Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-10-09
The KNIGHTS CONVENTION,
THE KNIGHTS ASSENBLFD
Opening of the * of l.. Convention
A Black Man Introduces Pow>
derry to Show That the Order
Practices What it breaches.

derry to Show That the Order
Practices What it breaches.
The tapping of Master Workman T. v
Powderly's gAvel, gave the signal for the
opening of tn, first session OF the Tenth
Annual Convention of the Knights OF
Lobor, in the armory of the FIRST Virginia
Regiment, in Richmond. He stool alone
upon small, plain pine platform at thu
further end of the spacious room, and look ed
out upon the faces of THOUSAND delegates
assembled from every part of the country
representatives of a million mon and
women White and black faces,
the faces of men and women bound
together by common obj set, met mis-
view. The session was to be an open one,
and in addition to the large boly of delegates
there were as many others, not o. the order,
as could find seats or sharai what little
staining room there WAS with its menlb ,rS.
The large room looked like an immense bans
quoting hall, with tables formed OF plain
pine boards near the entire length Of the
room, in rows, as close together as the posi-
bility of the moving between them won d
permit. On either side of these tables were
seated the delegates.
While the sound of the Master Workman's
gavel still re,echoe footsteps were heard APP
preaching tie entrance door, A moment
later General Fltz Hugh Lee, the Governor
of Virginia, entered As h9 walllel up the
central aisle leading to the platform, escorted
by Vim. H. Mullen, the Master Workman of
the Richmond district assembly, and Tom
O'Reil1y, of the Photographers assembly, of
New York CITY, he was greeted with
as he stood on the patform bowling
in response to the greeting.
When the applause had subsidel AMI Mr..
Mullen had presented Governor L2e to M.
Powderly, the latter stepped forward and
presented him to the members, announcing
that Governor Lee was to deliver to them an
address Of welcome and through them to
chose they represented throu Oh out the entire
country.
Governor Lee was then introduced and
delivered a long address, welcoming tho
knights to Vrgnia's Capital.
At the close of his address Mr.. Powderly
requested that all those VINO were presant
who were not delegates should retire, and
thanked them for having come to the opening
session.
Mr.. Bennett of the Richmond district,
moved vote of thanks to Governor Lee, and
aud after this was heartily and unanimously
given it was followed by burst Of rousing
cheers for Virginia's Governor. AN but
The delegates then left the hall, and the
convention settled down to the practical work
which had called them together and in which
hey bid fair to be engaged for the next two
weeks or more. In sec 'e5 session the only
business done was the appointment of a
committee minor c-edentials. An q l.
iournment was then taken too O'Clock next
morning.
RICHMOND, VA, October5.
1t was after ten O'Clock this morning whal
the delegates to thu Knights of Llbor Co.'s
vention assembled in the Armory H III, all
though the hour for m,ejin, was fl xed at
nine. Grand Master Powleriy did no. enter
tbs hall until 1879 O'CLOCK. Fl was followed
by m,n5ers of tn, Executive B)ard. Each
carried bu IDLE of documents bearing upon
the future work OF the Convention. The de.
lay in assembling was dus to thu report that
the Committee on Gre lentials, which was in
SESSION until after TWO O'Clock this m3rhing
had not completed its lab9rs and there
woull not be a report until this afternoon.
When thu convention was called to order
in secret session it was officially announced
that the committee on credentials was ys5
in session with prospects fair for report at
the afternoon session. TIE large number
of delegates left thu hall while MEM
bers of the Executive Board went into con-
sultatlon for the pu.poie Of classifying the
work of making a l possible arrang sments for
expeiiting business. There is determination
on thu part OF the Off ssrs a11 a maj )rity Of
the delegates to adop5 som, plan wacl will
curtail what threatens to be very long and
tedious ami possibly heated session.
There is but one general topic OF discus sion
among the knights to day, aud that is in re-,
lation to the controversies hal by two or
three of the delegations in regard to enter
tainmeut of colored dele gates al no 5el' here
Representatives of District NJ 40 whip were
refused &C commodation because one of thelr
member, [FerrelD is colorel man, are
boarding at hotel run by colored man
and occupying quarters over a livery stable
while tn, Baltimore district representatives
are congratuatiny tn ,m selves thu they had
their way at the St. Cha rles in inducing the
proprie or, by threats of withdrawal, to en-.
terrain Joseph Wards, one of their colorcd
delegates. The obj oct in insisting upon inn
partial receptions to colored Knights in the
South is to impress the colorei laborers with
the sincerity Of lea1srs of the organ zltion,
and to work its way south where the
greatest numEer of accessions } membership
is reported during last year. The position
taken by delegates here on this subject, some
say, may lead to choosing another southern
city for the next annual convention, The
gentlemanly but firm manner in which the
Knights have asserted them selves
has made very favorable im>
presaion, and HIS not only received the
enthusiastic commentator OF the colored
people, bu5 also Of the laboring white men .
The meeting Of the convention now in pro-
gress is quite informal. 1t is not fully att md
Ell and is taken up by consultations of various
matters having but slight bearing upon the
important proceedings of the future.