The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-03
PowDERLY AND MS KNIGHTS.
The General Master Workman Indignantly
Denies that lie Is Seeking Political Honors.

CLEVELAND O., June 1.-The Knights of La
Dor are in high degree of excitement tonight
To-day three assistants to the executive board
were elected, and tomorrow the remaining three
will be put through. The three men elected
to-day were: Jeremiah Quinn, of New York,
VIM. Fl. Mullen, of Richmond, Va, and Hugh
Kavanaugh, shoemaker of Cincinnati The
''home CLUB" so-cal.ed, of New York, are cred
tied with the election of Quinn. Delegates to-
night made serious charges against some of the
officials of the order, and declared that General
Master Workman Powderly was scheming for
political honors. They said that Powderly
wanted to be Governor of Pennsylvania, and
that he was conducting the order on Roman
Catholic principles
Mr. Powderly, at 10 o'clock tonight, gave the
following statement to the press: II know moth
ing about the home club nor do know any
thing concerning its aims or methods have
heard that it's purpose was to create a fund to
build home for aged members of the order
Not being a member Of it. cannot say
whether it ever inspired any oppos-
ton to me. That / have been opposed
as general master workman by those who are
said to be members of it is true, but that was
years ago. and their opposition was not secret
to me- They told me painiy and emphaticaly
that they would oppose me. If such an
institution existed, it must have been
exposed by member of the club
who exposed it is a perjurer. 1t is now exert
ing an influence in this convention l was not
opposed by any member, clique, ring. or club
when was elected general master workman for
the seventh time. The same men, who were in
attendance at Hamilton are in attendance at this
convention. If they are aiming at
Powderly's defeat WHY did they
not attempt it9 We will leave this
city, after closing one of the most successful
meetings ever held and all the money that the
enemies of the knights of Labor can spend in an
effort to break as up will be spent in vain. The
events with which the home club is charged
transpired years AGO. If they conspired against
me then, it seems to me that that was the
time to expose its workings, that l
might guard myself against them. To
bring it up now seems like holding
a post-mortem examination four-year-old
corpse, and in a corpse of such an age tho ex-
posers will find only dust The first question
asked has always been what was the price paid
the traitor Men who will leave their homes and
come here to lobby the General Assembly for such
a disreputable purpose deserve the cenusre of
every true Knight of Labor The Knights of Labor
ask no mans birthplace. nor the altar at which
he kneels. My religion is my own, and will al
low no man to NEEDLE with it; nor will inter-
fere with any religion. Members of the order
everywhere know that l am Cath
olic. and I consider it beneath my dig
nifty to consider this matter further.
have no political aspirations, nor wood 7
accept the nomination for Governor of my State
if it were rendered to me unanimously. If
were candidate. however. would stand upon
my merits as citizen, and not upon my connec-
ton with the labor movement my religion.
The workingmen of this day and generation are
too intelligent to be deceived or prejudiced by
any such silly trash"
1t was learned tonight that the ballots for the
three assistant members Of the executive board
resulted as follows:
First ballot-James p Quinn. of New York,
65; A. A. Carleton, of Boston, Ca Second bal
lot-W. Fl. Mullen, of Richmond, 70; Geo Muir
ray, of New York, 40. Third balot-Hugh
Kavanaugh, of Cincinnati, II; j. B. Buchanan,
of Denver. 81
Nothing was done to day. except the election
The General Assembly will probably djourn to-
morrow. 1t is said this evening that the publi-
cation of the secret circulars issued by Mr.
Powderly was being investigated The majority
of the delegates do not believe that Mr.. Powderly
had anv hand in their publication, and expressed
thamsayas tn that eff fOrcihlv