The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-11-20
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
Powdedy will Undoubtedly be
His Own Successor.
ENTIRE NEW CONSTITUTION
viii be Proposed Powderly Dc.
nounccs Newspaper Article and
a Lively Session Follows--vcry
little business Transacted.

INDIANAPOLIS, IND, Nov. l9.-The de.
sire OF the delegates to the General AS
sembly of the Knights Of Labor to con-
tinue 7. V. Powderly as their chief has
been expressed to him formally. The
seven delegates who represent the Caua-
dian assemblies called on him and asked
him to accept the Office once more. He
gave them to understand that he would
do so, providinghe could choose his own
advisers on the General Executive Board.
Everything indicates that he will be
given his wish, and there is now only q
difference OF opinion regarding the way
that it shall be done.
Under the circumstances, Mr.. Pow
derly will undoubtedly continue in
office and will choose his own cabinet.
Canada wants to be represented iii the
General Executive Board; the South has
like desire and n movement is on foot
looking to the selection of some repre-
Sentative business man.
1t is reported that u proposition look
ing to the formation OF an entirely new
constitution has been made to the Cen
eral Assembly and it is being consider
ed by the proper committee. Mr.. Bar
ry has ready another installment OF his
attack on the Powderly administration
and it is said that he will keep up his
denunciation in the form OF long arti-
cles for several days to come. This is
his way Of keeping before the public
and preparing the way for the new or
der which he proposes to establish.
The morning session was devoted TO
matters from the Committee on Appeals
and Grievances. William Gleason had
been expelled by District Assembly No.
"a, Of Chicago, for improper conduct OH
the floor OF the District Assembly, and
he appealed to the General Assembly,
claiming no Jurisdiction. His appeal
was sustained, and he was reinstated.
At the afternoon session no actual
business was completed, although alive
ly theme intecc led the delegates.
Last week NJ. Detwiler, editor OF the
Knight Of Labor, u Chicago publication,
was in this city in his individual capaci-
ty Of editor and llember Of the order,
after which his paper is named, and Of
which it is not the Official organ. On bis
return home, Mr.. Detwiler wrote an edi-
torial which appeared in his publication
on Saturday, and was read here to-day.
This leading editorial was an attack on
the character and position of this Gen
eral Assembly, stating that Mr.. Pow
derly is the ruling mind; that the coz
vention was packed in the interest OF
OF the General Master Workman, and
that Powderly and Litchmal were afraid
OF publicity, and therefore both OF them
were ready to make peace, and promptly
did so at the first chance.
Powderly took the floor and made
vigoi IS denial and deDunciation OF the
whole matter. His speech was pointed
and was greeted with frequent and
hearty applause. He had introduced
and referred TO committee, q resolution
to the effect that wheneveEa member OF
the order shall, through the public press,
make accusations of misdemeanor
against members Of the order without
having first sustained the accusations
before the proper court Of the order, he
lays himself open to immediate expul-
sion by the General Executive Board
without trial. Mr.. Powderly supported
this resolution in his speech, and ex-
planned that all such matters should be
brought before the proper tribunal and
not given to the public first.
Ex-Secretary Charles II. Litchman
followed Mr.. Powderly in another hearty
denounciation OF the editorial and a
denial OF his statements. W. I. Lewis,
the Master Workman OF the Miners As
sembly, who has been considered an op-
ponent OF and competitor for first place
with Powderly, was prompt and en-
phatic in his remarks.
John L. Lee, of Philadelphia, Master
Workman Of the Railroaders, said that
il the stories were true, every member
OF the order wanted to know It, but they
wanted to find it out in the way provided
by the laws OF the order.
Others followed and all denied and
denounced, while none defended the
editor in his criticisms. The stand
taken by Mr.. Lewis in this case is re-
garded as significant and Powderly's
friends hope that it means that the min
ers will not desert the order. There
has been great fear OF that and it will
not be fully settled until the meeting to
be held by the miners Mt Columbus, o.,
on December 5.
BY a secret circular, Mr.. Powderly has
asked them to remain in the order and
try to add to 1t those miners who are
out. In like manner, Mr.. Lewis replied
to Mr.. Powderly, saying the Knights Of
Labor must do something for them il
they wanted:to keep their present men,
bership among the miners. There, the
matter stands, as it has for two weeks,
and action here is expected to influence
the Columbus meeting next month.
Mr.. Lewis has kept quiet and took no
stand for oragainst the change, but some
hope his action to-day is indicative of
his probable action.