Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-09-11
The Knfghts' Growth.

EXTENDING THEIR ORGANIZATION INTO
EuRoPE-A COSMOPOLITAN GATHERING OF
DELEGATES FOR THE RICHMOND CoNvEN-
TIoN-NoT OPPOSED TO CHINESE LABOR.
From the Philadelphia Record
On the curious little tve-sided bronze buttons
which designate the wearers as knights OF
Labor, and which to-day decorate the lapels of
thousands of coats. there is peculiar device
which at once attracts attention. More conspic-
uous than any of the geometric devices when
are interviewer to make up the emUlem, is "a
diEluntive represen ation OF the gioUe, which
Is readily understood as mathematical OF
the widespread scope of the order. The
United States, where the Knights first be-
The boundaries OF this dominant labor organ
izatiou, for within the last two years many
thousands of the mechanics, artisans and
laDorers OF the European countries have been
enrolled as knights of Labor. The organization
OF the window-glass workers in England and
Continental Europe was tine first move on the
OF her side OF the water, and it Is now claimed
thai there Is scarcely one of that craft in the
entire world who is not a member OF the order.
Hence directions To local and district assem- biieS,
constitutions and bylaws, and the various
other pamphlets which are necessary to carry
on the diversified business have to be trans
lated into score or more OF different languages,
and more than one OIL the progressive members
OF the executive board are looking hopefully
forward to the day when the ramifications OF
tine order will include even tne nations OF the
far east, and the linguistic catalogue of the
general secfetary-treasurer will Include the
tea-chest tongue OF the Chinese. The manage.
ment vi all the foreign branches OF the order is
vested in the general executive board OF this
country, and that little body of five men
Bailey, Barry, Hayes and Turner, with Pow
Derry as iheiI chairman-whch makes
a power which is felt by laboring men
The annual convention Of the ORDER which
meets TINS year in Richmond, Va, VIII he The
largest ever held, and probably the largest that
ever will he he'd, us in future delegates will be
chosen upon different basis of re presentati ion,
AS provided for under the present regulations
each district assembly is entitled to one repre-
sentative for each 900 or ma jority fraction of
LOCO of its membership. The rapid growth OF
the order, which IS fast approaching member
delegates 10 such an extent to render an
annual convention a cumbersome and unwieldy
body, and TO obviate this difficulty the number
OF delegates will be reduced by Increasing the
constituency oil eacn representative TO 2, 900, or
perhaps more. The convention will Open on
Monday, October 4, and will probably continue
Tor at least fifteen days. Delegates will be ia
attendance from all parts OF the United States
and Canada. Mexico, Central America, and
even South America will send their quota
European assemblies will also send Representa-
tives, and the convention will show u gathering
OF different races. coors and nationaliLIes such
as has never before been seen in the quiet city
OF Richmond.
During the last year the Knights of Labor
have made AN invasion OF the south, and the
organization Of white and cOlOred aburers has
progressed with remarkable rapidity. Thomas
b. Barry, of the general executive board has
just returned from AN extenued tour In that Sec
ton OF the country, and expresses himself as
very Sanguine OF the beneficial results which
will follow the organization of the pluntuti
and mill hands OF the south.
The Knights OF Labor form one of the fe "
laoOr organizations which are not directly Op-
posed to Chinese Immigration or labor in this
country. AS W i.lam II. Bailey, of the general
executive board, remarked the other day: II
wish that the Knights OF Labor were better un-
dersto0d by the outside public. We have no
Antipathy 10 the Chinese or any other immi-
grants. The people OF the United States have
SAID that the Chinese must go, but we say that
Tue system must go-tne system OF importing
ChIaese OR any other fabOrers under contract.
This Is what we are opposed to. Let this OBJ
noXious contract system be abolished, and we
Will welcome all Foreigners who Come here to
identity themselves with the nation and to be-
come honest and industrious citizens"