The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-23
KNIGHTS AND SOCIALISTS.
Powderlys Followers Begin an Active War
fare Against the Supporters of Socialism.

CHICAGO, Aug. O. 1.-The Daily News of to-
city have finally engaged in battle with social
ism in their own ranks The fight began a
month ago, but so well trained were Mr.. Pow
derly soldiers that it has been kept from the
public until to-day, although known to the rank
and file of two entire assemblies. The trouble
began Immediately after the Haymarket riot
Many of the officials of the Knights had before
taken counsel concerning the dangerous
foothold the Socialists had obtained in the
order. Leaders in the two socialistic
assemblies, however, kept their members aligned,
and no reasonable cause was given for attack.
The two assemblies most feared by the admins
tration in this district which is No "a, were the
Coopers', No 2309 and the Mixed Assembly, No.
1907. The eoopers had leader in Geo. Schill
ing, a pronounced Socialist No. 1907 had Par
sons, now under sentence of death for murder,
Joseph Gruenhut and others. These mon knew
the advantage of remaining allied with pow
erful and respectable organization, having
the sympathy of the reading public.
When the bomb exploded in Haymarket square
the Knights of Labor everywhere demanded
that the good name of tbs order be in some way
redeemed from the taint Of dynamite The re-
suit WAS the giving to the public of the resolu-
ton of July 2. Anarchy was denounced, and the
order openly condemned the work of the Hay
market assassins So severely did they arragn
the perpetrators Of the bomb-throwing that
Schling and Gruenhut could longer
restrain their followers Assemblies
2309 and 1907 The two assemblies
most infected with Socialism complained to the
general officers. This gave j. B. Murphy, the
master workman of District "a. opportunity
TO do what he long had desired to do-to suspend
the two assemblies. This he did with the ut
most dispatch. He cut them off from all hene-
fits Of membership in the order, and sent official
notice of his step to the general officers. The
assemblies appealed the case to the
national executive board That body,
it is stated. appointed Mr. Carleton their
grand lecturer to proceed to Chicago to take tes-
timony in the case He came, ostensbly to in
vestigate the Mccormick troubles, and gave that
matter some attention. Mr.. Powderly himself
it is reported came secretly to the city and
stopped with friends, that he might personally
examine into the cause of the trouble and the
remedy. None of the persons most interested
would say anything which would pass
suit of the investigation. 1t is
quite certain, however that the Knights in Chi
cago mean determination of socialism. On
Wednesday next the election Of delegates to
Richmond will occur In the canvass, which has
been going on for some time, the fight has been
between those who support Master Workman
Murphy In his movement against socialism, and
those whose sympathies with the two ostra-
cised assemblies, and indirectly with Parsons,
Schiling and Gruenhut. The election, il is gener
ally believed, will result in an emphatic indorse
ment Of Mr.. Murphy's action in suspending the
socialistic assemblies.