The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-05-27
The LABOR SITUATION.
The PRINCIPAL TOPICS WHICH
WILL BE CONSIDERED
b. the Knights Of Labor Convention
at Enthusiastically
Good Advice.

O:40 &C ock before the general as
iembly was raped 10 order by the
.hief executive. In the meantime
he delegates congregated in groups
N the hall and Corridors discussl 6
alb topics. When the call for the
convention was issued by Mr.. Pow
jerlv he only enumerated five causes
Of complaint that were TO be adj
iusted. Thee were boycott, strikes,
the Southwest troubles, the relation
of Kni hts OF Labor TO other organl-
cations and the instituting OF new as
semblies. Since the delegates have |
arrived many of them have plans
that they would like to
SPRING UPON THE SPECIAL SESSION.
Whether these will be discussed or
laid upon the table, cannot be deter
mined as ytt. One of these plans IS
oagitate the subject ofih 6 lvernment
regulating the railroads. A member
OF the order from Allegheny, Pa has
prepared a long address upon this
subject, and the delegate from his dis
t,ict will try TO secure hear ng for
h m. The gentleman's address also
deals with the project OF a National
Arbitration b ard. Another matter
was made public by free discussion
this morning. For some time past
the Executive Board have not been
satisfied with me Of the organizers OF
the order, and several have had
c argos pr ferred against them, and
their commissions recalled A mum
Der of organizers are not giving salts
faction; 80, to prevent hard feelings
by removing these men, it is proposed
TO have the commissions of every or
ganizsr, from the chi f down, recalled.
A reporter asked
MR.. RICHARD TREvELLICK,
the chief organizer, about the m tier,
and that gentleman said: at is true
that such a plan is being agitated.
Much of the trouble in the order is
rising from rapidly increasing men,
bership and the installation OF our as.
semblies is due to poor organization.
1t is not the fault OF either Mr.. Pow
DERBY or the Executive Boa ID. In
making appointments they must rely
upon the Recommendation OF the dis
trict assemblies. They do not, cannot
know all the men recommended and
appointed. A few weeks ago met an
organizer, who, / regret to say, was
under the influence OF liquor / ssked
him where he was going and he in
formed me that he was going TO insti-
tute an assembly of five hundred
striking Polacks and Hungarians.
This is against the rules Of the order,
as we can admit no strikers while
they are out. | told him 80, but he
replied that he had a commission as
organizer, and would do rs he pleased.
| told him he could institute the AS.
sembly and il would never receive a
charter. Only few days ago, at q
reception rendered me by ladies, an
organizer was intoxicated, We need
sobtr, industr Gus, representative mer
in these positions. 1t would make
ha d feelings to ask for their commits
sions, so it is proposed to make then
ante up from the chief organizes
down. This en- be done by Mr.
Powderly alone, by the Executive
Board, or by the Executive BoarC
under instructions from the Genera
Assembly. The best way is the latte'
and so | think that it will be done il
that manner. New organizers will b
com rissioned as fast as possible, ant
will be selected because OF their fines
for the position
THE CONVENTION HALL
on either side is lined with tables, g
which the delegates sit. At the en-
of tho room, facing Ontario stree
between two windows, is the chair
the Mas err Wor man Score ar
} Turner has three tables at the side, 1
one OF which he sits, at the next tw
assistants and at the third the stel
, ographer. At the opposite end I
! the hall is the chair OF Richard Girl
, fiths of Chicago, General Worth
s. Foreman of the order, and next
( Mr.. Powderly in office. The fir
business of the morning session VI
the acceptance of the report of Il
! Committee on Credentials. The de
, gates were hen admitted to the Ina
! and the obligation administered. De
, egates were admitted only from sue
! districts rs were represented at q
|, convention held last year in Ham
ton, Ont, this being a special sessic
: of that general as emily, and Ill
, iricts since instituted not being el
/ gble TO membership in the existiI
g body.
e NE PowDRRIY's ADDRESS
was then delivered extemporaneousl
He referred the delegates to the ca
to learn what business was to
brought forward, d, taking up u
FIVE subjects of strikes, boycotts, lab
h troubles, differences with the tad
j. unions and the increasing membt
h ship, one by one, he advised me
n careful Thought and full discussi,
upon all questions. He asked tn
}. harmony, prudence and discre i
: should predominant in all matte
s. and that the affairs of the conventi
4 should be acted on with considerati
e and dispatch. The best part Of t
y address, treating of ma ters eutirC
within the province, of the order, c
r. not be made public. Mr.. Powder
ID resumed his seat amid prolonged 1
y plause, and upon motion appoint
d G standing committee offive upon ca
', al the following subjects; Lay
Ie s rikes, boycotts, relation OF Knigf
OF Labor TO other organizations.
" A special committee OF five was ,
g. pointed, to whom was referred I
addresses OF the president and sec
p tary of the National Woman's CHI
DC tian Tempe'a ee Union.
le Acommittee nf five was also select
Is to take action upon the matter OF I
" organiz ,tion of the American Mar
ID factuRrs' Union, as proposed by
Edwin Morton in bis address on tn
day.
I, AT eleven O'Clock the eonventi
q, took a recess until So'clock to-morn
n morning, so as to give ample time
~ the eommstte,s to DO the work l
d | before them.