Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-10-13
General Assembly Of the Knights Of Labor

General Assembly of the Knights of Labor.
The General Assembly of the Knights OF
Labor has been in session in Richmond for
more than week. The number of dele
gates in attendance is between seven and
eight hundred. The convention spent near
a week before it was organized to enter
upon business. The committee on creden-
tials was not able to report sooner. The
convention is now getting down to business.
PROCEEDING OF SATURDAY.
Saturday was the sixth day of the session.
Each delegate, as he passed through the
doors entering on the convention hall, was
presented with a bundle of printed pam
phlets and circulars. One of these was the
supplementary report, written by Ralph
Beaumont, chairman of the committee on
legislation, in which he proposed con-
gress of workingmen at Washington to sit
while the United States Congress is in ses-
sion. Another was proposition of A. nj.
Dewy, of Detroit, Mich, to establish a
weekly journal as the organ of the order.
The purpose of this was that each member
should be fully acquainted with the several
subjects when brought up for discussion.
Reports were received from committees,
among them the report of the committee at
the last convention at Hamilton, Ontario,
on woman's labor; the report Of the COM
mittee appointed at Cleveland on the re-
vision of the constitution of the order; the
report of the committee esApanying the
congressional committee on the tour to
investigate the Southwestern Railroad
strikes.
kilograms were sent to Chicago in ref
erence to the difficulties between the
packers and employees of that city.
1t was ordered that a telegram be sent to
ohhe PPcssttefice Department at Washington,
D. c., protesting against the letting of con
tracts for erecting public buildings at Bal
timore to persons employing convict labor.
This was done, Mr.. Powderly said, because
it was understood that firm employing
such labor intended to bid. The roll was
called for the presentation of resolutions,
&C., and fifty or sixty were received. All
were referred to the committee on distribu-
ton, which will distribute them to the ap.
propriate committees. The same action
was taken in reference to all reports oil
committee submitted and the reports Of the
secretary and treasurer. At the afternoon
| session the roll of the local assemblies was
called, and each presented such resolutions
as 1t desired to lay before the Genera
Assembly. The total number presented
was 1882. A standing committee Of ID or
finance was appointed, as we'll as the fol
lowing special committee: Chinese and
foreign contract labor; emigration; legisla
| ton; relief schemes, and the Pennsylvania
and Baltimore ana Ohio Railroad corpora
tions.
The assembly adjourned until Tuesday
morning to permit the delegates to take
part in the parade and other festivities ar
ranged in their honor by the Richmond
Knights of Labor.
On Monday, the parade was the feature
Of the day.
| The procession started up Main Street a
point below the Old Market at abou
| twenty minutes to II o'clock. 1t wal
twenty-four minutes passing given point
and the men marched four abreast. The,
were counted as they passed Twelfth ane
Main streets, and there were a little owe
1850 in the line. There were severa
bands of music, and great crowds of per
sons witnessed the procession.
After the parade the Knights went to ths
Fair Grounds, where they spent an enjoya
BILE day.
Mr.. Powderly was in one Of the carriages
in the procession. He was frequent.
pointed out by the bystanders and wal
smiling and chatting with the gentlemen
in the carriage with him, and he was &C
corded position about midway of the pro
cession Assembly 40 of New York, tt
which the negro delegate Terrell belongs
headed the procession. About 100 of TIT
men in line were colored