Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-09-24
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR
WHY the Life of the Order Is
Threatened.
The Chairman of the Executive Board
Charged With Being Henchman
of the Golden Club
The Other Side,

PIrTsGURGH September 23.-The dissolu.
ton of the Knights of Labor grows more
threatening and all hopes of a concilia.ion
have about vanished. The trouble arises
over the dissatisfaction beginning in this
city some months ago with A. c. Rankin,
Grand Master Workman Of District As
sembly No 3. 1t became fight between
Grand Secretary Layton and Rankin, and
the feud was oBrried into the meeting
the Grand Assembly in Cincinnati.
Rankin Won the Fight,
and not only succeeded in having Layton's
candidate for secretary defeated, but had
the office of assistant secretary abolished.
All his choice for officers were elected and
a new government Of the order established
through an executive board, but 1t is
claimed that this change was wrought
through combination Of three elements
in the Convention, that OF the socialists
and communists, as represented by the
New York delegates, the free trade ele
ment and the Rankin delegation.
Through this combination it is claimed
the communists and the free-traders secured
control, Rankin having aided them in re.
turn for assistance given him IN getting
Revenge Upon Layton
and his followers. Frank X. Foster, Of
Cam bridge, Mass, was chosen chairman Of
the Executive Board, and who has more
power than Grand Master Workman Pow
derly, is the most active free-trade advocate
among representative labor men in the
country. He il was who succeeded in hav-
ing the free-tlade plank placed in the plat
form of the principles of the Federation Of
Trades at the Cleveland meeting last year.
Those who oppose him now in 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 Of
| London. 1t is claimed that Rankin, by do
| ing this, has
Completely Alieniated
the members of the order in Pittsburgh,
| which is really the head and centre of the
organization, and that within a short time
nearly all. if not all, the local assemblies
here will withdraw from the organization.
| They will not only do this in Pittsburgh,
protective districts.
! II is further stated that the Communists
have got control because Frank Z. Turner,
| the grand secretary, is but q figure head,
and that he was chosen only upon the
promise that he would make Harry Taylor,
a New York communist, his .chief clerk,
| and that Taylor will virtually be the grand
secretary. 1t is admitted by persons init
mately acquainted with Rankin that large
| defections will take place in the ranks OF
the order, but they explain it on different
grounds.
The Oiber Side OF the Question.
They say that at the Cincinnati conven-
| ton sweeping changes were made, but
/ they were done for the good of the order
| that incompetent men were thrown out oil
| ofHca nalcnp tents and dangarOus man mt
| outside, and that for these reasons many
| why are dissatisfied fight the work of the
General Assembly, and will leave the or
| der. While this will weaken it unmerci'
fully, they say it will result eyentuslly in
| improving the order. Those who tell tue
first story, however, insist that this sdmis.
/ sion is only confirmatory of their state.
men Is, at any rate the disinteEration Of the
| order will shortly begin.