Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-22
POWDERLY'S ENEMIES ACTIVE.
They at Last Succeed i'm Making Them
selves Felt In the Assembly.

An unread communication from Philadelphia
to the general assembly of the knights of labor
regarding Barry's charge that district assem-
bly, "a, of East Saginaw, Mich. had been
dissolved to defeat him, caused the introduce
ton and adoption of \ motion at Indianapolis,
yesterday, for the appointment of a committee
to investigate the methods of the general Off
GERS. In the debate that ensued over the
method to be pursued in appointing the CON-
mlttee more opposition to Powderly wasshown
than has appeared on the floor of the general
assembly at any time since the convention was
called to order. The denial of Barry's charge
OF improperly in dssolving district assembly
"a, OF East Saginaw. Mich, was made by ex-
Secretary Litchman, on whom that charge re-
'nected. Mr.. Litchman secured formal denial
from the Philadelphia Office, and with this he
took the floor in his own defense. He claimed
that there were but four locals in the district
when he took away its charter, while five is
the minimum allowed for such organizations.
5t.lmme diately Delegate Crowell who is a clerk
IN the mead office at Philadelphia, stated that
he had been ordered to demand the return of
the charter of the said district. and that there
appeared to be but four local assemblies as
had been stated by Mr.. Litchman. However,
upon investigation, he discovered that there
L
the attention of the head clerk (dr. Rowand)
to this fact, but he gave it no heed
Mr.. Lltchman at once asked, IF my head
clerk gave it no attention, why did you not
come to me with the facts?
Because" replied Mr. Crowell. ''clerks in
the general Office are not permitted to approach
general officers at all, and even head clerks are
not allowed to talk to general officers except at
certain hours"
This disclosure was followed by others even
MOI 4 c+of, 20 l..
ell finally moved the appointment of a COM
mittee of three to proceed at once to Philadel-
phia to investigate the charges made.
w. L. Lewis, of Pittsburg. master workman
of the Miners assembly, and chief opponent in
the convention of Mr.. Powderly. demanded the
immediate appointment of the committee, and
that Geographic order to take charge of all
books. &c, in the general Office be telegraphed
to some reputable Philadelphia lawyer. His
motion to that effect was defeated. The mo-
ton to appoint the committee was carried
As substitute for the many suggested amend
ments, it was moved that the incoming general
executive board take charge of the matter.
This brought the matter down to a question
whether Powderly and his friends or his op-
ponentS should appoint the committee, and the
motion was lost by vote of so to SO. All the
delegates (146) were not present, and so close
vote might not be had on any other OCCASION
STU, MIR. Barry and his friends are somewhat
exh1larated over the result. The refusal of the
SeHerdi assembly u take action upon the prop
osition that local assemblies do not accent a
lower scale of wages than demanded by the
trades-unions occasioned some disappointment
to those delegates who are members of trades
assemblies. They wished to strengthen the
relations between the two organiZa tons and
express the fear that this will have an adverse
effect
The Introduction of resolution to the effect
that committee of five be appointed to wait
upon the Federation of Trades at their meet
ing at st. Louis December 5. to consider the
proposals for the amaigama ton of the two or
ders, brought on discussion in which twas de-
veloped that amalgamation was not desired
MIR. Powderly took the floor to explain that
efforts were now being made to bring about "a
cooperative relation between the two organi-
cations. and while not mentioning the question
OF amalgamation he argued i'll favor of cooper
alton.
Mrs. L. NJ. Barry introduced resolution to
place the general assembly ON record in favor
OF compulsory education