Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-05-27
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
Subjects Before the Cleveland COnSen
ton.
TRADE UNION REPRESENTATIVES DISSATISFIED
TROUBLE WITH THE ORGANIZERS.


Baltimore San of to-day says, regarding the
knights OF Labor convention: Although Gen.
eral Secretary Turner and Others have said
that all had been made harmonious between
the Knights and the trades unions the commit
tee having this subject in charge are dealing
with task by no means light. The committee
representing the trades-unions all expressed
great dissatisfaction to-day that nothing def
hite could be obtained yet. Most of them left
committee are, rs a rule, receiving comfortable
salaries officers OF the different tradesunions
which they represent and do not look with
FAVOR upon the absorption idea which the
knights hold constantly in view To them as the
easiest solution OF their grievances. Absorption
10 them. in all probability, would entail the
loss of their positions and emoluments The
lay members OF the trades-unious are claimed
by The knights to bc largely In favor OF coming
In. 1t is understood that the Typo.ra phical
Union OF this city has instructed its delegates
10 the approaching National Typographical
convention To vote in iayor oil Joining tile
knights. The disposition OF this matter will
probably occupy AS much If not more time than
any other 10 come before the convention.
RESTRICTING ADMISSIONS To THE ORDER.
1t is understood that the committee appointed
to consider the subject of future admissions TO
the order will report plan, In Difference TO the
practically unanimous sentiment OF the con-
Nentlon, which will pat stop To the practice
which prevails OF admitting pell-rnell all who
apply. Ii Is realized fully that there is a ne-
cesslly Tor SOME degree of scrutiny as Ia the
tone aud morals al those de>irin. 10 enter the
ORDER. The committees Oh strikes and boycot.
tlnS are also thoroughly conyersant with the
Iccling of The general assembly on these points
and. as ioreSiadowedi in my dispatch OF Monday
might, VIII undoubtedly agree upon "A report oI
plan which Will prevent preciptatc strikes
and, when ordered, regulate the proceedings
Under which they are enforced SO as I" coniorm
10 stricler responsibility than has heretofore
been eXacled.
THE LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS
Chief Arthur told me to-day that his organi-
cation consists OF about twenty thousand MEM
berS The object in prohibiting its members
from Joining the Knight. OF Labor was ia pur-
suance o. "A settled policy To have DO entaIIgiiny
alliances. the brotherhood of Locomotive L1i-
Sineer>, he sad, was distinct aud separate
organization To Itself, having mol hi ny and want
ing nothing whatever TO do with any OF ner
labor organization. The constitution aud rules
of tie brotherhood We're different i'm several inn
eoriani respects from those OF any other labor
oigaiiization. 1t never lost sight the fact that
capital has rights well labor. IL Cid not put
skilled and unskiilcd labor on an equally aud
Ii aid moi forbid its mem beers from oIkiitg with
those who were not members OF the brother
houd. No man WAS eligible 10 memDership
VINO had not served as AN engineer Tor twelve
months, and not then unless he game up 10 tie
liked standard a. TO his Qualifications habits
anu moral character. Aiter admission every
member had 10 live up TO Ills standard, or he
Mas nrsl suspended and next eX Ieiaed from the
order lie showed me the last monthly list of
Suspensions and explosions. The charges were
in almost every instance either for drunken
ness or unbecoming conduct. The names are
all published in the monthly journal of the
order, and this public exposure he said, had "A
wonderful effect In restraining those who might
otherwise lie inclined To go astray lie
said il used to be the case that engineers
frequently ran their trains when under
the influence OF liquor, but this has ALI
been changed, and at this day such in
stances are almost unknown. The brotherhood
AS an Organization, held infcXibly aloof from
politics. As to strikes, he said he Was opposed
10 them on principle. l SAID TO him that the
Knights OF Labor banned him for the failure oi
tie recent Southwestern railroad strikes. Iie
replied very quickly that he would te most
glad 10 ieei that he was Responsible Tor the
failure, Tor more causeless ana uujustifiable
strike ite had never known In all his perience.
He said he had been accused of not being IN
SYMPATHY with the worktngIneu u, and not being
a woikiuguan himself He unLesitatingiy as
scrteu Thai ne was Il better friend oi the work
inenen Than any Cf those who criticized HIM,
anu his record as a RUM ing engineer Tor twenty
years IN the New i DIRK CeHtral railroad was q,
sunicient answer 10 the other charge. lie had
been accused oi refusing 10 meet MIR. Powdeliy
ana other ie"ders VI Tie knignts Oh Labor and
discuss matters with them. This WAS NOT 80:
for while lie had no business with them ii they
called ou him ne would treat them cuurleousiy,
as he tried ~ treat every one else. He looked
upon II as an almost fatal defect that The
knights Oh Labor placed skilled and unskilled
Labor ON AN equality.
Yesterdays PRoCEEDINGS
Reported by the Associated Press
The first business transacted in the conyen-
tion yesterday was TO admit the new delegates
who were not present at the last general a.sem-
bly, held at Hamilton, Ont. No assembly was
permitted to be represented that was not repre-
seuIed at the Hamilton convention. General
Master Workman Powderiy made an eXtemps-
raneous address, in which Le referred to the
order ana its remarkable growth, its strikes
ana boy colts. He advised cainness and Judi
ciousness in all the actions oil the delegates
Standing committees were then appointed Oh
laws, Strikes boy colts and the relation of the
order 10 all other orders. Special committees
We're appointed on the address vi the " omens
Christian Temperance Union, and also on the
plan vi Edward Norton, Chicago, who at Tues
day meeting suggested a manufacturers
union. To give ali the committees Il chance To
get 10 work the convention adjourned and the
remainder or the day was devoted to the COM
mitteeS.
When the call for the convention was issued
by Mr.. Powdery he only enumerated nve
causes OF complaint that were To be ad listed.
These were boycotts, strikes, the southwest
troubles, the relation OF the knights vi Labor
10 other organizations, and the Inslituting OF
new assemblies. Since the delegates have
arrived many OF them have plans that they
would like to spring upon the special session.
One OF these plans is 10 agitate the subject Of
the government regulating the railroads. A
member OF the order from Allegany, Pa, has
prepared "A long address upon this subject, and
The delegates from his district will try to secure
hearing Tor him. The gentiemans address also
deals with the project VI a national arbitration
board.
UNWORTHY ORGANIZERS
For some time the executive board has not
been satisfied with some OF the organizers OF the
order and several have had charges preferred
against them and their commissions recalled.
A number vi organizers are not giving satisfac-
ton, SO, to prevent hard feeling by removing
these men, IL is proposed TO have the commits
sions OF every organizer from the chief down
recalled. A reporter asked Mr.. Richard Trevel-
lick, the chief organizer, about the matter and
that gentleman said: "lt is true that such "A
plan 5 being agftated. Much OF the trouble in
tie order rising from rapidly increasing MEM
bership and the installation of our assemblies
is due TO poor organization. II Is not the FAULT
OF either Mr.. POwderiy or the executive board.
In making appointments they must rely upon
the Recommendations OF the District as
semblies. They do not cannot, know
all the men recommended and appointe ted.
lew weeks ago in one city 1
met an organizer, who, regret to say, was
under the influence OF liquor. i asked him
where he was going, aud he informed Inc that
he was going TO institute an assembly OF 500
striking POlacks and Hungarians. This is
against the rules of the order, aud We can ad-
init no strikers while they are out told him
organizer and would do he pleased. told
him he could institute the assembly, but il
would never receive q charter. We need sober,
industrious representative men In those posi-
tions. 1t would make hard feelings " ask for
their commissions, SO IL 10 proposed to make
them ante up from the chief organizer down.
New organizers willbe commissioned as last as
possible, and will be selected because Of their
fitness Tor the position"
GAS COMPANY BRIBERY In CRICAGo.-Judge
Bodgetl has entered decree dissoiving the COR
poraIe existence Of the Consumer Gasllght and
Fuel company Of Chicago, and ordering its prop
ertyto be sold at public auction. The total In
Ia