The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-30
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
Sensational Story of a Scheme to Assassinate
Observation-Disclosures of District 40. Il

PlTTsBuRG, Aug. 29.-The Leader today pub
fishes the details Of plot within the Knights Of
Labor to assassinate Mr. Powderly. 1t is
claimed that three years ago the Home Club, a
New York wing opposed to the general master
workman. hired couple of New York thugs
who, following their instructions, one night went
to the Fulton-street ferry. where shey awaited
for Mr. Powderly. He was to have addressed q
Brooklyn meeting that night, but for some I'M
explained cause was delayed. This, no doubt
saved his life. Two weeks ago last Thursday a
&. of L. committee met at the Occidental Hotel
corner of Broome street and Broadway, and be-
gan an Investigation. A few days later quarters
were secured on Forsythe street, thus throwing
the reporters off the scent
The committee Is composed of seven persons
The names OF four are: George Bridgewater,
Pennsylvania; John Ellsworth, Ohio; Joseph
Mansion, Troy, N. Y. and Charles Zimmerman,
of Trenton, N. J. Powderly was himself before
the committee this week, and it is said his evil
dence created sensation. The committees re-
port will be sealed and none will know its con-
tents until 1t is read at the October convention
in Richmond, Va, when complete disruption
OF the order is expected to result.
John Morrison, of State Assembly l26, of New
York, issued a circular giving the Organization
and object of the Home Club. He stated that
man named Horn and T. b. Mcclure, Of District
40, of New York, induced him to join league
in 1882 for the removal Of Powderly. Layton,
Litchman, lockwood, Harry Bepgough,
A. G Rankin. James Campbell, Of
the Window glass Workers Association;
Miles McFadden, and others who
were then prominent in Knights of Labor ranks.
The plan of this combination was for all, with
one exception, to act as a unit, the one taking
the opposition side, under instructions, so as to
avoid all show of collision. A secret, oath
bound group was formed under the name of the
Home Club. The avowed object of the eombina
ton was, in the words of the agreement to bring
the order back to its original secrecy. to study
the labor question and place 1t before the order
from radical standpoint. In order to accom-
plish these measures 1t was deemed necessary to
get rid of the general officers. Within q few
months the general officers got wind of the con-
spiracy and proceeded to make it sultry for the
gang. AT that time r. d. Layton, of Pittsburg,
was grand secretary, and he succeeded in expell-
ing Morrison and others who belonged to Dis
trict 40, OF New York. Since that time this dis
trict has become celebrated as the power manip-
ulated by the Home Club.
The best account of the operations and
strength Of District 40 is given by John Morri-
son, of Assembly 126. who was an original mem
Der OF the Home Club and who at last exposed
the combination. Yesterday Mr.. Morrison,
while lying sick at his residence on West Forty
third street. New York. gave the Leader report
er the startling information that the entire
Knights Of Labor organization is on tho brink of
dissolution 1.-THE Home Club" said Mr. Nor
rison, lis power which will be overthrown, but
fear that the organization will split District
40 now has 60 900 members In good standing.
They claim greater strength, but we know
they have sixty delegates elected for the Rich
mond meeting. Then will come the greatest in
ternal war ever seen among labor unions. The
districts of Troy and Albany have instructed
their delegates to vote against General Secretary
Turner for any Office, and if he is found
to be implicated in the Home Club they
will vote for his expulsion. From all
over the country come reports Of delegates being
instructed to down the Home Club and demand
the expulsion Of every member If District 40
is downed at Richmond, the leaders will bolt the
convention and walk out with sixty thousand
members to form what will be claimed as the
straighr-out Knights of Labor under the old
rules, with oath-bound secrecy If District 49,
under the Home Club leadership, sh@hld win,
the other districts will leave the Knights of
Labor and form a com bination with the
trades-anions. Hence, 1t looks now as if split
is inevitable. The investigation now going on is
something of sham. and will likely result in a
mere embarrassing, because Of the seven mem
bers four are known to affiliate with the Home
Club. l was called as witness, and was on the
stand for two days. The mass of testimony now
gathered is enormous, and will occupy at least a
week at the Richmond meeting"