New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-20
POWDERLY'S ULTIMATUM.
BE MUST CHOOSE THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
PROMISING THE CANADIANS THAT ON THIS
CONDITION HE WILL ACCEPT A RE-ELEC
TIoN-sETTLING THE CASES OF
DIsCONTENTED LEADERS.
fsr TELEGRAPH TO THE Tribune

TIoN-sETTLING THE CASES OF
DISCONTINUED LEADERS.
,Br TELEGRAPH THE rBrBusEI
indianapolis, Nov. 19.-The conservatives in the
Knights Of Labor have thus far stood loyal to Pow
derly and his administration. The questions they
have been called upon determine have been largely
Of personal nature. AS between distontented lead
ers Of factions and Mr.. Powderly, tho overwhelming
majority of delegates supporting the present General
Master Workman. But there matters pending
OF more serious nature than any question: of person
aly.
Mr.. Powderly has informed the Canadian delegates TO
the convention, who waited on him In body, mat
he would accept a reelection II the General Assembly
would authorize him TO select his Executive Board OF
four members Canada and the Southern States are
reported be demanding representatives In the Board
Few of the present members OF the knights OF
Labor may the order because Barry is thrown
overheard, because District Assembly 80, " New
York. is having internal war; But from dispassion-
ate view of the relations Of the Knights o. Labor, and
some OF the trades assemblies, 1t appears that pro-
trsced union of the elements now bound together is
almost out OF the question.
There are two great organizations Of mine laborers
the National District Assembly 135 (which is or
ganizcd under the Knights of Labor including 10000
miners bona fde membership, and the National Fed
Grafton of Miners and Mine Laborcrs, which has no
official relations with the Knights of Labor. About
two weeks ago General Master Workman Powderly
issued secret circular to the assemblies attached to
the Miners National Trades Assembly, No. 1885, W.
T. Lewis, master workman. For a text 1t had
newspaper statement to the effect that the members
Of the assemblies through deegaes, would meet tho
delegates OF the Federation Of Miners and Mine La
borers at Columbus, Ohio, December B. and were
willing to sever their connection with the Knights of
Labor and go into a organization, separate from
both the Knights and the Federation. Powderly's
secret circular virtually informed the knights that
Master Workman Lewis endeavorng to lead them
out of the order without their knowledge. In the
letter Mr.. Powderly wrote:
The question Of desertng the Knights Of Labor should
be left entirely officers. This order was not
built in day, for chis play Defeat and disheart
enng failures have met the builders at every STEP but the
work has and the miners themselves know that
every organization which they have belonged has mad
the discouagements To-day the prospects are that
bitterness of the will vanish and it is not fair
to these miners whom represent to ask them TO step
back again the bottom OF the ladder and begin anew 10
build organization OF that craft simply because the
officers differ to methods. The trouble Will face
the miners in OF the knights OF Labor. II new
organization is formed 1t will have to fight Its way TO
where the Knights OF Labor now stand
This letter elected two replies from Master Work
man Lewis, one TO Mr.. Powderly, the other to tho
assemblies comprising the district In addressing
Mr. Powderly, Mr.. Lewis wrote:
Too well you know that the majority have gone. and
they have met in assemblies and adopted resolutions
to that effect They went individually silently as
they camo n and It is only known that they have gone
when the quarterly made. Those who have
gone had good for their action. and those who
remain arc hoping for something from this
order. The question of deserng the Knights Of Labor
Will Sot be ler entirely with the officers l. for one
shall advise them to leave but as you have invited
It. they shall Of the kindly interest that you
and your general board have taken in their
welfare. You might 90 tho ruined local assemblies
and the trades people who have left the order or an
answer; but Look ct your own homes. where. IN the
teory covrrf By Dfsts4cs Assembly No. 16, there are
about 40 900 miners. the oppressed and tyranny
ridden people in the United States the lack Of organza
tlon among whom helped to force the miners OF Lemgn
and Schuylkl work last winter. Out OF that vast
multitude Of working people District Assembly NO 10
has about 1000 5000 members. OF whom ABOUT Zooo
are miners having their affairs looked after by men VINO
dig coal in the courhouses and shoe and ciohine s'ors
For nearly two years has District Assembly NO. LOO
tried organize those men. and for nearly TWO years ~
officers OF District Assembly No. 10. backed by yourself
upon some nimsy pretext have defeated the "ofA u
organization .,,
While there reason to suppose that any soisnl
will occur in the present convention, unless sone'us
is done showing active interest III inc 'oa,
miners cause all Of District Assembly No. 13o Will
pull out Of the Knights Of Labor TO seek more CON
genial relations. There is unmlsakaoly lecnns
among the members OF those assemblies, which are
composed dstinctively of trades unions, that ue
Knights Of Labor not in sympathy Win .raueS
unions Mr. Lewis has offered resolutions WIN INC
support Of the trades assemblies, proposing .nat
committee of five be appointed TO request conference
at the next meeting OF the American Federation OF
Labor for the purpose of formulating some plan ior
an amalgamation by the organizations.
Another resolution that affords opportunity ior
vigorous discussion Is the following
Resolved That is the sense OF the General Assem-
bly, that national trades districts are contrary 10 tno
spIrit Of this order and that all National trades dis
further that the General Executive Board ana the
% the order shall hereafter interfere in trade
matters ~ a.,
such a resolution II adopted, would recall the
charters of many of the most vigorous disrc'S III o
order 1t IS out Of the question that 1t should pre-
vail vet It is understood to be the hope OF seVer Vi
the trades districts that they be released from oDhs@
ton to the Knights of Labor in this way; ,-. h,sr
The of William Gleason, Of Chicago eAteeo Dy
District Assembly No. "a, and Joseph W bi2o,nr Rnnd
! were dlsposcts Of The assembly, by the Barry
division established the precedent that the Executive
may rise superior to the written law in certain IN
stances The knights Of Labor law is that knights t
on trial must be heard before the court OF the iocai
assembly The committee, therefore, recommended
the Gleason that nasmueh as as his dsc,trnn trial
Of the district assembly expeng him DC ser set sfer
spirited debate This rcegates Gleason's case back
to the local assembly The charges' dsreS n pos1 Thu %
| General Assembly did not discuss the merits Oh inc
When Bloomer's case was reached tho committee
consistently reported in favor of reversing the decision
as he had not been expelled by the local sssempiy
lad sa tTal in his local court but being expelled
there the charges against him had been been preferred
| betore the General Executive Board The friends or
Barry saw their opportunity. However, the com.
mittee's report rejected and finally, by vote OF
fortyhve to Mr. sTs Ooer hes5 ,ssae sAPsS
was declared by the assembly 10 nave peeh JuSuhaoi'
THE PROPAGANDA ON THE KNIGHTa