New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-16
TO REFORM THE KNIGHTS.
MR. PowDERLY PROPOSES ECONOMY.
URGING THE REDUCTION OF THE GENERAL
MASTER woRKMAN's SALARY TO $1,000
THE LOSS OF MEMBERS NOT DIS
HEARTENING.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBrSz1

Indianapolis Nov. 15.-An extraordinary condition
Of affairs confonts the delegates of the General AS
sembly Knights of Labor Just how far the seeming
disintegraton had gone a matter Of surmise until
tho general officers disclosed their well guarded secret
Besides the stratened finances revealed I'm the treas
urers report, there has been more marked de-
cline In numerical strength than was generally known
At Richmond two years ago the order had aggre
gate membership OF about 100000. Now, reported
by the secretary, John ". Hayes, the total member
ship is $50 51S paying members and 81 900 members
probably in good standing but not reported. There
are 1866 local assemblies In good working order
The decrease has been rapid the growth was
phenomenal. Fourteen months ago the Boston State
Assembly had 31,644 members. Now 1t musters
3913. Out of 14,519 at Cincinnati there remain only
4,527. The indianapolis district last year enrolled
2,I4o members. Now 1t has fewer than 300. These
figures illustrate tho ratio OF decline While " is true
the order is the down grade, II the compare
tive figures viewed, there are other considerations
that enter into the account
1t is impossible. according to the conservative view
which Powderly's supporters take that the numerical
strength once attained could be maintained. The
threequarers of million OF members were hustled into
the organization without educ alton and even without
knowledge Of the true pu poses Of the order There
were strikers. anarchists and 1aw-laborers," besides
the true of toll. and many Of the hot-heads be-
came impatient because the order did not accomplish
revolution in few minutes. Others. with true
sense OF the obligations of the Knights Of Labor
became aenated from the prevailing methods and
drew out In discomfort Still others are out BY the
force of other and the remaining strength
Of the order is about what 1t would have been had It's
growth been normal instead Of abnormal While there
has been great decline in the membership. OCCASION
Ing undcnlable element of weakness, yet those who
remain, If adjusted to a basis. more easily
-alnaln themselves than heretofore. They have, for
instance. according the showing of the secretary,
large assets. which than four times cover all IL
abilities The inventory shows total possessions to
the value Of S114 $40 O5 including headquarters build
lngs in Philadelphia $4,000 stock and fixtures.
$ls,007; printing office, $s.007 investment In Con
nelsburg coal mine. $4,000; Homer Wagon Factory
investment, gil 800.
Favorable to the future internal and financial I'm
provement of the order, aside from the proposed
duction of annual expenses to the amount of &5000
arc the following recommendations from the general
officers: That the per capita tax TO the General AS
scmby be reduced that the offices of general secretary
and be combined that the general executive
board be reduced In number, that the Insurance de-
partment be made selfsustalnng, that legislation
looking to the better education of the members and
tho public be enacted. that itemized reports of re-
ceips and cxpendiu ures be rendered quarterly, that
officers be elected annually that the general executive
board be reduced four members and that the gen
cral master workman shall have power to nominate
until The full board Is elected that the officers CON
sist Of general workman, general worthy foreman,
general secretary general treasurer, general invest
gator and general executive board and four members
with whom the general master workman and general
cooperative board shall act that strikes and boycotts
be supported by the general assembly only to the ex
tent of the money specially secured by appeal for
such purposes that the salary Of the general master
workman be 50, 900, that the salary of the general
secretary be 1000 that the executive board be re-
duced 10 three members, one of whom shall be
woman. who shall look after women's work in a
| hat tha of hn nj
the executive board shall not exceed $3 per day,
that the terms Of Office be year, and that local
assemblies may be permitted to organize in both
English and German.
Mr.. Powdery has spoken. He does not say In 80
many words that he will stand for reelection, but be-
tween the lines of his two hours address delegates
read his ultimatum. He reviewed at length the
causes Of the decline in membership which he attrib
utcd to an improper understanding Of the purposes Of
the order false reports of extravaganza In It's man.
agement, to strikes and 10 the bad influences OF the
campaign The financial affairs of be order are In
trusted to too many hands The general master work
man should have nothing to do with them. He up
holds the muchcr!tlciscd one man power as essential
to the organization. He declares that the days of the
strike are past ard that other effective and
less wasteful methods must come into universal use
when intelligence controls He advises the knights
OF Labor TO concentrate their efforts and 10 abandon
the shotgun policy of endeavorng to control all
things While not avOwing the Henry George theory,
Mr.. Powdcry holds that the present centralSauon OF
power and influence through land ownership Is un
friendly to tho best citizenship lie dwels on the
Importance of readjustment Of the financial forces
of the Government including the withdrawal Of the
rights from private and state banks Of issuing cur
rency. He recommends equal wages for men and
women doing the same work.
An estimate of the address, made up from what the
delegates saw Is that Powdery avows himself still the
leader Of the Knights OF Labor. lie points out the
weaknesses Of the order and the shortcomings Of It's
supporters. He recommends course of action and
does 1t I'm such way that one IS led to believe that
If these changes are made Powderly Will accept a
reelection. Even the salary of master workman is
reduced from $4,000 to $1,000 per annum. There Is
unquestonably further Capitalization Of power in Mr..
Powderlys plan. He wants TO reduce the number OF
members OF the General Executive Board and he
would like To be authorized to gnate these men,
bers. More than this that the administration may
be harmonious, he believes that the general master
workman should even be empowered to nominate the
other general officers
II Powderly's views prevail" said one delegate,
" VIC need hold no more conventions: He VIII be
the knights of Labor We want CONTEMPLATION, but
don't want IL all to centre about the master
workman"
Charles II. Lltchman. who resigned his position as
general secretary TO enter the campaign support of
The protective doctrine Of the Republican party, pre-
sented his report. AS he has not been on good terms
with Mr.. Powderly It was expected that the trouble
between them would be referred to. However, there
was surface peace. Mr. Ltchmans report, occupy
ing hour and half In the reading, was devoted
largely to justification Of his political course and 1t
The various discOntcntcd elements are awaiting
the movements OF the Committee on Grievances, which
has not yet reached either OF the serious matters
before It,
TO HAVE FEMALE FACTORY INSPECTORS
One OF the bli's to be introduced In the new Repub
lcan legislature will be that providing for eight