treas
urer. Reports OF numerous committees were
adopted and indorsed. A resolution expressing
sympathy with Ireland passed A
report suggesting the formation Of con-
gress OF thirty-eight knights OF Labor to sit in
Washington during the session Of Congress, was
referred to the local assemblies. All matters in
relation to stamps, labels or protective designs
placed on articles made by Knights OF Labor
were referred to the executive board. Reso-
tutons were adopted favoring the establish
mont OF libraries devoted to labor literature at
state capitals; against convict labor; recon-
mending local assemblies to work and vote only
for candidates who pledge themselves to sustain
the principles OF the Knights; favoring the ad-
mission OF colored apprentices in shops on the
same basis as white ones. A proposition favor
ing the establishment of orphan asylums for
the children OF deceased members Of tho order
was referred to local assemblies with favorable
mention. All othor matters referred to the
Committee on the State OF the Order were re-
feTred to the Executive Board. 1t was voted
that committee be appointed TO promote fra
ternal relations between the knights and the
Patrons of Husbandry.
The Committee on Appeals and Grievances
obtained the floor when the general assembly
went into session at Richmond on tho 10Th.
The report relates to matters of general dis
ciplne that are of little interest to others than
mombers. One OF the cases dealt with was a
charge OF conduct unbecoming a delegate
II NJ
District Assembly No. 106, Of indianapolis
His name was ordered to be stricken
from the list Of delegates. COM
following telegram to Gov. Richard Oelesby.
Of Illinois, at Quincy. Ill. where the Soldiers
Home was dedicated Tho General Assembly
Knights Of Labor, in annual convention assem-
'tS Of bs yo
the Soldiers and Sailors Home at Quincy. May
the duty so nobly done by your State be an in
centive to other States to do likewise, until ev-
cry needy hero may have the shelter
Of home" At the afternoon session
the General Assembly continued consideration
OF the report OF the Committee on Appeals and
Grievances, and adopted a resolution deciding
that members OF the International Cigar
Makers Union must elect whether they will
remain members OF that union or OF the Order
OF Knights OF Labor, but that they cannot re-
main members OF both. The report of the Com
mittee on Finance was presented and a aiopted
It provides that the salary of the Grand Master
Workman shall henceforth be i,00J year, and
those of General Secretary and General Treas
4
ecutive Board and General Worthy Foreman
shall receive 81 per day and expenses while on
dry.
The General Assembly Knights Of Labor be-
gan its last session of the convention OF 1886 at
nine o'clock the morning OF the 10th inst The
nrst business taken up was the report OF the
standing Committee on Cooperation After that
came the reports of half dozen special COM
mittces. One OF these was that from the
Committee on woman's Work Among the rec
concentrations it presented to the assembly
was one in favor OF the appointment Of q
woman who should investigate and report ON
all subjects connected with female wage
workers. and afd in tho organization of local
assemblies OF women employed in the various
industries throughout tho country Resolutions
wero passed asking mercy for the seven men
condemned to the gallows nt Chicago, while
disavowing sympathy with the action OF the
archists Among other important measures
fcrred to the incoming legislative commit
tee was a resolution demanding laws TO
prohibit any member Of Congress or any State
Legislature from acting ms attorney for any per-
son or corporation personally interested In the
legislation Of the body in which he sits also n
to the full extent OF the present legal limit,
and that obligations of the United States
be paid in the same; also resolution
in favor OF woman suffrage. The Com
mittee on Convict Labor reported in fa-
vor Of taking strong grounds against the COM
petition OF convict labor with FREQ labor, which
was adopted The report OF a special committee
against continuing the importation Of Chinese
contract labor and in favor OF the abrogation of
the Burlingame treaty with China was adopted.
The Committee on Railway Insurance presented
a report, which was adopted, protesting against
insurance schemes for the alleged benefit of
the employees of the Baltimore and Ohio and
Pennsylvania Railroads, and calling all
legislators to take action against what the reso-
luton calls compulsory voluntary insurance"
Tho Committee on Education was continued
until tho next session. when 1t is expected they
will present plan for the education OF the
members of the order. The Executive Board
was authorized to purchase n homo i'm Phiadel-
phia for the family OF the late Uriah s. Stevens.
tho founder OF tho order. Mr.. Powderly then
congratulated tho members upon the good work
accomplished during the session. and the gen.
eral assembly adjourned
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