The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-16
POWDERLY.
A Strong Address to the Knights.
He Attacks Vigorously the Enc
mics Of the Order.
Malcontents and Traitors De-
nounced in Scathing Terms.
Tho Order Suffers From Dissen-
sions Among the Head Men.
How the Internationals Schemed to So
cure Control--Words OF Admon-
ition-Report of the Chief
Secretary.

a INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Nov. l5.-The dele
, tgates and Others who are in attendance on
thetwelfthGeneralAssembly OF the Knights
of Labor have settled down to work and
the time away from the convention il
largely directed to committee work. Still,
much gossip is INDUCED in regarding the
probable outcome OF the meeting both as
regards the election Of officers and as 10
the future success OF failure Of the order
Two years ago General Master Workman
Powderly announced that he was begin
ming his last term Of office, and at the Min
neapolis convention last year he repeated
the statement In view Of these declara-
tions he might be thought to be out Of the
fight, but such is not believed to be the
case by many. Instead Of repeating his
former plain refusals 10 continue TO serve,
he now simply refuses to speak, and this
TACT is considered an evidence OF willingness
to accept once more, The selection OF
other officers depends on Powderly's de-
cision and the action OF the General
Assembly as TO the reduction OF
the force. As has several times
depends on the action OF this convention
whether the order will thrive or dwindle
away. While many are anxious about
the outcome, they express q firm belief in
the long life and great prosperity OF the
order. Others, and there are many of
them not delegates, are equally firm in
the opinion that these are the last DAYS OF
what one OF them calls "a gigantic conf
donce game" These latter think that
the overthrow Of Powderly and his associ-
ates on the general executive board Is es-
sential TO the good Of the order, and some
OF them assert that an investigation OF the
inside workings at the general offices will
reveal an astounding state OF affairs. They
claim that the general executive board
have been living at the expense OF, and
not In the interest OF the working classes,
and promise q big sensation before the
General Assembly adjourns.
Only two reports were heard at the
morning sessi0n-that OF General Master
Workman 4. V, Powdcrly and that OF ex.
Secretary Charles Litchman.
GENERAL MASTER WORKMAN PowDERLY.
The General Master Workman's report
began as follows "For nineteen years the
order ofthe Knights OF Labor has main.
tanned an existence in the iacc OF circum.
stances the most discouaging and dis.
heartening. Struggling forward in infancy
beneath u veil OF secrcsy, II met with OPP
position from those la whose behalf il con-
tended. Later on u faced the world as
the advocate Of justice for the poor, and
found all who were enemies OF the OPP
pressed arrayed against IL. In all OF these
years IL has had TO brave the taunts and
insults Of many whose interests II
served. Since the adoption OF tho
declaration Of principles, ten years
ago, this order has had the opposition
OF all who despiscd those principles, but
the year whose ending We witness at this
session has been the most trying and dis.
couraging 10 those whose wish was TO see
tho harmonious blending OF all classes OF
workers beneath the shield Of knighthood.
Many causes combined 10 reduce the num-
Der OF those who swore allegiance to thc
principles Of the Knights OF Labor. Their
circulation OF falso statements concerning
the strength Of the order drove away
thousands who regarded quantity rs being
superior 10 quality in the makeup OF the
membershipoi labor organization. When
the rumor went forth from the enemy's
quarters that the numbers were dropping
down, those members who looked 10 others
for what they should do themselves
dropped out also. When the divergence
--of opinion between the general officers be-
came heralded broadcast by those who
always magnihod, then the members who
looked for unity among the olllccrs instead
OF doing their duty by waiting until they
could replace these officers with others.
withdrew from the order temporarily.
Tho story, 30 often circulated and
30 wonderfully magni6ed, Of the
extravaganza OF the general ofllcem
frightened Others, and thoy, too, stood
still until this session would assemble. In
the ranks were mon whose love OF self
prcdominated, whose selfish desire could
not be suppressed Tor the commonwealth,
and on no occasion would they consent 20
sink self for the good Of all. Tho oft told
story Of their grievances sickencd aud
drove many from the order. With nm OK.
ccutiye board. whose members were notin
harmony with each other, who Travelled
from place TO place denouncing their iol-
low officers and condemning actions that
they were not responsible for, Il could not
be wondered at that we have lost In NUN.
boB The unwso strikes which were en-.
tered upon against the laws and principles
Of the Knights Of Labor swept thousands
OF our members into poverty and forced
them from the order. Add 10 all Of these
causes the campaign which has Just
closed In the United States, in which mem
bcrs and assemblies were pittcd against
each other on question which never was
made part Of the declaration Of pfin.
ciples, and on which they could very wcll
afford 70 differ without differing as to any
point In the laws Of the order, and va
wonder not that there has been q falling
OF, but that We have passed through tho
crucial test with the ranks unbrokon Us we
find them today"
After considering the charge that there
was too much onc.man power In the order,
and maintaining that there was not one.
man power enough, but that, on the con-
trary, he had been embarrassed by ma
lignant enemies In the Executive Board,
he proceeds
''rhc most important questions that can
como before this body Tor consideration
are those Of finance land aud iransporla-
ton. These great questions arc up before
the people for discussion and solution;
they must be settled by the people, for Il
IL not 20 the interest oi politicians 10 do
90. Those who control our public high
WAYS are reaching out with hand Of sloel