Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1886-08-30
A WILD, WEIRD TALE.
An Alleged Attempt to Snuff Out MIR.
Powderly's Light.

An Alleged Attempt to Snuff Out MIR.
POwderly's Light.
PTrTsBURG, August 90 The Leader
this morning publishes the details of q
plot within the Knights of Labor to as
Sassinate Mr.. POwderly. 1t is claimed
that three years ago the Home Club, q
New York wing deadly opposed to the
Grand Master Workman, hired couple OF
New York thugs, who, following their in-
structiOns, one night went to the Fulton
Street ferry, where they awaited for Mr..
POwderly. He was to have addressed Il
Brooklyn meeting that night, but for some
unexplained cause was delayed. This, no
doubt, saved his life. Two weeks ago last
Thursday h. of l.. committee met at the
Occidental Hotel, corner of Broome street
and broadway, and began an investigation
4 few days later quarters were secured on
Forsythe street, thus throwing the repOr-
tiers of thescent The committee is COM
posed OF seven persons. The names
OF four are: General Bridge
water, Pennsylvania. John Ellsworth,
Ohio: Joseph Mansion, Troy n Y, and
Charles Zimmerman, of Trenton, y. J.
POwderly WAS himself before the commit
tee this week, and it is said his evidence
created a sensation. The committees re-
port will be sealed, and none will know its
contents until it is read at the October
convention in Richmond. Va, when COM
plete disruption Of the order is expected to
result.
TOa Led,ier reporter, who has Just re-
turned from New York, after spending sew
al days Investigation of the story, Ed
ward Goldsmith, a member of the cooper
ative hat firm at 25O5 BOwery, New York,
said: "POwderly lacks nerve, He is act
ually afraid to come To New York. lie
came here when called, and stayed but a
short time"
John c. Caville, General Auditor of the
Knights of Labor, is credited with having
told 4 PittSburgcr that the opposition had
threatened to Kill Powdcrly, and that an
attempt to throw him oil North River
ferry boat had been made ut the General
Assembly meeting ut Cleveland.
John Morrison, OF State Assembly 126,
OG New York, issued circular giving the
and object OF the Home Club
He stated that Il man named Horn and
+. b. McCiuire, of District -, Of New
York, induced him to join league in lSS!
for the removal OF POwdcrly, Layton,
Litchmon, lockwood, Harry Beugugh, A.
T.. Rankin, James Campbell, OF the Win
dOw-GlaSS Workers Association, Miles
and Others who were then
prominent in Knights of Labor ranks.
The plan Of this combination was Tor all
with one exception, To act aS u unit,
the one taking the opposition
side, under instructions. 50 aS To avoid all
show Of cOlluSiOn. \ secret oath bound
group WAS formed under the name of the
Home Club. The avOwed object Of the
WAS. in the words of the agree
ment, to bring the order back to its origin
al secrecy and to study the labor question
and place it before the order from radical
standpoint. In order To accomplish these
measures it was deemed necessary to get
ride of the general officers. Within Il few
months the general officers got wind of the
and proceeded to make it S',ltry
for the gang. At that time K. ID. L.yton,
of PittSburg. was Grand Secretary, and he
succeeded in eXpelling Morrison and Others
whObelOnged To District - OF New York.
Since that time this district has become
celebrated rs the power manipulated by
the Home Club.
The best account of the operations and
strength of District 10 is given by John
Morrison, Of Assembly 10, who was an
original member OF the Home Club, and
who mt last exposed the combination. Yes
terdav Mr.. Morrison, while lying sick ut
his residence on West FOrty-third street,
New York. gave the Ledder reporter
the startling information that the entire
Knights of Labor organization is
ON the brink of dissolution. The Home
Club" said Mr.. Morrison, lis 4 power
which will be OverthrOwn, bnt | fear that
the organization will split. District l9
now has sixty thousand members in good
standing. They claim greater strength,
but We know they have sixty delegates
elected for the Richmond meeting. Then
will come the greatest internal war ever
seen among labor unions. The districts OF
Troy and Albany have instructed their
delegates tO vote against General Secretary
Turner for any office, and ii he is found
to he implicated in the Home Club
they will vote for his expulsion. From
all over the country come reports OF dele
oates being instructed to down the Home
Club and demand the expulsion OF every
If District 10 is dOwned ut
the leaders will bolt the con
yention and walk out with sixty thousand
members to form what will be claimed as
the straiyht-uut Knights Of Labor under
the old rules. with Oath-bOund SccreSy.
n District 10, under the Home club,
should win, the other districts
will leave the Knights OF Labor and form
=, nrw combination with the trades unions.
Hence, it looks now rs if 4 split was lney-
liable The investigation now going on Is
something of a sham, and will likely re-
sult i'm a mere whitewaShing, because OF
the seven members four are known To altll-
itate with the Home Club. Twas calledaS
a witness. and was on the stand tor two
d,yS The mass of testimony now gath
cred is enormous, and will occupy at least
a week at the Richmond meeting.
J. l.. SULLIVAN
III