The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1886-06-03
Special Convention Of the General As
sembly Of the Order at
Cleveland.
Workman Powderly Delivers His Adj
dress Work Of the Convention
Mapped Out-Appolntment OF
Standing Committees.
h PROCEEDINGS.

union commit tee appointed at the late con-
vention in Philadelphia was ushered into
the room. The committee consisted of A. |
Strasser, President of the International
Union of Cigar. makers; William Weihe, of
the Amalgamated Iron and Steel Workers
Association; P. j. Mcclure, Secretary of the
Carpenters and JOiners' Union, and David
Boyer, of the Typographical Union. The
following preamble and resolution passed at
the Philadelphia conference discloses the
causes that lead to the present difficulties:
WHEREAS, 1t is the convict on of the chief
officers of the national and international
unions here assembled that, inasmuch as
trades unions have an historical basis, and in
View Of the success that has attended their |
efforts in the past. we hold that they should
strictly preserve their dist net and Individual
visable for any trades union to be controlled
by or to join the Knights of Labor in a body,
believing that the trades unions are best
qualified to regulate the r own internal Rf- |
ia RS. Nevertheless we recognize the solid
arity of all labor interests.
1t has become apparent that 1t
is the avowed purpose of a certain element
of the ghts of Labor to destroy the trades
unions, and his element cont nually urges
Knights of Labor. and makes it n point to
encroach on the legitimate mission of and
tagonism and provoking dissens ons in the
labor movement, to the delight and satisfac- |
tion Of the capitalists Of the whole country;
1OAhS PoA ~ WI
now becomes absolutely necessary to pre-
vent the continuance of this destructive
ternal relations between all the various
branches of organized labor; therefore,, be
Rcsolped, That we. the chief officers of the
var Gus trades unions here represented, do
hereby propose the following terms as q
the General Assembly of the Knights of
Labor; which meets next Tuesday at Cleve-
land.
l rT,Hn k~r,o .-.lx.r 80 60; xho ,oroyrk;or
were laid before the executive board of the
| knights of Labor, and the two bodies spent
the morning in discussing the subject. The
terms proposed by the trades unions were
not made public, but Mr.. Strasser says that
they outline a plan whereby the whole
trouble may be am'cably adjusted and under
which there will be harmony in the future.
About ITO delegates were present at $3.50
p. M. when the Assembly was called to
order by the Grand Master. Two of. the
delegates we're ladies, Miss Mary Hanifia.
of Philadelphia, and Mrs. Shute, of Haver-
hill, Mass. Mr.. P0wderly, i'm opening the
convention, did SO formally, reading no ad-
dress, and as 1t is a special session OF the
General Assembly, no reports were called
for and the call contained all that was
necessary to enlighten the members as to the
work to be accomplished. A committee on
credentials was appointed and Immediately
retired to the ante room.
At four o'clock a recess was taken, when
Mrs. Mary A. Woodbridge, recording secre-
tary of the National Women's Christian
Temperance Union, was introduced to the
convention and presented a letter from that
society, congratulating the Knights on the
temperance principles of their chief and the
temperance features of their organization.
Following the letter Mrs. Woodbridge made
= short address. MIR. Edwin Norton, a
leading manufacturer of Chicago. then
read a paper upon the subject of the forma-
ton of an employers association, to be
known as the American Manufacturers
Union, the object being to institute an or
ganization that can treat with labor unions
upon all questions arising between employ
ers and employees. 1t is hoped by this
means to arbitrate all grievances and avoid
strikes, boycotts and other disastrous conse-
quences arising from difficulties between
capital and labor.
The addresses presented by Mrs. Wood
bridge and Mr.. Norton were received and
laid on tile table until the committee on Gre
dentials have reported, when they will be
referred to the proper committees. At six
o'clock the committee Oh credentials pre-
sented their report, and soon after the con-
vention took a recess until nine o'clock this
morning.
SECOND DAYS SESSION.
CLEVELAND, o., May 27.-It was nearly
eleven o'clock yesterday morning before the
General Assembly of the Knights of Labor
was raped to order by Grand Master Work
man Powderly. In the meantime the dele.
gates congregated in groups in the hall and
corridors discussing labor topics. When
the call for the convention was issued by
Mr.. Powderly, he only enumerated five
causes of complaint that were to be adjusted.
These were boycotts, strikes, the Southwest
troubles, the relation of the Knights of La
Dor to other organizations and the institut-
ing of new assemblies. Since the delegates
have arrived many of them have plans that
they would like to spring upon the special
session. Whether these will be discussed
or laid Upon the table cannot be determined
as yet. One Of these plans is to agitate the
subject of the Government regulating the
railroads.
4 member, Mr.. Hammond, of Allegheny
. City. Pa, has prepared a long address upon
this subject and the delegate from his dis
) trict will try to secure a hearing for him.
1 The gentleman's address also deals with the
t profess of a National Arbitration Board.
, Another matter was made public by free
r discussion. For some time past the Elk
ecutive Board have not been satisfied with
q some of the organizers of the order, and
5 several rave had charges preferred and had
their commissions recalled. A number OF
, organizers are not giving satisfaction. SO tt
prevent hard feeling by removing these mel
it is proposed to have the commissions Of
t every organizer from the chief down re.
I called.
2 A reporter asked Nh. Richard Trevelick, thu
Chief Organizer. about the matter and thai
gentleman said: 'It is true that such
| plan is being agitated. Much of the troubl,
+ in the order rising from rapidly increasing
!, membership and the installation of our as
semblies is due to poor organization. It il
not the fault of either Mr.. POwderly or thu
Executive Board. In making appointment.
they must rely upon the recommendation
s of the District Assemblies. They do not
can not know all the men recommended
and appointed. A few weeks ago in on
city l met an organizer who, I regret to say
Is was under the influence of liquor. 1 asked
q him where he was going and he Informed m
i. that he was going to institute an assem-
: bly, of five hundred striking Polack
u and Hungarians. This is against tn
u rules of the order, as we can admi
o no strikers while they are out. [ told hin
y so, but he replied that he held a commission
as organizer and would do as he pleased.
told him he could institute the assembly
k but it would never receive a charter. Onl!
q few days ago at a reception rendered mt
by ladies an organizer was intoxicated. l
= would make hard feelings to ask for theil
. commissions, so it is proposed to make then
1 ante-up from the chief organizer down
This can be done by Mr.. Powderly alone
e by the Executive Board as much or by til
y Executive Board under instruction from til
General Assembly. The best way is TIL
latter, and l think it will be done in tina
manner. New organizers will be commits
stoned as fast as possible and will be selecte'
because of their fitness for the position"
3 The business of the morning session wa
the acceptance of the report of the commit
tee on credentials. The new delegates Wer
e then admitted to the hall and the obligation
e administered. Delegates were admitte,
only from such districts as were represente,
h at the convention held last year in Hamil
:, on, Ont, this being a special session of tina