Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-11-21
POWDERLY PREVAILS.
The One Man Power Plan
Adopted. s-ss-a .ssss
AN OUTPOURTNG OF ELOQUENCE.

v
Important Changes Made In the constF4
tution-A Lively Day in tho General
Assembiy-Barry Fires Another shot In
an Open letter.
INDIANAPoLIs Nov. 2l.-One man power
was established in the Knights Of Labor al
the session Of the general assembly, and mas.
much as General Master Workman Powder
ly's terms have been acceded TO there is no
doubt but that he Is the one man.
The whole days session wns taken up by
constitutional lawyers who were interested
in changing the fundamental law OF tho
order The committee on laws started In aa
by reporting in favor OF the consolida-
tion Of the offices Of general secretary and
general treasurer, making the general execu-
tive board four, besides the general master
workman, instead OF six, as at present, and
the general cooperative board two besides
the general worthy foreman, instead OF six.
as at present. When the lawyers talked
themselves out the voting delegates got q
chance, and the changes recommended by the
committee were approved by the necessary
vote. The terms Of the officers were con.
tinued at two years, though a determined
effort was made 70 have it changed TO ona
year.
Tho tug Of war came when the method of
eecting the general executive board was rS-
ported. The committee suggested that tha
general master workman should at tho SAND
session that he was elected present 60 tha
general assembly the names Of eight men,
who are eligible to the office, and from Theses
names the four members of the general ex.
Lob hsla
the flood gates of eloquence again, aud for a
couple Of hours the one man power advocates
and those who were opposed to ono man
power had IL hammer and tongs A propo-
sltion to increase the number OF names on tho
list to twelve was made and rejected, and
then the opponents of Mr. Powderly took a
new tack, aud agreed In favor Of letting him
appoint the general executive board at once,
and then to take all the responsibility on his
shoulders The original proposition Of tha
committee was adopted by moro than thd
required two-thirds vote
Among the other changes in the constitu-
tion decided on are these: The general mas
ter workman is given power TO fill all vacan-
cies among the general officers, even TO thu
general executive board He is relieved from
the duty Of countersgning financial reports
and orders for supplies; the general secre-
tary treasurer Is instructed 20 make an item
lied financial statement Of the affairs Of the
order TO all district assemblies and national
trade assemblies every quarter, and TO in.
clude in the report the standing OF all local
assemblies attached 10 the various districts.
AZ any regular session Of the general assem-
bly, the seat Of any general officer may be
declared vacant by majority vote Of tho
general assembly. The committee recon-
mended that that portion Of the general
master woritman's report relating to tho
provisional committee be approved, and ID
was done unanimously. All Of the deci-
sions Of the general master workman sinoa
the Minneapolis session were approved
The committee on cooperation made its
report in the afternoon. The only feature of
it was the disapproval Of a proposition to sea
aside $50, 600 for cooperative purposes. For
manifest reasons tho report Of the committees
was concurred in. The committee on mile
age reported that 81 ,5a3 was required TO pay
the mileage Of the delegates. Delegate Dell
warte, Of Belgium, who has Travelled T. 15g
miles, and who gets 1882. 50, heads the list
This ended the days proceedings
Mr.. Powderly, when asked who he intended
to put on the list for members Of the general
executive board, said; Don't you think is
would be well 10 wait until | am electedl I
may not be wanted, you know
The committee ON appeals and grievances
is engaged now on the cases Of II. j. SlzefIing-
ton, of District Assembly No, As Of Cincin4
natl, and Of the contesting delegation from
District Assembly No. 40 Of New York.
I. b. Barry has issued an open letter to the
delegates to the general assembly Among
other things, he says: I'm violation Of all
laws Of knighthood and justice, you have
denied me fair trial or an opportunity ta
be heard in my own defense. Your action
is contrary 70 all law and decency. You
have outraged justice, lowered your man
hood and misrepresented your constituents
by your vote
He goes on to make charges that "s1 $50 OF
povertys money was paid to Tom OiReilly
on Powderly's order when O'Reilly was not
in the employ Of the order nor had be done
any service He Is able he says, to
prove that members, locals and districts wers
bulldozed into electing administration dele
gates to the general assembly, and that ths
records were 50 manipulated as to allow dis
tricts representatives which were not en-
titled to it.
II can prove he says, "that the orders
money was spent in the campaign by general
officers. At the same time they were threat
ening to take away the charters Of local
assemblies whose members were exercising
the right of membership. l can prove that
no employer was ever so cruel in victimizing
or seeking to victimize those who differ with
him in opinion as were the general officers
can prove that the charges published in
The Journal Of United Labor about me ara
absolutely untrue