Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-10-21
KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
Proceedings of the Richmond
Convention.

This was done, Mr.. Powderly said, because II
was understood that firm employing such labor
intended to bid. The roll was called for presenta
tion OF resolutions, etc, and fifty or sixty were
received. All were referred to the committee ON
distribution, which will distribute them to the
committees. Tho samo action was taken In
reference to all reports submitted and reports of
the Secretary and Treasurer All these reports
were presented in printed form. Tho roll of
districts wns then called after which the roll OF
the local assemblies was called, and each pre-
sented such resolutions as 1t desired TO lay be-
Tor, the General Assembly. They were referred
TO the committee on distribution for submission
70 appropriate committees Printed copies of
the reports OF the Executive Board, the General
ei@ss. - saaL~ lsiSs.sAsA - ss.s. me-.
mitteo OF thirteen on finance was appoiufed. "a
wen us SiIo roIrvwrns
nose and foreign contract labor, emigration.
legislation, relief schemes, and the Pennsyl-
vania and Baltimore and Ohio Railroad corpora
tions.
Labor paraded the streets Of Richmond on Mon
day, 1lth inst. and all public Offices and nearly
all workshops, manufactures, and other BUST
of the event. At the close Of the parade
speeches. We're made by Ralph Beaumont,
Mr.. Tredel. and Mr.. Litchman. Senator.
eloet Daniel Mayor Harrington, and Gov.
Leo were to have made speeches, but they
did not appear. Later there were games and
races on the fair grounds, and the festivities
closed at night with n banquet, at which white
and colored delegates hat together. The pro-
posed banquet was abandoned. In consequence
OF questions which have been raised by the
presence OF Farrell and other colored delegates
to the general assembly, Mr.. Powderly has
written letter to explain why he selected
critics, he says, have seen fit to assert
that this action was IN insult and
an attack upon the laws OF social equality. He
continues: MY sole object in selecting a col
ored man to introduce me was to encourage
and help to uplift his race from a bondage
worse than that which held him in chains
twenty-five years ago, viz Mental slavery. I
desired to impress upon the minds OF white
and black that tho same result followed
action was on the part Of Caucasian or negro
iaDor Two years ago, In an address delivered
In IN this city. said to the people of Richmond:
You stand face to face with stern living
reality, responsibility which cannot be avoid
ed or shirked. The negro question is as promi-
nent to-day as it ever was The first propo-
sltlon that stares us in the face Ia this The
negro is free, he is here. and he is here to STAY
He is 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 an equal
share OF tho protection afforded to American
labor, and both mechanics must sink their diff
fcrences or else fall a 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
mheming vote the term was fixed ut one year.
The convention spent nearly the whole
stitution submitted by the committee appointed
at the Cleveland meeting They got down as
far as tho third paragraTh OF the fourth section
ssop Is serS as sleSsxs
General Secretary, General Treasurer, Gem
dition to General Master Workman and
General Worthy Foreman, no three OF whom
shall be from the same State, and a cooperative
board OF six This was adopted. Mr.. Pow
derly received the following telegram from
Thomas B. Barry, member OF the Execu-
tive Committee, sent to Chicago to ondeavor to
settle the strike OF the employees Of the pork
packers in that city: @The packers say they
have no organization, so 1 must treat with
on several firms yesterday and all ex-
pressed a desire for settlement, but insist
on working ten hours, while the men are
firm for eight We look for n settlement this
week" Mr.. Powderly has received almost
hourly telegrams commencing tho position
no has taken in his letter on the race question.
The General Assembly OF the knights of Labor
reelected Mr.. Powderly to the offico of General
Master Workman without opposition, ON the
18th inst. The nomination of Mr. Powderly was
made by E +. Gould, of indianapolis, and sec-
onded by Ton O'Reilly, of New York, both tele-
graphers Mr. Powderly vacated the chair the
General Worthy Foreman taking his place.
Moro than 100 delegates shouted: Have the
election made by acclamationi" When Mr..
Gritfths put the question there was a storm of
Ayes. When the -Noos" was called for there
was one solitary No. It came from Henry
Jersey. This delegation wears yellow badge
with the motto Solid for Harmony" There was
no candidate splaced in nomination in OPPOSE
tion TO Mr. Powderly. and he received the votes
of the CAT delegates present When Mr. Grif-
fiths was nominated for recollection as General
Worthy Foreman the only candidate nom.
mated in opposition was r. Bennett, of illinois,
Mr. Bennett received only fifty votes, and Mr..
Grifhths election was made unanimous The
divided, and Charles II. Litchman Of Marble
head, Mass, was placed in nomination for tho
oiico OF Secretary by James Campbell,
ton was seconded by Tom OReilly, OF New
York The only candidate placed In nomination
In opposition was Joseph buchanan, of Denver,
Colorado. Litchman was elected by more
than 23o majority. Frederick Turner, the pres
ont General Secretary Treasurer, was nominated
Detroit, Mich, and seconded by james Il. Quinn,
OF Now York, The only candidate nominated
In opposition was H. Beckmeyer OF Now Jersey.
Mr.. Turner was elected by more than 900 ma
iority Balloting for members Of the Exeou-
tive Board then began. The following names
were, Mere placed laced in nomination: John w.
aSSss aisssan New basS TS1mss ohlo Ear
Mcclure, New York; Tom O'Reilly New
York Joseph Buchanan, Colorado; VIM. II.
Mullen Richmond Ira b. Aylsworth Baltimore
Md. John Howe, Massachusetts,. An informal
ballot was taken, in whichMr Hayes led In the
number OF votes polled, with Mr.. Barry second.
rhe proposed amendment to the constitution,
TO two years the terms of all general
officers, excepting those OF tho members OF the
Cooperative Board, was adopted.
The Knights of Labor General Assembly at
Richmond elected these members OF the Gen.
eral Executive Board ON the 14th Thomas b.
Barry, John w. Hayes, William H Bailey, A. A.
T. B. MCGUIRE and Ira H. Aylssworth.
There was preliminary ballot for the election
Df two members Of the General Cooperative
Board TO fill tho places Of the two retiring
members. The General Assembly then
agreed TO contribute $4,000 in aid OF the Au-
yusta lGa) cotton workers the Salem ana Pea
body Qdassl tanners, and 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 Stat es for the purpose
of procuring accurate statistics relative to the
condition Of the. colored people and their rela-
lion 70 the white laborors whenever they are
afnrlovad fooafbar