The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-11-14
LABORS KNIGHTS IN CONVENTION.
Opening of the Annual Session at
indianapolis.
Master Workman Powderly Predicts
a Harmonious Meeting.
The Order FIourishlng With Three
Hundred Thousand Members.

INDIANAPOLIS. Ind, Nov. 13.-About the
hotel corridors this morning the delegates to
the twelfth General Assembly of the Knights
of Labor were busily engaged discussing
matters Of interest and Importance to the
order. General Master Workman Powderly
arrived early this morning and was soon
cl0seted with Acting Secretary Hayes and
other members Of the executive board until
the time of meeting. Conspicuous in the
lobby of the Grand Hotel was Thomas b.
Barry of Michigan, leader Of the fight against
Powderly. He talked freely, accusing the
present members of the board with extrava-
gance, mismanagement and other things,
heretofore published very generally. w. t.
Lewis of Pittsburg is about the only person
spoken OF as an opponent OF Powderly for
the chief place, and his opposition may not
ns. Of tbe are held
in Mansur Hail.
BY 10 O'Clock the delegates had begun to
assemble, and on their tables and chairs
found a concise little X. of l.. catechism for
use in educational work, and a circular re-
garding the trouble in d. A. 40 in New York.
This circular gave the proposal of one fac
tl0n for settlement and the action taken by
Quinn and party, when it was sent to them.
The plan was that all the suspended officers
and local assemblies be reinstated; that all
officers in the two organizations resign; that
a new election be held and a complete set Of
officers be elected.
1t was quarter past ten o'clock when
General Master Workman Powderly raped
for order and requested all persons not
regular accredited delegates to retire from
the room. The morning session considered
the report Of the committee on creden-
tials and any trouble that Is liable to arise
from contests. There are three lady dele
gates who are in attendance, and besides
there are other ladies present connected
with the order.
The afternoon session was devoted to the
completion OF the organization by the ap-
p0intment of committees. Reports Of general
officers and committees of the general exc
cutiye board will be heard tomorrow and
Thursday.
1t seems to be the unanimous opinion Of
those here that there will be a general Ie-
vision of the constitution Of the order, and
there seems to be demand for the reduc-
ti0n OF running expenses, which 1t Is pro-
posed TO meet in several ways, one by con-
soldating the offices Of secretary and general
treasurer, and also by reducing the salaries
OF all the officers of the executive board.
The delegates who constitute the present
assembly are all intelligent men, with right
and practical purposes.
Every year is the object of the order more
clearly defined. Its tendency was first
olution, and it had public sentiment
against it. The prevailing opinion was to
some extent justified by the known charac-
ter Of some Of its assemblies, but by the
action of recent general assemblies and the
stand taken by Mr.. Powderly against ex-
treme radical measures the order has not
only eradicated the prejudice of public senti-
ment, but has secured its approval as an or
ganiZatlon created for the education and ele-
vation of labor.
The general secretary's report will show
that the order has 100000 members in good
standing.
General Master Workman Powderly said
to-day that he saw no reason for the storms
predicted by many papers. There was no
cause for any serious trouble, and he antici-
pated an unusually large convention.
Thomas b. Barry the expelled member Of
the order, arrived in the city this morning
On the same train was George Schilling Of
Chicago, who is the recognized leader Of the
anarchist faction. The Chicago delegation
is sadly diminished. At the last general as
sembly there were dozen from Chicago,
and they formed the nucleus around which
the opposition gathered. The opposition has
virtually lost their strong delegation.