Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-12-07
The Rival Organizations
KNIGHTS AND FEDERATION HOLD
STORMY SESSION.
THE JOINT CONFERENCE
An Utter Failure and but Aggravates tho
Existing Bitter Feeiing-powderiy
Talks Freely Aboutthe orders
Past and Future.

COLUMBUS, o., Dec. 6.-The joint con-
vention of the National Federation of
Miners and Mine Laborers, and the Ma
tional District Assembly No. 1875, of tbs
knights of Labor, consumed the after
noon and evening. Mr.. w. II. Lewis,
master workman of Assembly 1876, was
chosen chairman, and Chris Evans OF the
Federation of Miners, secretary. The
afternoon session was occupied In an in
formal discussion of the situation.
The evening session convened at 1880
and Immediately voted by yeas and nays
upon the question of the new organiza-
ton, which was carried, only the yeas
voting. After a few wordy skirmishes,
the body went into executive session.
Great indignation prevails among the
knights of Labor, and only those who
are in favor of breaking loose from the
order were present in the evening,
Muster Workman WI Lewis has ten
dered his resignation.
General Master Workman Powderly
was summoned here by some of the Off
GERS of the knights of Labor Assembly
No. )35, who We're opposed to their order
forming q union with the Federation.
Mr.. Powderly arrived aud at once so
used his influence that the Assembly
voted not to form a union with the min
ers, but to fern q treaty of cooperation
and consolidation. Twenty-one Knights
seeded from the Assembly and Will
unite with the Federation of Miners.
Mr.. Powderly was seen by q United
Press man, who inquired;
How do you feel over the result of
the recent national assembly of the x.
of Lgn
Very much encouraged" said Mr..
Powderly. "We are wedding out the
Troublesome element. For some time
there has been an anarchistic element
in the order. These fellows, who are at
war with all of our institutions, feel
perfectly happy when they get into the
order and succeed in stirring up quar-.
rels. We have no room for airy kind of
anarchists. They have opposed me,
and it has been simply aquestion wheth-
come out ahead. Some OF them who
have been trying to raise hell nave gone,
and more are going"
1.-THE K. of L, have declined In mem
beers during the past year, have they
not, Mr.. PoWderiy?h
Eyes; such organizations have their
ebb and flow. The part we took in the
st. Louis strike gave us an advertise
ment or notoriety that we did not seek,
aud resulted a great influx of members,
/ which growth was not healthy. l was
opposed to q rapid growth, and | tried to
check 1t, but our membership grew to
700, 600, which number included many
whose. association we did net desire.
The membership soon began to decline,
and ran down to about half that number,
but now we are prosperous, and the
membership is growing. Before we
were well known the newspapers lied
about us and injured US
The conversation drifted to strikes and
MIR. Powderly said: "We are not opposed
to strikes, put believe in reason before
strikes--not strikes, then reason. Tho
strike is not AZ well understood as it
should be. Sometimes we are compelled
to strike, but it is often better to bear
the ills VIZ have than to fly to others
cooperation all around. / believe in the
education Of the workingmen. I do not
mean that every man should have a
college education, but hat he
should be educated to take .
broader view of affairs. In other
words, he should know more of the peo-
pie in other callings of life. and they,
especially the business men, should know
more about the workingman.n
ut is said sometimes, Mr.. Powderly,
that the Knights of Labor undertake tc
do work that could be better done by the
trades unions?',
There is nc conflict between tbs
knights of Labor and the trades unions
There is work for both TO do. We mus
co operate aud work together to accom-
plish objects that concern us both. There
Is more necessity Sat present for the re
peal of bad laws, than there is of the en-.
actment of new laws, and we should en-,
deavor to have legislation for our benef,
andthat can only be enacted through
cooperation with each cther.''