New-York tribune., 1886-05-27
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
BASIS OF A TREATY WITH TRADES UNIONS.
W II
PoWDEHLYS OPENING ADDRESS TO THE ASSEMBLY
IN OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES AT WORK.
tBr TELEGRAPH TO TuR TRIBUNE.

PowDEELY's OPENING ADDRESS TO THE ASSEMBLY
IN CLEvELAND-DELEGATEs AT WORK.
tBr TELEGRAPH TO THR TRDUNE.l
CLEVELAND, May 26.-The General Assembly
OF the knights OF Labor is In working order Last
night was spent in canvassing and making preparations
for the struggles which will later. The friends OF
tho trades unions In the Forest City Hotel soon
aiter adjournment There present some 20 or 80
delegates, beside the trades union committee. Tho
conference lasted till long after mi dnigh and careful
canvass was made OF tho delegates. It is understood
that nearly enough have secured to guarantee tho
adoption OF treaty which will DO satisfactory to tho
trades unioniss The principal demands OF the trades
union people that the the white label OF the
khgnts OF Labor shall be restricted to the use Tor whcn
1t was originally intended that s to cooperative con-
Germs started by members OF the order and that shall
MOI be given Unfortunately to manufacturers Tho
demand next in import that the knights OF Labor
shall not take into the order and make fair men,
members OF the trades unions who have for good cause
been c1pee" or dropped from their organizations, who
nave taken the places Of men on strike or who would
not for good reasons be admitted to member hip in
trades unions of the delegates from districts
that have beon formed since the meeting in Hamilton
last year also held last night.
General Master Workman Powderly called the
meeting to order this morning at 8 o'clock
The action OF the Committee on Creden-
tials in admitting alternates and substitutes
for members OF tho Hamilton Assembly who were un-
abe to attend Increased the number about 40, and
they were all present when the meeting called to
order The committee submitted supplementary re-
port that under the laws OF the order only representa-
tivcs OF districts that represented at Hamilton
were entitled to sit AZ the meeting here. and ccOmend'
ng that the delegates from tho new districts be not
admitted. The report finally accepted by small
majority. TLis action excludes about twelve delegates
Mr. Powderly made his opening address cxtemporc,
fha fl1 1fax .rft hnf ha
that this special session OF the Gcuora Assembly WAS
the most important in the history OF the ORDER Matters
erye importance be considered and he hoped
that the delegates would be guided in their deliberations
BY sprt OF wisdom, that no personal aimo,itles
would be allowed to tho harmony OF the proceed
ings and that every member would be guided by the
spirit OF the Obligation he hal taken as a knight OF
LABOR. II the duty OF the General Assembly calmly
Consider the situation and to devise remedies Tor
e:ns. In many parts Of the country the order had
grown too rapidly aud discOrdant elements had been
faster than they could be properly assmliated
l Was the duty Of the Assembly TO take some action
llat would check this unhealthy growth. Trouble
had between the order and other
trades ORGANIZATIONS From small beginnings the
trouble has widcncd. until now the usefulness OF
both organizations been seriously impaired. anG the
Whole labor movement has been retarded This mat
required the most serious consideration. lilo saw
40 reason why a common ground which both could
stand col be found and both the Knights OF Labor
an trades unions stand shoulder to shoulder IN the
battle for human RI hts lie called the attention OF the
Assembly TO the fact that the chief executive officer
Of the orsan alton and the members Of the General
Executive Board hardened With great amount or
unnecessary work It imperative that the Executive
Board Should he relieved from that portion OF the work
which could be easily attended to by some one else
Propos lions which had carefully matured would
be submitted n due time for tho consdcrar Of the
Assembly.
Perhaps the most important duties OF tho Assembly,
Mr. PowIcrly sad would be in regard 10 the subject OF
strikes and boycots The order had lost ground In the
public during thelat six months on account
OF ha.ty aud con. acton tho part OF some OF
the district leaders Tho order could not stand the
many such uhwise fights as that In the south
81, and while 1t sots credit FOR many petty strikes
and boycots. for which 1t IS not responsDe there ha'e
been many Of them that directly attributable to
the order In conclusion ho suggested that the momoer
ship OF the Executive Board lie increased
Standing committees appointed on boycotts.
strikes law good OF the order aud appeals and grey'
anccs. The most Important are these:
On Law-Janes Campbell. Joseph II. Mansion. John
A. \. Carton. Charles III Zimmerman, hdSH CaVdhAan'
JOS. pa llosan amt W. A. m.ney' p uccoro,sv W II
B.acksia W. j. philips, John Howes' L. Cona"ay snd
On me state OF the Orler-F X. Foster Oliver Otis.
john mncut ROpcrt Bennett. Joseph B John on j. j.
Mccartney, Henry Mente, W. H. smith snd '" l. bu-
,hanau.
These threo committees will have most Of The work TO
do COMMITTEE appontei ON the relations OF the
Knga OF Labor 20 other auizations on the address
oi the WoulAns Christian Temperance Union; ana on
the address OF Edwin Norton, special executive com
mittce was appointed also which all business must
be submitted and which VIII distribute the business
among the proper committees. II has been decided 10
hold two sessions daily, III. to Il H., and from
= to p.
rho Brooklyn men are working hard for tho Long
Island Dsttlct. They have sent Ia theiI application
for special dspensauon FOR charter and II mas oeeh
referred to proper committee. They are hopeful OF
SUCCESS and say that already enough votes have Oech
pledged to carry it through.
II IL said that the Committee on tho Good or tue Order
has decided to report a recommendation to withdraw
the commissions from all OF the organizers and To renew
the commissions those only who have acted wisely III
the past
In all probability 1t will be decided to increase tho
membership OF the Executive Board 10 seven memoers'
The additional places, 1t believed, will 90 TO Boston
and New-York. The candidates from Boston are A. A.
Carlton and Charles II. Iitchman. Mr. Powdery Is
s.id 10 favor Litchman The candidates from New
York are George r. Murray and I. Is. Mcclure ,
Henry George ana John Jarrett have arrived IN Tue
city They Will appear tO-mOrroW hltht OctoIc tho
Assembly discussion Of the tarn. MI GcOrse takng
the free trade eide OF the argument and MT jarrett
,he protective side
LONG ISLAND CITY TAXES.
HEARING BEFORE THE GOVERNOR ~ THE UNION
COLLEGE CAsE-BILLs SIGNED.