The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-10-09
The Committee Investigating the Home Club
Presents Report Which Is in the Nature
of q Victory for That Organization,
And 1t Is Believed that Another Inquiry
May Be Ordered by the Assembly.
Mr.. Powderly Annoyed at the Accuracy with
Which Proceedings Have Been Reported in
Number of Prominent Newspapers.
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.

Special to the indianapolis Journal
RICHMOND, Va. Oct. 8-Itwas o'clock to might
when General Master Workman Powderly made
his appearance to inform the representatives of
the press of the proceedings of the Knights of
Labor convention to-day. Hereafter he will re-
port after instead of before supper This is at
the suggestion of the newspaper men, who, dis
satisfied at the meager reports of proceedings,
fixed the hour after the inner man had been pro-
vided for, in hopes that information would flow
more fuently.
A good deal of work was accomplished by the
| convention, taking the results altogether. All
of the contests were disposed of at the morning
session, and the badges distributed to the dele
gates. The highest number on the badges was
7lO-the actual number of delegates present, ale
though 755 had reported. AS a precaution
against the publication of names of committee
men, speakers. and those who generally take
active part in the proceedings, the delegates
will be recognized and addressed by the numbers
on their badges
There were fifteen delegates who presented
themselves from St. Louis, and six of them-the
number that district is entitled TO on the ratio Of
membership-were admitted. They are the
three who were selected at the three elections
indorsed by all the electoral meetings, and three
of those selected at the last election of the dis
trict Their names cannot be ascertained.
Immediately after the afternoon session was
called to order the special committee appointed
last year at Cleveland to investigate the charges
that the Home Club" of New York, was con-
spring to control the Offices of the general or
ofio of 4bn Ko;o 80
mitted it's report. The committee under the
authority vested in it. sent for persons and pa
pers, took testimony and made An elaborate
report which was adopted, and will go to the
executive board An impression prevails that
another committee may be elected to further in
vestigate the matter, as it is reported that tie
labors of the present committee did not result
in verdict inculpating any of the members of
the "Home Club"
The selection of the committees was then be-
gun, resulting in the selection of the following:
Committee on law, composed of nine members;
committee on distribution of subject-matter. to
refer to the proper committees all topics laid be-
fore the convention, composed of eleven mem
bers; committee on appeals and grievances, and
committee on state of the order, nine members
each These are the first committees needed in
the progress of the convention. Many others
will be chosen. some of them tomorrow, others
mt future sessions
Mr.. Powderly, at this point in the proceedings
read his annual address and made some COM
meDts upon a number of subjects treated in the
address. The principal was that of education of
the American youth. When he had completed
the reading, Mr.. Powderly requested that sne-
cial committee be appointed to take charge of the
question of education. The request was acceded
to, and the committee will be appointed at fut-
ure meeting.
A special committee of five delegates was
designated to take charge of the subject Of suf-
frage in Rhode Island and the District of Column
bia. In Rhode Island there is property oualif-
cation for voters, while in the District of Colum-
bia there is no franchise exercised. 1t will Oe
the work of this committee to have the State
and national laws so amended that there will be
requirement of real estate ownership in any
State to guarantee the exercise of the ballot at
any and all elections, and to give the District of
Columbia self-government and representative
in Congress- The committee was directed to
frame and send proper replies to the dispatches
received on this subject
At the meeting tomorrow morning the an
nual report of the secretary treasurer in printed
form, will be placed in the hands Of the dele
gagged looking into it. For the present, at
least, it will not be published. The
report discloses the membership of the
order in the aggregate, by districts and assem-
blies, the condition of the general and local
treasures the expense of conducting the organ
ization in ali of its ramifcations, and is wthal,
an important document, which would be widely
read if opportunity was offered.
Mr.. Powderly was much encouraged by the
progress made this afternoon and III answer TO
inquiry stated that he was of the same opin-
ion that he expressed several days since respect
ing the length of the session, l. e., that it would
not be over two weeks in length. When asked
what there was Of truth in the dispatch from
Montreal, published in this evenings papers, to
the effect that the constitution of the knights of
Labor has been revised by the members of the
clergy of that city, under the auspices of Arch
bishop Fabre, with the object of expunging
the Roman Catholic Church, and that Mr. Pow
derly. when there, promised the archbishop to
support the passage of the amendments before
the annual convention, Mr.. Powderly said,
with emphasis: eff that is true, know moth
ing of IT, l never made any such promise to
anybody" He was then asked if he mad not,
since arriving mere. visited the bishop of the
Roman Catholic Church. and he said, ''Yes,
have; but it was purely social call, such as
am in the habit of making whenever visit a
city where there is bishop. There was moth
ing said of the subject you mention, nor was the
race question mentioned"
Mr.. Powderly says that he is preparing let
ter on the question of color and social relations,
as raised here by the visit of the colored delo
gate Farrell to theater on Tuesday night, and
that he will give it to the public tomorrow
night. II want to explain my connection with
this trouble and to state my position, and will do
SO over my name" 1t is said that Mr. Powderly
will stand firmly by the social and all other
rights of the colored race, but that he will dis
claim any intention of insisting upon introduc-
ing his opinions whore they are offensive, or ask
ing the people of Richmond to alter their Gus
toms upon this occasion. lie will also show that
he had nothing to do with delegate Farrells visit