New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-11
NEGROES AND THE KNIGHTS.
INVESTIGATING THE RACE PROBLEM.
SOMETHING THAT NORTHERN AND WESTERN DELE
GATES LEARN IN RICHMOND.

GATES LEARN IN RlCHMOND
far TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUsE1
RICHMOND, Va, Oct. 1O.-Many OF the dele
gates to the General Assembly of the Knights OF Labor
took IN early train for Petersburg this forenoon and
returned this afternoon having visited the batteeld'
around that city. Other delegates visited points OF IN
terest in Richmond or attended church, while major
ity remained about their hotels talking about the
affairs of the ORDER about politics. and writing letters
The rule or ruin faction from New-York, rs McCure
terms it, has not subsidized. When asked tonight II
John Morrison had gone home. Mcclure said Oh,
you bet he hasn't" dozen members of District AS
senibly No 40 with their boss, went to the colored
Catholic Church in First-st the only one in Virginia
Mr. PowderIy attended st. Patricks Church.
1t is understood III at the annual address Of Mr. Pow
derly points the way to the legislation that VIII DC at
tempted at this session. and the reports OF committees
appointed at Hamilton and at Cleveland with reier-
TO the changes desirable ali tend IN the direction
of Mr. Powderlys suggestions One OF the drawDacks
to the speedy conclusion of the work OF the Assembly
will be the consideration OF strikes and laOorers
troubles that occurring from day to day during the
session. AS trouble occurs information IS sent
directly TO the General Assembly, IL seems ana IL Is
impossible for the delegates to do all hat the knights
seem to expect The Executive Board has as much as
it can do in the General Assembly without giving any
time to the local disturbances OF the labor world lhe
Knights from the Northern and Western parts of the
country studying the negro question In the South,
and have eai ned in the last week of the condition
of the coOred aborer than they ever knew One fact
and serious IL u.s. has tor the first time impressed
itself upon them forcby and that Is that the white
laborer of the North and West is to como into COM
petition with the colored laborer of the South. and II
former the tendency will be to decrease the pay OF the
white 1t has all along been the boast OF the
Southern press that there fewer strikes and less
trouble with the manufacturers and railway corpora
tions in the South than in other sections and the
Knights of Labor that 1t s because the bulk OF
the Southern laborcrs are negroes, and having been
accustomed to slavery submit the more readily 10 the
grinding process of comDalies and corporations ms
Assembly will probably deal with this question for the
first time with view to protect the white la6orers
everywhere from runous competition with workmen
WI are well paid Tor their work they should
be- simply because they live on less In their pres
ent condition than the white aborer has been accus,
toned to, and at the same time arc apparently as wei
cOntented il not better, than the Whites colored
carpenter OF this city, Knight says he can save Sl2
month from his labor, while white carpenter who
works with him and gets the same pay has not one
cent TO lay aside. The lives in humble quarters,
while the other is obliged by the customs here to have
house that costs $l2 month more than the colored
man pays. Applying this rule to every trade and
business" saws a knight, it will be seen that the
condition OF the aborer OF this country is menaced by
the condition OF the negro in the South IL s there.
fore pretty evident that the Knights OF Labor Will
make an effort to get all the negroes they can into the
order and then with the white laborers OF the South
they will be in condition to protect themselves, and
also to control political movements when their inter-
ests are at stake.
This is the view taken by prominent Knight, who
dares to say that negro ought be paid much tor
days work white man. everything else being
equal The growth of the Knlghts of Labor organiza-
ton gives the odtme politicians OF Virginia some
thing to think of The Democratic Con gre ssiOnal can
ddate of this district g. d. WISE is aided III his can
yass by some OF the Democratic Knights who are
speaking for him. and Mr.. Wise has caught on to the
idea that there is strength OF political nature in the
order. -
1t is said to might that Governor Fitzhugh Lee will
not address the Knights of Labor tomorrow at the
Fair Grounds and it is supposed that the negro eD
sode in the opening OF the General Assembly accounts
Tor the fact.