The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-11-16
FIGHT OF THE KNIGHTS.
POWDERLY'S REASONS FOR THE
LOSS OF MEMBERSHIP.

Harmony in the Executive Board -
Litchman's Report.
INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 15-The delegates
and Others who are in attendance on the
Twelfth general assembly Of the Knights
OF Labor, have settled down to work, and
the time away from the convention is
largely devoted to committee work. Still
much gossip is INDUCED in regarding
the probable outcome of the meet
ing, both as regards the election
of officers, and as to the future success OF
failure of the order. Instead of repeating
his former plain refusals to continue to
serve, Grand Master Workman Powderly
now simply refuses to speak, and this fact
Is considered an evidence of willingness to
accept once more.
THE OTHER OFFICERS
The selection of the other officers depends
on Mr.. Powderly's decision, and the action
OF the general assembly as to reduction of
the force. 1t is claimed by those who pro-
fess to be informed of the facts
that the cause fer delay in Mr..
. sPowderlys report was that he had given
ex-Secretary Litchman severe handling,
and that Mr.. Litchman in his reply had re-
were finally brought together, the matter
amicably arranged, and the delay has be n
caused by the reprinting of reports with
'the savage" part eliminated.
ONLY TWO REPORTS.
Only two reports were heard at the
morning session, both being very long.
That of Mr.. Powderly was two hours long,
while Ex-Secretary Charles Litchman tooa
and hour and twenty minutes Of the time
OF the convention. on account of certain
little unnecessary formalities having been
overlooked.
Mr.. Powderly's report was withheld until
late in the afternoon. Secretary Litch-
mans report was in manuscript, but was
held back for some reason.
PowDERLY'S REPORT.
Following are extracts from Mr.. Pow
derly's report:
The year whose ending we witness at this
session has been most trying and dscouragng
to those whose wish was to see harmonious
blending of all classes of workers beneath the
shield of knighthood. Many causes combined
TO reduce the number of those VINO swore ale
glance to the principles of the Knights of Labor
Their circulation of false statements concern
ing the strength of the order drove away
thousands who regarded quantity as being
superior to quality in the makeup Of the mem
befship of labor organization.
DROPPING OUT.
When the rumor went forth from the enerny's
quarters that the numbers were dropping down
those members who looked to others for what
they should do themselves, dropped out also
When the divergence of opinion between
the general officers became her
aided broadcast by those who always
magnified, then the members who looked for
unity amoug the officers, instead of doing their
duty by waiting until they could replace these
officers with others, withdrew from the order
temporarily. The story SO often circulated
or fraltx fffaI fhn
gance of the general od1cers, frightened others,
and they, too, stood still until this session
would assemble.
LOVE OF SELF
In the ranks were men whose love of self
predominated, whose selfish desires could not
be suppressed for the common veal and on no
occasion would they consent to sink self for the
good of all. The oft-told story of their
grievances slckened and drove many from
the order With an .cutive board whose men,
bers were not in harmony with each other
who travelled from place to place denouncing
their fellow officers and condemning actions
that they were not responsible for, it could not
be wondered that we have lost in numbers.
UNwIsE STRIKES.
Unwise strikes, which were entered upon
against the laws and principles of the Knights
of Labor, swept thousands of our members
into poverty and forced them from the order
the aau campaign m which has as'5 Just ehsseS eiosed
in the United States in which members and as
semblies were pitted against each other on a
question which never was mad5 part of the
declaration of Principles and on which they
could very we'll afford to differ without differing
as to any point in the laws or rules Of the order
and we wonder not that there has been a falling
off, but that we have passed through a critical
test with ranks as unbroken as we find them
to-day.
DISHONESTY DENIED
He states that these trialshave resulted in
good for the order, and denied anything
like official dishonesty, inviting a thorough
examination of all the books and accounts
Many changes are desired in the constitu-
tion, so as to avoid the frequent changes
which are recommended at each session.
After speaking of the high estimate in
which the order is held by many outside of
it and showing the multiplicity of detail he
must look after he continued:
We have been treated to many discourses dur
ing the past year on the subject of one man
power.
LACK OF ONE MAN POWER.
The chief trouble with our order is because Of
lack OF one man power Our power has been
divided in the past and It has worked injury TO
us. The will Of this order crystalized into law
and imprinted upon the pages of our constitution
by the representatives here assembled should be
carried out TO the letter. To do this the duty
is assigned to one man to execute these laws.
Where many execute the laws themselves they
always fail; where each man interprets the law
and confusion. Vest in one man power 10 ex-
ecute laws which many favor and pass upon;
allow no interference with that man in the per
formance Of his duty, and you may expect
results. Allow every self-seeker, every knave,
every disturber and faut-hnder TO interpret the
laws, and we.have anarchy pure and simple
PANDERIEG TO IGNORANCE
Pandering TO ignorance by some has given
rise to an impression that man who rallied
against one-man power was friend to the
masses. No greater mistake was ever made.
After remarking the influence of che or
der upon public opinion, he takes up pend
ing questions, saying:
The most important questions that can come
before this body for consideration are those OF
finance, land and transportation. These great
and solution. They must be settled by the
people, for il is not the interest OF the politician
TO do so. Those who control our public high
ways are reaching out with hand OF steel to
grasp and control tho government itself, and IL
is indeed battle for supremacy.
CLASSES VERSUS THE MASSES.
II the masses remain idle and Indifferent the
classes will rule through the power which comes
to them. through banking railway and land
should not neglect. 10 select the sections which
l have pointed out and place them prominently
before our members for discussion. II we do our
duty, and IL the proper steps are taken,
we can compel the campaign OF 1922 TO be
fought on these lines, and we can so induce the
people on these issues that they can discern for
themselves the difference between the real
friend and sham when he presents himself
and asks the sufGrages OF the people
EQUAL PAY FOR WOMEN.
Mr.. Powderly advocates equal pay for