The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-19
CHAIRMAN IRONS.
HE Is q Candidate for Powderly's Place-His
Opinion of His Superior.

He Is a Candidate for Powderly's Place-His
Opinion of His Superior.
Et Louis Globe Democrat.
! Chairman Martin Irons was attired yesterday
regardless Of expense, aud wore a festive air ap-
tpropriate to the presence OF the gay spring
weather. The foundation, so to speak, of his
costume was black broadcioth suit, with a low
cnt dress vest exposing shirt front in which
gsittered three enormous studs. From the bot
tom button of his vest depended colossal gold
watch chain, adorned with fob larger than a
silver dollar, and antique coin sleeve-buttons
fastened his cuffs. He had on standing collar,
and newly blocked out, mutton-chop side whisk
erB of English cut bristled upon his cheeks In
his new raiment he was loquacious and to a
friend, gentleman from New York, whom he
encountered near Hurst's, he said:
Il am going to sue the papers for libel that
have cast reflections upon my personal charac-
ura OF the strike by Powderly and others, and
have come In for little more abuse than am
going to stand"
How about the story that you are candidate
for Powderiy's placer was asked.
.Wel." replied Mr.. Irons, with an Lam the
lands of my friends expression, 81 have received
great many letters urging me to be candi-
re, and there seems to be general feeling
nong the Knights that l must make the race.
'sf course, my duty is to serve the order in what
ever capacity they desire"
'sWould Won accept if n0minatedW
''Yes. 1t would be an honor that would es-
teem."
SIT has been stated that at the next conyen-
zion of the order steps will be taken to so amend
the bylaws as to place the power of ordering a
strike out of the hands of the chairmen of dis
lfriet assemblies and vest it in the chief execu-
tive, or general board. What do you think of
s4hat9"
81 know It'll" exclaimed Mr. Irons excitediy; 81
know such a scheme is on foot, and shall fight
iis with all my energy, and so will my friends.
don't believe in centralizing the power on one
man. / believe in diffusing it more than it is
now, and making It impossible for the chairman
Of a joint assembly to order strike unless each
local assembly votes in favor of It, We have had
an example of the evil of placing too much
power in one man in the case of Chief Arthur, OF
the engineers
ssWhat do you think of Mr. Powderlyg"
81 think he is an honest man." replied Mr..
Irons, with considerable feeling, ''but believe
that he has acted unwisely in the strike. Look
at the effect of his Judgment! Why, as a mat
ter of fact il is costing the order to-day more to
maintain the meE out of employment than it did
TO keep up the strike. | say he is honest, mind
you, but he has acted mighty queer
SIN what way has he acted queerp
sIn every way. He began to talk about arbi
Aration the minute the trouble came up on the
Missouri Kansas & Texas. He wanted to arbi-
trate with the Missouri Pacific officials. who had
nothing to do with it. Afterward, when / saw
that the roads were combined secretly against
the workingmen and as bluff stated that
would declare general strike, he stepped right
in and said no, that shouldn't do it. And tina
isn't all He began arrangements for arbitra
ton without even consulting me. was no. con
sidered in the matter at all
should he have seen you irst?'
.'Of course. am, by virtue of my position,
the chief of the order here. His conduct in
ignoring me was not that of a gentleman. 1t
was discourteous in every particular. Now, I'm
getting the blame for his management. But.
never mind / am going as delegate to the
next convention of the Knights. and / think ]
shall be able to set myself right upon the floor
there. / think that it will be seen by what is
lone there that the Knights indorse my action u
Mr.. Irons also stated that he would leave
shortly for the East, where he would lecture
upon the labor question. It was intimated in
Ibis connection that his errand would also in
clude little looking after the chances in con-
nection with his candidacy for general master
workman.