Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-11-21
Only One PoVderly,
And the Knights Determine to
Stand by Him.
MANY CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES.

All Made In the Line of the Master Work
mans wishes-His Power Largely In
creased-Other Representative Gather
fngs-Meetings of CsttIemen in Chicago
and St Louis-Three Thousand Western
ers Call for the Opening OF Oklahoma.
INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 2l.-In the general
assembly of the Knights of Labor yesterday
the committee on laws submitted a partialre-
port recommending tnat section Is OF article
3 of the constitution be so changed as to pro-
vide for the following officers: General mas
ter workman, general worthy foreman, gen.
eral director Of woman's work, general ex'
ecutive board of FIVE including tue general
master workman Gnstead of seven, as now;
general cooperative board of three, includ-
ing the general worthy foreman Gnstead OF
six, as at present., and general secretary
treasurer INSTEAD of two separate officers, az
now) 1t was further recommended that ali
these officers should be nominated upon the
floor of the general assembly and elected by
ballot, majority of the vote to make the
choice. The term of office was fixed at two
years, as now. The duties of the various
officers were specifically named in the re-
poi I, tuose VI bue Stueihi 'hnsDci WI hhioh-
including his acting as ex-officio chairman
of the general executive board The general
worthy foreman is provided with the chair
manship ex -ofiicio of the general cooperative
board
In selecting general executive board the
general master workman is to submit TO the
assembly the names of eight knights eligible
to the position, from which the assembly is
to choose four members of ths board The
general cooperative board, it is provided in
the report, shall be composed of three
knights, taken from list of four to lie sub
mitted by the general worthy foremaa.
All the changes except that relating to a
consolidation of the offices OF general secre-
tary and treasurer were strongly opposed
The friends OF Powderly, however, urged
that general master workman could not
accomplish the result desired unless be could
have men about him who are In harmony
with his views Charles H. Litchman
favored the amendments, and George A.
Schilling led the opposition, but the conf
mittees report was adopted by vote Of 9j
to 81 without change.
At the afternoon session resolution from
the committee on laws embodying the sug-
RbSIlOl u Iuhl IuO tliilc VI Tue I'LL
nual meeting be changed so as not to come
directly before or directly after elections was
reported upon adversely, and the report was
approved.
The committee also recommended that
article %, of the constitution be amended so
as to permit the general master workman to
| fill by appointment all vacancies occurring
| in the general executive board; that the gen
eral secretar y-treasurer be required TO sub.
nit weekly instead of daily financial
statements; that any member of
| the general executive board may
audit the accounts of the general secretary
treasurer, instead of requiring the general
master workman to do the work, as now
that the secretary treasurer shall furnish
quarterly itemized accounts of the financial
| condition If the order and that he shall
send out quarterly list of local assemble,
and their standing in the order; that the seal
of any general officer may be declared va
cant by majority vote of the general as
sembly; that the condemnation of the provis
ional committee by General Master Work
man Powderly he endorsed. The report al
to all these matters, together with severa
others of minor importance regarding tbs
government of the order, was concurred ii
by the assembly
AS It's concluding work Of the day the as
sembly approved every decision by Genera
Master Workman Powderly during the las
year.
Barry last night gave the public an oPel
letter in which he reiterates all the charge
be has heretofore made against Powderl,
and his followers He will organize a new
order to be called the Brotherhood OF Unite,
Labor