The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-10-21
KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
Proceedings of the Richmond
Convention.


Mr. 1rcdel, and Mr.. Litchman. Senator
elect Daniel, Mayor Harrington. and Gov.
Lee were To have made speeches, but they
did not appear. Later there were games and
races the fair GROUNDS and the festivities
closed at night with banquet, ct which white
and colored delegates lat together The pro-
posed banquet Was abandoned In consequence
of questions which have been raised by the
presence OF Farrell and other coored delegates
to the general assembly, MIR. Powderiy has
written n letter q explain why he selected
Delegate Farrell To introduce him His
critics, he says have seen tit to assert
that this action was an insult and
an attack upon the laws of social equality. He
continues: MY sole object in selecting a coll
ored man TO Introduce 60 encourage
and help TO uplft his from Il bondage
worse than that which held him in chains
twenty-five years ago, viz: Mental slavery. 1
desired to impress upon the minds of white
and black that the same result followed
action in the field OF labor whether that
action was on the part of Caucasian negro
labor. Two years ago. in an address delivered
in this city, said to tho people of Richmond:
You stand face TO face with stern, living
reality, responsibility which cannot be avoid
ed or shirked. The negro question il AS promi-
nent to-day as It ever was The first propo-
stion that starea us in the face is this: The
negro is free, he is here. and he is here TO stay
He is a citizen and must learn TO manage
his own affairs His labor and that OF
the white man will be thrown upon the market
side by side, and no human eye can detect a
difference between the article manufactured
by the black mechanic and that manufactured
by the white mechanic. Both claim equal
snare OF tne protection anOrded 10 American
labor, and both mechanics must sink their diff
ferences or else fall prey to the slave labor
now being imported TO this country"
The event in the convention Of the Knights OF
Labor at Richmond. on the 18th, was the defeat
OF the proposition to make the terms OF general
Offices three years. Mr. Powderly earnestly
advocated the measure. but by an over
whelming vote the term was fixed at one year.
The convention spent nearly the whole
morning session discussing the revised con-
stitution submitted by the committee appointed
81 a
far as the third paragral n OF the fourth section.
This paragraph is as follows: The elective
officers Of the General Assembly shall be Grand
Master Workman, General Worthy Foreman,
General Secretary, General Treasurer, Gem
eral Executive Board OF five members, in adj
diton to General Master Workman and
General Worthy Foreman. 10 three Of whom
shall 10 from the same STATE and n cooperative
board Of six This was adopted. Mr.. Pow
derby received the following telegram from
Thomas g. Barry, member Of the Execu-
tive Committed sent to Chicago to endeavor to
packers in that city: The packers say they
have no organization so | must treat with
them as individual companies. We called
several firms Yesterday and hll eN-
pressed n desire for settlement, but insist
on working ten hours, while the men are
firm for eight. We look for settlement this
week" Mr.. Powderly has received almost
hourly kilograms commenting tho position
he has taken in hrs letter on the race question.
Tho General Assembly OF the Knights OF Labor
reelected Mr. Powderly To the Office OF General
Master Workman without opposition, the
18th inst The nomination of Mr.. Powderly was
made by l.. +. Gould. Of indianapolis, and Sec
onded by Tom 0Reily, Of New York, both tele-
graphers. Mr. Powderly vacated the chair, tho
General Worthy Foreman taking his place
More than 100 delegates shouted: Have the
election made by acclamationlT W1n Mr..
Gritfiths put the question there was IA storm Of
Ayes" Whom the Noes was called for there
was one solitary No" 1t came from Henry
Beckmeyer, one Of the delegation from New
Jersey. This delegation wears yellow badge
with the motto Solid For Harmony" There
no candidate placed in nomination in opposi-
ton t. Mr.. Powderly. and he received tine votes
OF the 6f delegates present When Mr. Grit
fths was nominated for reelection rs General
Worthy Foreman the only candidate NOM
mated in opposition II. Bennett. OF Illinois
Mr.. Bennett received only fifty votes, and Mr..
Griffiths election was made unanimous. The
office Of General Secretary and Treasurer
divided. ana Charles II. Litchman, Of Marble
head, Mass, was placed in nomination for tho
office OF Secretary by james Campbell,
tion was seconded by Tom O'Reily OF New
York The only candidate placed in nomination
in opposition was Joseph Buchanan. OF Denver,
Colorado. Iitchman was elected by more
than 231 majority. Frederick Turner. the pres
ent Gen oral Secretary Treasurer, was nominated
for General Treasurer by r. i. Trevellick, OF
Detroit, Mich, and seconded by James f.. Quinn,
OF New York, The only candidate nominated
in opposition was II. Beckmeyer, OF New Jersey.
Mr.. Turner was elected by more than 90 ma
jority Balloting for members Of the Execu-
tive Board tlfen began. The fol owing names
Mere placed S in nomi nation John W.
l..
Mcclure, New York; Tom O'Reillv, New
York; J,>sph Buchanan, Colorado; VIM. II.
Mullen, Richmond Ira B. Aylsworth Baltimore,
Md. ; John Howe, Massachusetts. An informal
ballot was taken in which Mr.. HAYES led in the
number of votes polled, with Mr.. Barry second.
The proposed amendment to the constitution,
extending to two years the terms of ali general
officers, excepting those of the members of the
Cooperative Board, was adopted.
The knights OF Labor General Assembly ut
Rich pla OF
eral Executive Board on the 14th: Thomas b.
Barry, John w. Hayes, William III. Bailey, A A.
Carleton. r. Il. Mcclure, and Ira II. Aylesworth.
There was preliminary ballot for the election
OF two members Of the General Cooperative
Board 20 fill the places OF the two retiring
members The General Assembly then
agreed to contribute S15, 900 in aid OF the Au-
gusta Ga cotton workers, the Salem ana Pea
body (Mass.l tanners, ard the New York City
plumbers, now on strike. Colored Knights OF
Labor now in attendance on the convention will
probably form bureau of their brethren
throughout the Southern St,tes for the purpose
of procuring accurate statistics relative 20 the
condition Of the colored people and their rela-
ton TO the white laborers whenever they are
employed toge Their.
The general assembly OF tho knights OF La
Dor elected l.. c. Il. Schlieber, of Massachu-
sets. aud J. NJ Broughton, of Raleigh, " c.,
members OF the General Cooperate Board at
Richmond, on the 18th. David X. Gibson, OF
Hamilton, Canada. was elected Canadian Sup.
ply Agent. Mr. Powdery then installed the
new officers. In addressing the assembly
elected and pledged himself to the faith
full performance OF his duties. He urged upon
the delegates to impress the importance OF
temperance upon the local assemblies He
called attention to the fact that not one of the
general officers elected used Intoxicating liq-
uors. All Of the general officers then formally
pledged themselves TO abstain from the use
Of intoxicants during their two years term Of
Office. resolution was adopted declaring that
the Knights OF Labor recognize in the field
of labor no distinction on accoun. OF color
but have no intention to interiors with the
social relations existing between races in
any part OF the country. The report OF the Com
mittee on the State.of the Order indorses the
report OF the Committee on Legislation and the
supplementary report commencing the estab-
lishment OF Labor Congress at Washington.
1t also indorses the General Master Workmans
address to the general assembly and recon-
mends the Endorsement OF the report OF Charles
III. Iitchman, special agent appointed by the
General Master Workman to represent the order
before the Congressional Committee appointed
to investigate the cause and effect OF the South
western railroad strikes. In his repoct Mr.
Bitchnan ridicules the testimony given 10y tho
railroads witnesses. who. he saws. were drilled
to echo like parrots the statement that tho only
cause that thoy had ever heard assigned for the
strike was the discharge OF man named Hall
at Marshall. Texas. The Committee on lie isla-
ton. among other bills before Congress, recon-
meiids the Pon1exter bill in favor OF New York
pilots. IL voted To- hole the next Conyen-
ton at Minneapolis i'm October. 1851.