Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-26
TROUBLES KNIGHTS.
The Inner History Of the Recent Cen.
eral Assembly-SOcialistx and Free
Traders.

Pttsburg Correspon dence Of the Philadelphia Times.
high official IN the Knights Of Labor, in an
Interview, made some revelations which place
an entirely new and interesting aspect upon the
proceedings Of the recent general assembly held
In Cincinnati. "There were," he says, three
elements that took prominent part in the DELHI
erations Of the assembly. First, there was the
socialistic and communistic element from New
York; second, the free-trade element; and third,
the friends of A. C.. Rankin, Deputy Master
Workman of District No. g. whose office is in
this city. Rankin was the strongest opponent
I. V. POwderly had for Grand Master Workman
OF the order About nine months ago he had a
quarrel with X. ID. Layton, the Grand Secretary
of the order, Of this city. Rankin, by his arbi-
trary conduct in his Official position, caused a
great detection from the ranks of the Knights
In this district. Hundreds left the order, and
Layton stepped in to stem the tide and incurred
friends opposed Rankin for Grand Master Work
man. and when he found he could not be elected
he set himself to work to get revenge on the
Grand Secretary.
HOW LOCKWOOD WAS DEFEATED.
"He had delegation of his own selection
almost, from this city, to Cincinnati Mr. Rock
wood, the Assistant Grand Secretary, was q
candidate for the Secretaryship, Layton having
declined to run again, and as Rankin knew
lockwood was Layt0n's choice he set himself
to defeat him. He succeeded. and Frank E.
turner was elected Grand Secretary. Rankin
not only defeated lockwood, but he caused the
abolition of the office Of Assistant Grand Secre-
tary. He did this at terrible cost He had
TO join hands with the cOmmunistic element
and the tree traders. In fact he had to agree
to the selection Of Frank K. Foster. of Cam
bridge, Mass. as chairman of the Executive
Board before he could secure the influence of
Fosters friends to accomplish his own end. Fos-
ter is one OF the leading free traders the coun-
try. He caused the repeal of the tariff plank
Trade and Labor FederatiOns in Cleveland last
year, which had been passed by the congress
the previous year in Pittsburg. presided over
by John Jarrett.
AN EMIssARY OF THE Golden CLUB.
Foster" continued the gentleman, lis a
bitter opponent OF protection, and it is very
generally believed that he retains his position
In the knights as paid emissary Of the Golden
Club of England. This Executive Board has
more power than the Grand Master Workman
himseli and the salaries Of its members are
larger than that of all other officers You can
see the position the order is in with pro-
nOunced free-trader virtually at it's head
THE communistic element had to have some
thing. and Turner was elected Secretary. While
he may not be Socialist, yet he will be the
creature of that element, as we'll as Harry Tay-
lOr. Of New York, who is to be his chief clerk
This is the position matters have assumed.
While the Communists and Free-Traders NAV
not be able to do much either by subvertinR the
order to their own ends or by dsrupting it, yet
they may do enough in this one year to cause
two or three years. work to recover the lost
ground. knowledge of this is creating dis
affection in the ranks of the knights, and it
will cause disruption in the order, in this Sec
ton of the country at least"
IN DEFENSE OF RANKIN
A. C. Rankin Is now travelling in the west by
order of the General Assembly, but former in
cumbent Of one Of the Grand Lodge offices
said: ut may be that some of the local assem-
bes will drop out. but there will be no disrup-
tiOn Of the order. This talk has hurt Mr.. RAN
kin little, perhaps, but it is not permanent.
Rankin is great disciplinarian, and he has pu-
ritied the order. Powderly's power is limited
now and he knows it, for he left Cincinnati
right after his election and was not seen after.
II he tries any more of his last years tricks of
resigning three or four times he will find some
body with backbone ready for his place. The
lines have been drawn closer in every way, and
while know some assemblies will leave the
order it will be relieving the order Of dead
weight"