Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-05-05
POWDERLY,s ARMY.
A decrease of Nearly Half a Million in
Less Than Two Years.

~@Oco
When the Home Club" was at the
hight of its power its strongest opponent
among Knights of Labor was Joseph w.
Buchanan At that time he was resident
of Denver, He fought the club and its
methods at Cleveland, where the special
assembly of the Knights was held in the
spring of 1866. The club was then so we'll
organized that it gained many of its points
by main strength and others by treachery.
At Richmond, where the General Assem-
bly, was held in the fall of the same year,
the club was compelled to struggle desper-
ately to maintain its grip on the manage
ment of the order. The opposition had
been well organized, under very adverse
circumstances, by Mr. Buchanan and a
number of other prominent Knights, who
felt that the order should not be allowed
to die without struggle.
The opposition to Powderly and the
clique who supported him from selfish
motives put Buchanan forward as leader.
1t was at first intended 10 pit Buchanan
against Powderly for the latter's position,
but the writer of Secret circulars talked
so fairly, even beseechingly, that 1t was
decided to let him have a walk-over, and
put Buchanan in the field for Secretary
against Litchman. The latter, backed by
all the power of the administration, was
lust able to secure an election. He was to
do great things for the Order. The latter
RAPIDLY grew smaller under the rule of
such a combination as Powderly, Itch
man and Mcguire, and as much Of the bet
ter element had deserted to the Federation
of Trades before the last General Assem-
bly, was held at Minneapolis last fall, the
administration was able to handle it. 1t
even showed its teeth by attempting to
Gust Bailey and Barry from the General
Executive Board. In return for this these
two committeeman told some very I'M
pleasant truths about the character of the
management of the Order. Their disclos-
ures had the effect of still further decreas-
ing the membership.
Mr.. Buchanan was In New York Satur-
day. He IS now a resident of Chicago,
and while well-informed of the general
condition Of the Order can speak by the
card regarding its state in the West. He
said when asked for information on the
subject, that the Order was in bad way.
When the General Assembly met at Rich
mond the membership was $4,000; now
it was 100000. In 1886 the membership
of District Assembly No. "A of Chicago
was 10000; now it is 5000. Two years
ago the treasury of the Order was full OF
money ; now it was full of emptiness and
the General Executive Committee was
bothered to get enough money to defray
running expenses.
In what light was Powderly's recent re-
quest for a 15-cent assessment viewed =!
The members of the order had grown SC
distrustful of the management that very
few of them had paid any attention to the
request. Powderly had said that the
money was needed for educational pur.
poses Few believed him. 1t was gener-
ally known that the general treasury was
empty. 1t was known that the leaders
wanted money. At the last General As.
sembly it was decided that the delegates
to the next General Assembly at Indian
apolis should be paid by the General AS
sembly. Where was the money to come
from? That was a question for the Gen.
eral Executive Committee to answer, and
it would prove a puzzler. The order
seemed, in Mr. Buchanan's opinion, TO be
losing strength in proportion to the gain
made by trades unions. The latter were
booming in the West, but there was nc
boom for the Knights of Labor, nor would
there be until different set and sort OF
men were placed at the head. Mr. Blu.
chanan has been the recipient of much
kindly attention from the Knights of La
Dor during his visit to New York, but
none of his entertainers are members Of
the Home Club."-N. Y. Times.