The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-11-22
BARRY GETS In A BLOW
AT LEAST ONE OF HIS CHARGES
is TO BE INVESTIGATED.

Seven Instead of Four Assem- blies in
the Dissolved District of MichiE an
The Fact Ignored by Litchn1an' 5
Chief Clerk-The Test Vote an Eye
Opener for the Powderly Faction.
INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 21.-An unread conf
munication from Philadelphia to the ger
eral assembly of the Knights of Labor re-
gardiag Mr.. Barry's charges, tina District
Assembly No. "A of East Saginaw, Mich,
had been dissolved to defeat Mr. Barry,
caused the introduction and adoption
of motion for the appoint
ment of committee to investigat
the methods of the general officers.
This action was taken after a good deal OF
debate, and then still more trout le-
some question arose as to who should nD-
point the committee Mr.. Powderly beiug
one of those who would be investigated, re-
fused to take the responsibility. This in
vestigating committee will be appointed,
ut the method Of appointment has not yet
been decided upon.
REPORT OF THE LAW COMMITTEE.
The committee on law brought in re-
port on various matters of interest to the
order generally, giving adverse advice on
the pr ruposals handed in, and the report was
adopted
The proposition TO organiza central coun-
ellis in cities / aving a number of dis trict
assemblies was referred to a special COM
mttee, Of which j. w. Randolph (colored),
from Mississippi, Is chairman.
As the IN re complete story of tho morn
ing session came out late in the afternoon,
it appeared that there had been a much
warmer time, and more opposition to Mr.
Powderly than had appeared on the floor of
the general assembly at any time since the
convention was Gale to order little more
than a week ago. The opponents of the
administration seized an unexpected oppor-
tunity to make point, and made the most
of it.
LITCHMAN'S DENIAL.
The denial of Mr.. Barry'S charge of inl-
propriety in dissolving District Assembly
No. "a of East Saginaw, Mich, was made
by ex-Secretary Litchman, on whom that
charge reflected Mr. Litchman secured a
formal denial from the Philadelphia Office,
and with this took the floor in his own de-
fense. He claimed that there were but four
locals in the district when he took away its
cnarter, while five is the minimum allowed
for such organizations; and he further
stated that he knew of no attempt to wipe
out the district because it was supposed to
be favorable ia Mr.. Barry.
SEVEN ASSEMBLIES IN THE DISTRICT.
Immed ately Delegate Crowell, who is a
clerk in the head office at Philadelphia,
took the floor and stated that he had been
ordered to demand the return of the charter
of 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 were
actually seven, and he added: Il called the
attention of the head clerk, Mr.. Rowland,
to this fact, but be gave it no heed"
DIsTAsTEFUL DISCLOSURES.
Mr. Litchman at once asked: eff my
head clerk gave it no attention, why did
you not come to me with the facts9'
Because replied Mr.. Crowell, "the
clerks in the general office are not permitted
to approach the general officers at all, and
even the head clerks are not allowed to talk
to the general officers, except at certain
hours.n
This disclosure was followed by
hers even more distasteful to
Mr. Powderly's friends, Mr.. Crowell being
ready for every question, and answering it
in manner not at all satisfactory to the
ouestioner. He finally moved the appoint
ment of committee of three to proceed at
once to Philadelphia to investigate the
charges made. Various amendments were
offered as has been already stated.
LEWIS ONE OF THE LEADERS.
w. T. Lewis of Pittsburg, m ster work
man of the Miners Assembly, and the chief
opponent In the convention of MIR. Pow
derly, took a leading part, and demanded
the immediate appointment Of a committee,
and that telegraphic order to take charge
of all books, etc., in the general office be
telegraphed to some reputable Philadelphia
lawyer. His motion to that effect was de-
feated. The motion to appoint a committee
was carried, but as already stated, no way
to appoint it was adopted. AS substitute
for the many suggested amendments, it was
moved that the incoming executive board
take charge Of the matter.
A TEST QUESTION.
This brought the matter down to a ques-
ton whether Mr.. Powderly and his friends
or or his opponents should appoint the COM
mlttee, aud the test vote was anxiously
noticed. The motion was lost by a
vote of 80 to So. 1t was a close
fight, and for once the administra-
tion majority did not materialize. How
ever, as the vote shows, all the delegates
Q46) were not present, and so close vote
might not be had on any other occasion.
Still Mr.. Barry and his friends are some
exhilarated over the result.
TRADE UNIoNIsTs DIsGRUNTLED.
The refusal of the general assembly to
take action upon the proposition that local
assemblies do not accept lower scale Of
wages than demanded by trades unions,
occasioned some disappointment to those
delegates who are members of trades
assemblies. They wished to strengthen
the relations between the two
organizations, and expressed fear
that this will have an adverse effect.
They say that nothing has been yet accom-
plshad by the convention TO improve the
relations between the two orders, and many
believe that at least a portion Of the trades
unionists, including the miners, will desert
the Knights of Labor. On the other hand,
there is a firm belief in MIR. Powderly's
ability to lead the order safely out of all of