The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-26
THEKNIGHTSIN CONVENTION
First Days Session Of the Knights of
Labor Convention at Cleveland.
No Business of Importance Transatlantic
cations that the Quarrel with the Trades
Unions Will Be Amicably Settled.
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.

No Real Business Transacted-The Quarrel
with the Trades Unions.
CLEVELAND, May 25.-All the delegates are
present, and the Knights of Labor convention
opened this afternoon at o'clock. The first
business before the assembly, and which took up
most of the days session, was that of organiza-
ton. All of the delegates served at the proceed
ing assembly, but it was necessary to form new
committees. The programme provides for after
noon sessions, but If Mr.. Powderly sees that the
stress of business requires it, he will, it is
thought, have the sessions opened at 8
o'clock in the morning. The last circular
of Mr. Powderly explains the chief object of the
assembly. The organization of the Knights of
Labor has become TOO heavy for him and the
executive board to carry unaided. During the
last fifteen days in April 600 new assemblies
were organized, and the present total number of
assemblies is over 1000 At the same time it
takes about four weeks to organize one Of them
and inyest it with its proper name and number.
General Secretary Turner has twenty-five
assistants, five of whom girls
who do nothing but open letters.
Before issuing his circular declining to
receive any more letters, Mr.. Powderly received,
on an average, five hundred communications per
day. The circular had the effect of reducing them
to about one hundred per day. A Knight said this
morning. EVERY fool in the Nation who had
question to ask sent him letter. when in nine
cases out of ten the answers could have been
found in the constitution of the order. Mr..
Powderly has no assistant, and he Is probably
the busiest man in the country"
friend asked Mr.. Powderly what would be
the tenor of his address to the assembly. He re-
piled that he had not thought of any address to
make. SO pressed had he been for time He alb
solutely reftGes to see newspaper men or callers
of any kind, although many citizens who wished
to shake him by the hand called at the Forest
City House. He is even interrupted while at his
meals
The assembly of the Knights of Labor is in
deed very close corporation. Everything is
done in secret. and all the proceedings come to
the newspaper press through committee OF
Knights appointed for that purpose. The first
meeting opened at 3 o'clock, and closed at 8 to-
night.
At o'clock the General Assembly took re-
cess for the purpose of giving Mrs. Mary A.
Woodbridge, of Ravena O.. recording secretary
of the National Womans Christian Temperance
Union, an opportunity to address them. Mrs.
Woodbridge read letter from Frances A. Willard,
Caroline B. Buell., L. M. n. Stevens and Esther
Pugh, which contained the following:
I'VE earnestly urge upon you the Importance
of retaining the rule by which all persons en-
gagged in that nefarious liquor trade which
renders no equivalent for value received
are declared ineligible to membership
in society o. honest and hard
working men and women, whose labor is the
great magician of the world, and makes the will
derness to blossom as rose. We are glad that
your society proposes to defend the rights of
women by demanding equal wages for equal
work, and we assure you of our hearty sympa-
thy in the heroic efforts Of all sober minded lead
ers to improve the condition of workngmen and
their families. That you repudiate the meth
DDS of the misguided and wicked men whose
muster-hall is a saloon, whose weapon is dyna
mite, whose ensign is the red flag, we are fully
assured"
Following Mrs Woodbridge came Mr. Edwin
Norton, a manufacturer of Chicago, who read
paper on the subject Of the formation of an en-
can Manufacturers Union Tne object of the
union is TO treat with labor unions all ques-
tions arising between employers and employees.
The conference between the committee COM
posed of trades-unions and Knights Of Labor
satisfactory. The trades unionists pre-
sented the plan adopted by them in Philadel
phia for solution Of the difficulties existing be-
tween the two orders. The plan will be sub
mitted to the General Assembly for ratification.
1t seems to- night as il a perfect understanding
is altogether probable, although there is unmis-
taxable bitterness among many of the delegates
The General Assembly to-day accomplished
nothing save the appointment OF press COM
mittee and q committee on credentials. Tomor-
row the real business of the order will be
taken up
The Cgarmakers' Union is represented here,
and serious complaints are being made against
PEELED members OF their union are taken in by
the Knights. They also declare that the Knights
label for cigars must be withdrawn. The sub
ject is talked about great deal, and will be re-