The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-11-16

ptuub Oh IOMuSlly uSSiSloA saAA Wv
action Of the General Assembly as to the
reduction OF the force.
As has several times been remarked
in these dispatches much depends on
the action of the convention whether
the order will thrive or dwindle away.
While many are anxious about the
outcome, they express firm belief in
the long life and great prosperity Of the
organization. Others, and there are
many OF them not delegates, are really
firm in the opinion that these are the
last days Of what one OF them calls 81
gigantic confidence game" These lat
ter think that the overthrow OF Powder
~ aud his associates in the General EX-
ecutiye Board is essential to the good OF
the order, and some OF them assert that
an investigation OF the inside-workings
at the general offices will reveal an aston
ishing state OF affairs. They claim that
the General Executive Board have been
living at the expense Of, and not in the
interest of the working classes and
promise big sensation before the Gem
eral Assembly adiourns.
tits claimed by those who profess TO
be informed OF the facts, that the cause
of delay in Powderly's report was that
he had given ex-Secretary Iitchman a
severe handling and that Litchman in
his report had returned the attack with
interest.
The two were finally brought to-
getherand the matter amicably arranged,
and the delay has been caused by the
reprinting OF the report with the Savage
part eliminated"
Harry ]. Skehington, Of Cincinnati,
claims that the membership OF District
Assembly AIS of that city has been lille
gaily inflated to allow two representa-
tives instead of one, and he took occa-
sion TO say SO on the floor OF the General
Assembly, but was over-ruled by Mr..
Powderly.
This mornings session was devoted to
further reports and routine business.
There was time for but two reports be-
fore adjournment at noon, these being
from General Master Workman Pow
derly and exSecretGry Litchman.
Mr.. Powderly's report took two hours
OF time and Mr.. Litchman followed for
one hour and twenty minutes.
Later in the afternoon Mr.. Powderly's
report was given to the press. 1t begins
as follows:
To he officers and Members Ctihe General assembly:
For nineteen years the order Of the
Knights OF Labor has maintained an ex-
istence in the face OF circumstances the
most tiiscouraging and despairiBg, strug-
Cling forward in its infancy, beneath a
veil OF secrecy. 1t met with opposition
from those in whose behalf it contended.
Later on it faced the world, as the advo-
cate OF Justice for the poor, and found
all who were enemies Of the oppressed
arrayed against it. In ali OF these
years it has had to bear the
taunts and insults OF many whose
interests It served. Since the adoption
OF the declaration OF principles ten
wears ago this order has had the oppo-
sition OF all who despised those princi-
ples, but this year has been the most
irving and discouraging to those who
wished to see the harmonious blending
of all classes OF workers beneath the
shield OF Knighthood. Many causes
combined to reduce the number OF those
who swore allegience to the principles
OF the Knights OF Labor. .
The story so often circulated and so
wonderfully magnitied OF the cxtrava-
gance OF the general officers frightened
many, and they stood still until this ses-
sion would assemble. In the ranks
were men whose love Of self predomina-
ted, whose selfish desires could not be
suppressed for the common veal, and
on no occasion would they consent to
sink self for the good OF all.
The oft-told story OF their griev-
ances sickened and drove many
from the order. With no Executive
Board whose members were not in har-
mony with each other who travelled from
place to place denouncing their fellow
officers and condemning actions that
they were not responsible for, it could
not be wandered at that we have lost in
numbers. The unwise strikes which
were entered upon against the laws and
principles OF the Knights OF Labor
swept thousands OF our members
into poverty and forced them
from the order. Add to all oi
these causes the campaign which has
lust closed in the United States, in
which members and assemblies were
pitted against each other in question
which never was made part OF the
declaration Of principles and on which
they could very well afford to differ
without differing with any point as in
the laws or rule OF the order, and We
wonder, not that there has been falling
off, but that we have passed through tue
crucial test, with the ranks unbroken
as we find them to-day"
1.-THE treasury department, he says,
should be held responsible for all money
passing through its channels, and the
the general treasurer should be vested
with the veto powers so far as delaying
payment OF bills on which he is il
doubt is concerned. AT present he
thinks the financial affairs arc intrustet
in too many hands. One responsible
party should be intrusted with the man
agement ofthe finances. Our power hai
been divided in the past and it hai
worked injury 10 US. Where the many
execute the laws themselves they Away
fail; where each man interprets for him
self there is sure TO be babel OF sounC
and confusion.
"Men have been placed in office will
! me, with whom would not for q mo
ment associate in private business en-
terprise with any hope Of success, ye
for the sake Of the good that might FOL
low silence, forbearance, under such CiI
cumstances, has been observed by me.
No hesttanCy, he continues, or mawk
ish sentiment should sway US at this SCI
sion. Let us at once and forever put
! beyond the power Of any man 10 fgh
Q this order orits principles and remain
member. II they will tear down Il