, 1888-11-16
HITTING HARD.
Master Workman -PeWderiy
Speaks His Annual Piece.
He Deals Some Severe Blows to
Malcontents in the Order,
And Advocates One Man Power
in the Management.

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. l5.-This morn
ing's session of the Knights of Labor
convention was devoted to further re-
ports and routine business. There was
time for but two reports before adjourn
men, those from Powderly and ex-Secre-
tary Litchman. Powderly's report took
t wo hours and Litchman followed for
one hour and twenty minutes. They
were not given to the press. Powderly's
address is a detailed review of the past
two years of his administration, and is
said to be an interesting document.
PowDERLY's ADDRESS.
The general master workman's report
| begins as follows: For nineteen years
the order OF the Knights of Labor has
maintained an existence in the face OF
circumstances most discouraging and dis
heartening, Struggling forth in its in
with opposition from those in whose be-
half it contended. Later on it faced the
world as the advocate of justice for the
poor, and found all who were enemies of
| the oppressed arrayed against it. In all
of the years it has had to brave the taunts
and insults of many whose interests it
served. Since the adoption of the declar-
alton of principles, this order has had the
opposition of all who despised their prin-
ciple, but the year whose ending we wit
ness at this session, has been most trying
and discouraging to those whose wish was
to see a harmonious blending of all classes
of workers beneath the shield of knight
hood. Many causes combined to reduce
the number of those who swore allegiance
to the Knights of Labor. The circuIa-
tion Of false statements concerning the
STRENGTH OF THE ORDER
drove away thousands who regarded
quantity as being superior to quality in
the make up Of membership of a labor
organization. When the rumor went
forth from the enemy's quarters that the
numbers were dropping down, these mem
bers who looked to others for what they
should do themselves dropped out also.
When the divergence of opinion between
the general officers became heralded
broadcast by those who always magniied.
those members who looked for unity
among the officers instead of doing their
duty by waiting until they could replace
these officers with others, withdrew from
the order temporarily. The story SO often
circulated, and so wonderfully magnifed,
of extravaganza of the general officers,
frightened others and they too stood still
until this session would assemble. In the
ranks were men whose love of self pre-
dominated, whose selfish desires could not
be suppressed tor the common veal, and
on no occasion would they consent to sink
self for the good of all. The oft told story
of their grievances sickened and drove
many from the order. With the execu-
tive board, whose members were not in
harmony with each other, who travelled
from place to place d%enouncing their fell
low officers end condemning actions they
were not responsible for. it could not Re
wondered at that we have lost in numbers.
THE IMMENSE STRIKES
which we're entered upon against the laws
and principles af the knights of Labor,
swept thousands of our members into
poverty and forced them from the order.
Add to all the cases the campaign which
has Just closed in the United States, 10
which members and assemblies were
pitted agrinst each other on a question
which never was made a part of the de-
claratlon OF principles on which they
could very well afford to differ without
differing to any point in the laws or rules
of the order, and we wonder not that
there has been a falling off, but that we
have passed through a crucial test with
the ranks unbroken, as we find them to-
day.
He stated that these trials resulted in
good for the order. and denied anything
like oficia! dishonesty, inviting thorough
examint on of all books and accounts.
Many changes were desired in the consti
tuition so as to avoid frequent changes
which are recommended at each sessio n.
He recommends the total abolition of the
sections which provide for the appoint
ment and government of examining organ
lZers. The law as at present formed is a
dead letter. An examination of sections
% and % will show that i'll addition to
his other duties the general master work
man is required to examine the statement
of expenses as reported by the general
secretary. TIE treasury department
should be held responsible for all money
passing through its channels, and the
general treasurer should be vested with
veto power so far as delaying payment on
bills of
WHICH He Is IN DOUBT.
is concerned. At present he thinks the
financial affairs are intrusted into too
many hands. A responsible party should
be intrusted with the anagene of the
f%inanres. After speaking of the high es-
timation in which the order is hell by
MANY outside OF it, aud showing the null
t%iplicity OF detail he must look after. be
continue we have been treated to
many ~djSrourses the past year on The sub,
ject Of one man power. Tile chief trouble
with our order is because OF the lack Of
one man power. Our power has been
divided. in the past. and it has worked
injury to us. The will of this order
! crvstalized into law and imprinted uror