Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-15
THE KNIGHTS CONVENTION.
The Finances I'm u Bad Shape and a
Heavy Falling Off I'm Membership.

Treasurer Turner, in his report to the gem
eral assembly of the Knights Of Labor at In
dianapolis yesterday, gives the receipts of the
order for the year ending June 80, 1888. at
900, 507.09, and the expenditures the same In
q supplementary report, up to October 81, he
shows that the receipts for the four months
since June were $50, 591. 70 and the expenditures
$40, s20.62 The report says the membership
has decreased 5000 during the year. and the
receipts are now insufficient to meet expendi-
lures. The treasurer continues: I'm nv opin-
ion reduction of $4,000 in the expenses can
be accomplished without detriment to the
order, and therefore recommend. first, the
abolition Of the mileage paid to representa-
tives; second, the consolidation of the offices
OF general secretary and general treasurer;
third, the reduction of the general executive
board to not more than five members; less, if
possible"
At the end of June, 1887, the order was
s5.792 ahead OF its condition one year later,
Mr.. Turner says: "On June 80, 1888, our bal
ance was S164.s6, with bills to the amount of
S922I due and unpaid; October Il. 1883, there
is balance of S46, with S2,ss7 due and I'M
paid bills"
STARTLING ALLEGATIONS FROM MRS. BARRY.
Mrs. Barry, who has charge of the female branch
OF the knights, made report of her investiga-
tions and recommendations for the ameliora-
ton of the condition of working women in va
rious parts OF the country. After speaking of
her trips through Pennsylvania, Mrs. Barry
says: The violation of every law in regard to
the employment of women and children in
Pennsylvania is to be met with Oh every hand,
and 1t Is my earnest request that every Knight
OF Labor IN Pennsylvania will give his support
to that which have prepared and will have
presented at the session of the coming state
legislature for the establishment of factory
inspector law on behalf of the little ones of this
rich state, 100000 of whom arc deprived of the
privileges of common school education, and
$4,000 of whom are employed in its work
shops, factories, mines and mercantile indus
tries. There are many evils attendant upon
the employment of children, particularly girls,
which leads to misery, ignorance and despair.
custom is rapidly increasing in this country
which means shame, dishonor and humiliation
to manhood, and 1 here and now appeal to
every father within sound of my voice to be
watchful and wary of his little daughter if she
small one, either-where she Is made to under
stand that the price of her position is that she
stand in with the boss
MANY may ask why I do not give name
and locality. First, because those who resent
such perncious approaches shrink from giving
publicity to their humiliation. and those who
submit will not make their misfortunes public
until, perhaps, they cannot longer hide their
shame. In very many instances facts were
given that were blood-curdling, but no affidavit
would be made, and neither myself nor the
order was in position to stand a libel suit
with all the power Of wealth against us where
with to influence decision against honor and
truth
1t is expected that the case of Barry, the ex-
PEELED member of the general executive board,
will be discussed to-day
The report of J. W. Hayes, who succeeded
Charles II. Litchman as general secretary in
September. will be presented this morning. He
gives tabulated statement of the membership
showing 5,666 local assemblies in good work
ing order, with total reported membership of
259.51S and 81. 800 not reported July 1, 1887 The
membership. according to this report, was
45l, l79, showing loss in one year of not less
than 1884,