New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-22
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
FATAL DIssENsIoNs IN THE ORDER.

FATAL DlSSENSlONS IN ONDbN"
IDENTIFICATION THREATENED on ACCOUNT OF
COMMUNISM AND FREE TRADE.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNs.l
PIrrsBURG, Sept. 21.-From high officials OF the
order it was to-day learned that the knlRnts vi
Labor are in great danger Of being dissolved OF
that at least so many members Will withufa"
from it that it Will drop to pieces
The trouble began with dissatisfaction in this
city, some months ago. with G. Ranken' oranu
Master Workman Of District Assembly No. 3. IL
became a fight between Grand Secretary Layton
and Ranken, and the feud was carried
into the meeting Of the Grsnd Assembly IN
Cincinnati Ranken Won the fight, and not
ouly succeeded in having Laytons candidate tor
secretary defeated but had the office OF assistant
secretary abolished. All his candidates for oihcers
Uere elected and new government Vi
the order was established through an execu-
tive board: but it is claimed that tnis
chang oe was wrought through a combination OF tue
Socialists and Communists as represented Dy 'ne
New-York delegates, the Free Trade element ana
the Ranken delegation. Through this comDlhaio"
il is claimed that the Communists aud Free lraders
secured control, Ranken having aided them IN re-
turn for their assistance gwen him in getting re-
venge upon Layton and his followers
Frank K. Foster, of Cambridge, Mass. who was
chosen chairman OF the Executive Boaru anu WI"
ba. more mower than Grand Master Workman Pow
derey is the most active freetrade advocate among
representative labor men In the country. lie
It was who succeeded in having the iree-trade
plank placed IN the platform of principles OF the
Federation of Trades at he Cleveland meeting last
year. Those who oppose him now among the
Knights of Labor state that Foster finds his way
into the order now by direction Of and under the
pay of, the Golden Club.
II is claimed that Ranken has completely aIehated
the members of the order in Pittsburg. "hcn IL
really the head and centre of the organization and
that within short time nearly all, II not all. the
local assemblies here will withdraw from the
order. They will not only do this here, hut they
will do the same IN all the strong protection uls-
tricts Ii is further stated that the COlnmuhlStS
have got control because +. +. Turner the Grand
Secretary ~ but a tigurr-head, and that he was
chosen only upon The promise that he would uiaRe
II. Taylor. a New-York Communist the cnei Clerk
and that he will virtually be the Grand S"cTetaIS
1t is admitted by persons Intimately acquainted
with Ranken that large defecuOns VIII takc
place In the ranks of the order, but theY explain
il on different grounds Ihey say lhat
at the Cincinnati Convention sweeping changes
were made but they were made FOR the goOd OF the
order; that incompetent men were thrown out OF
office. malcOntents and dangerous men put ASIDE
and that tor tnese reasons many who are nsNa -,
fed with The work OF the General Assembiy VIII
leave the order. While this Will weaken IL
numerically, they say II will result eventnallF IN
improving the order. Those who tell the irst story,
no wever, insist that this admission Is only cou-
frnatory of tneir statements. At any rae the DIS
Indignation of the order will shortly begun