The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1886-07-23
KNIGHTS AT WORCESTER.
A STRANGE STORY OF A GREAT
TRADES UNION SCHEME

For Which Scheme Defeat Il Predicted
Labor Inh"enO In State Politics.
Bracket for GOvernor.A More or
Less Accurate report Of the Conven-
tion.
WORCESTER, Mass, July 60
The quarterly convention of district No.
3O Knights of Labor, was convened in
Mechanics hall. The deliberations are
secret, and even members of the order who
are not delegates are excluded. There are
800 assemblies in the district and an att nd
ance of 1,0O0 is expected. 1t is estimated
that 100000 knights will be represented.
The district includes the whole state of
Massachusetts, except Lynn, Brockton and
few towns adjoining those places. Charles
H Litchman Of Marblehead presides and
George 4. McNeill is district secretary.
The convention will continue for three days.
The Boston Journals correspondent sends
1t this dispatch: The convention will deal
with the questions of gravest moment to the
order, and its action will probably be of
vital effect upon the national organization
At the opening session there appeared the
first outcropping Of scheme to supplant
the present Knights Of Labor organization
of the country with a combination of ma
tional trades unions. 1t is this movement
which has been creating internal dissensions
in the Knights of Labor councils during
the past few weeks, and which led Mr.. Pow
derly to warn the districts to send none but
true Knights of Labor to Richmond in Oc-
tober next. The leaders in the scheme are
Messrs. McNeill, Carleton and Foster of Bos
ton, or District 80, and Mr.. Quinn, of New
York. Other prominent knights here who
oppose the innovation state that the above
named gentlemen attempted to introduce
the idea at the Cleveland convention, but
they were successfully opposed by Mr.. Pow
derly, District Master Workman Howes
Mr. Litchfeld, of Marblehead, and others
Well-posted delegates state that John Howes
who resigned as master workman of this
district not long ago, took that action be-
cause Of the alleged unloyal acts and influ-
ence exerted by Messrs. McNeill, Carleton
and others, in promoting their scheme He
charges and the matter will be investigated
by the present convention, that Mr.. Mcneil,
secretary and treasurer OF the district, has
influenced men to join trades unions rather
than Knights Of Labor assemblies At all
events the scheme Of trades unionism is the
great issue before the convention now sit
ting in secret session here, and there is to be
a bitter struggle during the next three days.
1t is also proposed to divide district 80
into four districts. J. Y. "A. bfack55t Is
said to be favored for governor.
WORCESTER, Mass, July 81.
Most of the day was devoted to the trades
union scheme The de, 40 was sharp and
significant The matt,r was brought to
head by charges of conspiracy against the
Knights of Labor organization brought
against George E. McNeil by John Howes,
who recently resigned as master workman
on account of the alleged treachery of Nc
Neill, Carlton and Foster of the executive
board. Mr. Howes claimed that the scheme
which until now had been secretly pro-
NOTED, was nothing less than treacherous
attack of the most seditous nature upon the
Knights of Labor organization He announced
very emphatically that he should withdraw
entirely from the order unless Mr.. McNeill
and his trades union associates were deposed
from the executive board or expelled from
membership. This announcement was re-
ceived with something very like consterna-
tion, for there is no more influential member
of the order in New England than Mr..
Howes. He is strong friend of Mr..
L IOWutIly diiu oil cdIHcSG duVOCdC6 OF the
Knights of Labor movement in its present
form.
Master Workman Litchman supported
Mr.. Howes in his position He explained
q little more fully than the day before
the incipient movement at Cleveland
by Quinn Of New York. McNeill
and Foster. Mr.. Litchman said he dis
covered that Mr. Quinn was pushing a
scheme to overthrow Mr.. Powderlv as mas
ter workman, and that thereupon he refused
to have anything more to do with him. Mr..
Litchman further warned the delegates
that ths movement being led by Mr.. Nc
Neill and his associates was the greatest dan
ger which had yet threatened the knights
of Labor organization. II not at once
nipped in the bud it would certainly disrupt
the entire order.
Messrs. McNeill, Carlton and Foster made |
vigorous defense against the charges
brought by Mr.. Howes. They denied that
the trades union movement was in any
ense antagonistic to the best interests of the |
laboring men of the country, which they
have sincerely at heart. The present |
Knights of Labor organization, immense as |
it is, lacks cohesive power, and the adoption
OF the trades union plan tfsy propose, be.
fore 1t is too late, would avert collapse of |
the labor forces as now arrayed against bet
ter organized capital
The debate at times was hot and passion
ate, and the convention manifested its SYM
pathy with speakers on both sides from
time to time. The temper of the meeting as
a whole, however, seemed to be in sympathy
with Mr.. Howes
Mr.. McNeill insisted on the acceptance of
hiss resignation as secretary and treasurer.
The convention adjourned for brief recess,
but reassembled an hour later, and began
to electioneer for the choice of delegates to
the national convention to be held in
Richmond next October Before the elec-
ton of delegates Senator Robert Howard,
OF Fall River, was elected honorary fore
man to fill the vacancy caused by the eleva
ton of Worthy Foreman Litchman to mas
ter workman on the retirement of John
Howes. The convention then elected by
reclamation John Howes, of Worcester,
George McNeill, of Cambridge, Frank K.
Foster, of Haverhill. A. A. Carlton, Philip
]. Byrnes of Marlboro, Mrs L. H. Shute,
Of Haverhill, and Charles H. Litchman, of
to attend the national conven-
tion. This left vacancy of sixty eight,
and these will be selected from list
Of 200, which will be presented to the