Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-10-13

| tual federation and common sense are
| brought into the controversy, and once
| settled, they should be allowed to rest.
Continued reminders of past troubles often
create new ones. To those as have fallen into
| such habits / would recommend the advice
| you SO appropriately gave to critic
not long since "Stop fighting when
the war is over" / thank you
and through you the people of the
historic old city of Richmond for the warm
reception given to us. When we separate
| to go to our homes we will carry with us a
remembrance of this day and hour. We
will also remember that it was from this
| city that the ball of revolution which
crushed to death the power OF a king start
| ed forth on it's mission. [ trust that
in the providence of God we may
| he enabled to enact such legis-
| lation while here as will help to strike to
| the earth the last vestige of monopoly and
compel all men, whether rich or poor, to
| stand equal before a just and humane law.
| In concluding his speech, Mr.. Powderly
said that some of the members OF the visit
| ing delegations who were ofdarker hue than
their brothers could not find place
| in some of the hotels. This was in accord
| ance with what had long been the custom
| here, and old customs and prejudices do
| not readily vanish. There had been par
| ticular mention made of neinstance where
| a delegation numbering sixty mem
| bers had only one colored member
| among them. He was refusel ad-
mission to the hotel where they
intended to GO and the delegation, standing
by the principles OF the order, which rec
| ognizes no distinction Of creed, nationality
or color, went with their colored brother.
| That, he said, was what made the selection
| of that brother to introduce them, so
that it might 60 forth that they practiced
| what they preached.
At the close of his address, Mr.. Pow
derby requested that all those present
who were not delegates should retire,
and thanked them for having come to
the opening session.
Mr.. Bennett, of the Richmond dis
trict, moved q vote of thanks to Gov.
Lee, and after this was heartily given,
it was followed by a burst of rousing
cheers for Virginia. governor.
All but the delegates then left the
hall, and the convention settled down
to the practical work which had called
them together and in which they bid
fair to be engaged for the next two
| weeks Or more.
In secret session the only business
done was the appointment of q COM
mittee on minor credentials.
An adjournment was then taken to
o'clock tomorrow morning.
| The convention which opened at Rich
| mond this morning bids fair to be one of
| the most important labor gatherings which
the United States has ever seen. The tre-
| mendous growth of the Knights of Labor
| during the past twelve months, the inter
necine war which has been waged by the
notorious Home Club, the inclination on
| the part of many state and district assem-
| blies to enter the arena OF politics. the neces-
sity ola reorganization of the order SO that
| it may not become too cumbersome for the
management OF the executive officers, q
proposed change in the system of represen-
| tation, the proposal to perfect the organi-
zation of the negroes of the South. All
these matters which will come up for con-
| sidera ton indicate the important character
OF the gathering. Since the convention
of October last which was held at
Hamilton, Ont, the growth of the
convention the few hundred delegates in at
tendance represented some 1000 assem-
| blies and some 100, 600 members. To-day
| the assemblies number about $500 and
| the membership between 100000 and l..
| 100000 and 1900 delegates have been
| elected to the convention. Such growth
has never been equaled in the history of
trades unionism in any part of theworld.
REoRGANIzTNG THE ORDER.
The question of reorganization is one
that has been discussed by nearly every
district assembly in the country, about
| every one of which has scheme or plan of
it's own. That a reorganization is needed
| is conceded by all. The district plan, for
which so much was prophesied, has not
| proven q success. In many places districts
| have been formed within districts and the
| local strength has in consequence been
much divided. There are so many dis
| trict assemblies, moreover, that it is
| impossible for the general executive
ness, and hence large number of important
matters are continually delayed, and dis
satisfaction created in the order The
| principal plan of e-organization-that is
! to say, the one which is favored by the ex-
ecutive board and q large number of the
delega the government Of the
United States in that it provides for state
organizations and supreme or national
| assembly. Under this scheme the state as
semblies would have full control of the ter
ritory under their Jurisdiction, but
| the acts OF their officers would be
| subject to reversal by the general master
workman. That official therefore, while re.
| tanning supreme control, would be relieved
of the bulk of the routine work. Another
| pan "AiCA 10 ouPpOIUou ny uuo hdbO6ru
delegates. remodels the order uron the sys-
tenn which governs the Grand Army of the
Republic, and while retaining the general
executive board, does away with the auxil-
airy board which, it is claimed, was
brought into existence simply to make posi-
tions for two Home Club men. Another
| element of the convention favors vesting in
the grand master workman the right of
choosing the members Of the general execu-
tive board precisely as the President of the
United States selects the members of his
cabinet while still another element favors
a permanent congress of Knights of Labor
with headquarters in New York or Pitts
burg. There are numerous other plans and
schemes which will be ventilated and it is
expected that the consideration of the
question will occupy the greater part of a
| week.
THE DOJNGS OF THE HOME CLUB
are pretty sure to be ventilated by the
gathering, and steps will probably be taken
to neutralize it's influence. Report has it
that resolution expelling the members
will be submitted, and in this event turmoil
will be certain. Steps will be taken for Or
| GA 1iz no 10 hnr of no