The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-21
THE K. OF [. IN POLITICS.
How the Situation Was Viewed in Yes
terday's State Gathering of Delegates.
Opposition to the Senatorial Candidacy of
McDonald-A Caucus of Knights To Be
Held to Discuss Political Movements.

| The recorded work of the State convention of
the Knights of Labor at Alpha Assembly Hall.
yesterday, was limited to the purpose of the call.
the consideration of plans looking to the forma-
| ton of State and congressional assemblies.
About one hundred and fifty delegates were
present representing large proportion of the
local assemblies and all the congressional dis
| tricts. They began their session at 10 o'clock in
the forenoon by VIM. B. Lewis. master workman
of district assembly No. LOG, calling them to
der He made speech, except to refer to the
object of the convention. This led to some mis-
cellaneous speech-making on the part of several,
which, with the report of committee on creden
| tials, brought the meeting up to noon. In this
| the only topic pertinent to the order of business
| was the manner of choosing presiding officer,
| as there were FIVE or six nominees who about
equally divided the support of the delegates.
In the afternoon they reached the order of bal
lotng, and after three efforts John Schey was
selected as chairman. For secretary seven or
| eight contestants were named, and the vote ia
vored each so closely that ballot after ballot was
| taken before Charles II. Budenbender, of Fort
| Wayne, was chosen. To prevent any of the pro-
ceedings whatever from reaching the public
stringent resolution of secrecy was adopted, and
all inquiries for information were met by mem
! Der after member referring to this action as
| cause for refusal to talk.
"Tbe resolution of secresy" inquired Jour
nal reporter, "does not. of course. apply to hold
| ing back the names of officers chosen?"
eyes it does, and will be in favor of punish
ing the man who gave out that much"
1t was poor chance for news seekers. but
about this time committee on plan of organi-
cation, consisting of one from each Congress
sional district came out of the hall and went
over to the city clerks Office for consultation
and the convention adjourned its afternoon ses
sion.
In the evening, while waiting for the report of
the committee, delegate introduced the coal
pool question, anu it opened the way for series
of speeches, which were declared out of order.
From the coal pool to an overhauling of corpora
ton attorneys was an easy STEP and remarks
thus came around concerning the senatorial
question and the workingman's place in politics.
delegate reduced his ideas to writing and of
fered resolution condemnng any attorney for
political preferment who had an interest in rail
road or corporation suits on behalf of capital 1t
did not reach a vote, for the presiding officer
ruled that under the order adopted not,-
ing could be considered at this meeting
except the question OF organizing
State assembly. For the time being
further political discussion was quieted, but in
ing senatorial fight. revealing disposition to put
the ideas expressed few minutes before the
floor into shape for definite action at future
meeting that would not be held down to the
strict limit OF the call Among the delegates
were several members elect of the Legislature,
and some of their colleagues tried to introduce
discussion on the measures that organized work
ingmen have been fostering for legislative action
but this. too, was postponed, under the rule to
do nothing except what the call for the conven-
ton stipulated
The constitution for State assem- blies has beer
formulated by the General Assembly therefore
| the convention had but little to do in this re-
spect beyond voting to accept or reject it The
committee of thirteen, however. reported sys-
tenn of bylaws for the State assembly and
recommended that congressional assent lies be
organized in conformity with that of the State.
No direct opposition appeared to this, but
after the report was read several motions
looking to postponement of final action were
offered, and failed to carry. Proposed amend
ments to the bylaws as submitted also showed
disposition on the part of many to defer action,
but late in the evening the convention decided,
by clear majority, to adopt the constitution
and bylaws for State assembly. A motion to
elect officers Immediately did not prevail, as
the delegates thought best to send
for the State charter before making
it's permanent official roster IL was
ther decided to meet again at early dav in
January for this purpose, and also to consider
the legislative objects of the Knights, which
of United States Senator
That this latter question has taken firm hold
on the Knights the purpose of one of the dele
gates, Duffy, from Brazil, to call meeting to-
day. after the convention adjourned, TO review
the senatorial candidates, is sufficient proof.
About a week ago circular resolutions adopted
by an Indianapolis assembly, opposing the cleo
ton of ex- Senator Mcdonald. were sent to each
one of the delegates. The phraseology was
by no means tender The resolutions spoke
of Mr.. Mcdonald as the favorite attorney of
corporations, particularly in regard to his con-
nection with the Toledo, Cincinnati & St. Louis
narrow gauge read. The Knights appear to
hold him largely responsible for the failure of
the workingmen in the employ of that corpora
ton to get three months wages that were lost to
them through a decision of the United States
Court 1t is urged by them that he has long
list of corporations in his clientage and that the
Toledo, Cincinnati e. ST. Louis concern Is only
a drop in the bucket of their wrongs, although
Mr.. Mcdonald has been favored with compE-
mentary stock in the company. He
for the Illinois Central and the
coal pool, fact that brings him into present OPP
position to the workingmen, because the latter
are making definite fight against those monop-
oes ut is because Mcdonald is the attorney
of the Toledo, Cincinnati g. St. Louis Railway
Company" said Knight, that w. j. Craig,
once it's receiver and now proprietor of the SEN
tinel, favors him for the Senate. The Demo
cratic and Republican Knights in the Legisla-
ture, as III DOW appears VIII support bnelr eau
Gus nominees but effort is being made to
hold an Independent caucus"
And who is talked of as the possible candi-
dateln
Nv. d. Bynum II the only ground of oppo
| sition the Mcdonald and Gray men have to him
is his remarks on Hendricks, there Demo
cratic knights to wish him God-speed. What
has Hendricks ever done for the workingmen
that we should grow frantic about criticism
corning him. As for Gray, the workingmen
consider him glossy politician The fact is,
neither the Democrats nor the Republicans can
afford to incur our displeasurs in the selection
of a United States Senator, if our support is ex-
pected in 1888 We want ali the members of
our order we can get in the Legislature. 1t will
not be safe for the Democrats TO interfere with
Mackey. He, if anything. is nearer to us than
Meagher, in whose behalf very little is said.n
The convention will review its action of yes
terday and adjourn today.