The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-01-26
A DISSATISFIED KNIGHT
Who Can See No Good In Last Win
ter's Legislative Enectments.
District Master Workman Beaton's
Stump Speech at WatervIIle.
The Dolngs of the Year Among Maine
Knights of Labor.

SemDly hnlgntS Oh LdDOr OF MAINE ueiu
their annual meeting here yesterday and
today. AbortsSO delegates werel present.
Master Workman Beaton, in his annual ad
dress, recommends that the per capita tax be
increased to at least u cents per quarter.
This would only be an increase of "a cents
per year, while the locals have been relieved
of tax of 81 cents per year-namely 60
cents assistance fund and "a cents co-opera-
tive fund. He says: 81 do not deem it ad
visable to provide an assistance fund,
such and the abolishment of that fund
since October has materially affected our
district treasury. Hence the work of the
district must of necessity be crippled for
lack of means to carry on the work, and i
see no more equitable plan than an increase
of the per capita tax. Even with the assist
ance fund cut off since October, think the
financial secretary-treasurer's report will
show we have enough money to pay our bills
now" Master Workman Beaton expresses
dissatisfaction with the enactments of the
last legislature in the interest of labor. He
Is not suited with the ten-hour law or the
fortnightly payment bill, or the act to abol-
ish Imprisonment for debt except in cases of
fraud. He charges that the labor bureau is
in the rut of party politics, and complains
because uniform State text books were not
adopted.
He says: "a duty to the working people
of Maine prompts US to sound an alarm.
call attention to an innocent amendment to
chapter 141 of the Revised Statutes. OF
course it must be harmless to the wage
workers, for the Republican party dearly
lOVac tho unrkinOman nf Maipa IL iS known
as chapter 143, AN act to amend section 4
of chapter 14l of the Revised States relating
to yagrants'
The amendment is in the following la
guage; And all idle and disorderly per-
sons. having no visible means of support, who
neglect all lawful calling or employment and
mis-spend their time by frequenting disor-
derly houses. houses of ill-fame, gaming
houses or tippling shops; persons convicted
under the provisions of this section, may be
committed to said house (meaning house of
correction for term not exceeding six
months
"The import of that law is that poor work
ing men who engage in strike and have not
visible means of support during the struggle
can be sent TO the house of correction term
long enough to take tAem out Of the cOntr0-
Yersy as factors, on the complaint of the en-
ployer or his agent. The word 'disorderly'
in the language may be easily overcome by
goading the strikers to even words of abuse.
"Under that law when the corporations
deem it necessary to c0erce their help by
lockout, it may be construed as neglect of
lawful calling or employment If the help
does not submit to the cut-dOwn and 60 to
work. and the help may be incarcerated for
six months. Whom the Gods destroy they
first make mad
AS to the condition of the order in Maine.
Master Workman Beaton says: "The work of
visitation by the District Master Workman
outlined by this district assembly at its last
annual session does not seem to me to have
proved as benefciala as it ought. The District
Master Workman cannot intuse life into
whole district, neither can the local Master
Workman keep life in a local without the as
sistance and personal work of the members.
They can only advise, suggest, or direct the
work, and if done at all it must be done by
the rank and file.
MANY of our locals would quiver, gasp
and die if few leading spirits were taken
away from them Realizing the necessity of re-
vival III the work OF organization and educa-
ton the District Executive Board have petit
toned the General Executive Board to come
to our aid, by placing a general lecturer In
the field in this district during this winter,
and we have been informed that our petition
has been granted, ,and!that Mr.. A. A. Carlton
of the General Board will undertake that
work in Maine"
The Master Workman sent out circulars,
inquiring of each assembly how much wages
had been advanced in its locality since July.
1885. The replies showed the following:
Auburn, about 10 per cent
Bar Harbor 5 per cent
Bath, 25 cents per day on an average.
BiddefOrd, 10 per cent in the cotton mills.
Brunswick IN all branches about 10 per cent.
East Hampden, about 10 per cent.
Halowell, unskilled labor 8 to 10 per cent,
skilled labor more.
Kennebunk, about 10 per cent
Lewiston, about per cent
Lisbon, 1712 per cent.
Livermore, Slight advance in manufacturing.
Pittstor, nearly 25 per cent. on an average.
Rockland, 20 cents pes day for every day EN-
ployed.
Saccarappa 10 cents per day.
South Berwick, 10 to 15 cents per day.
West Buxton, per cent. In factory 20 in saw
mill.
There have been no cut downs reported.
Gone to Pieces.
DOVER, N. H., Jan. 25-A year age Dis
trict Assembly No. 179, Knights of Labor,
which comprises the local assemblies in
Strafford, Rockingham and Belknap coun-
ties and part of Maine was one of the most
prosperous labor organizations in New En-
gland and included over 80 local assemblies,
with membership of 1000 Its annual ses-
sion was called here today and only four del
gates appeared, with the district secretary
and one member of the district executive
board. District Master Workman Rich and
District Financial Secretary MarstOn failed
to appear and no business was done. AS no
annual session was held the. district assem-
bly, will cease to exist and the local assem-
blies that wish to exist must become an an
mex to district assembly No. 12 with head
quarters at Manchester, now the only dis
trict assembly in New Hampshire. Internal
dissensions among the leaders is said to be
In of