The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-12
POWDERLY AND HISKNIGHTS
An Outlook as to the Eleventh Annual
Session of Their General Assembly.
1t Will Convene Tomorrow with Several I'm
portant Matters to Come Before 1t that viii
Cause Long and Spirited Discussions.

Assembly, Knights of Labor, which convenes in
this city tomorrow, promises to be the most In
teresting in the history of the organization,
from the fact that the prosperity of the order
greatly depends upon the solution of several
questions that will come up for consideration.
1t is said by some that radical changes must be
made to insure the prosperity of the order, but
it is just to say, however, that these predictions
all come from members who have been dis
appointed in the past and are not
in sympathy with Powderly's admin
istration of affairs. One Of the points around
which contest will center will be the election
| OF general master workman, an executive COM
mittee of eight members, and full list OF gen.
eeral officers. Mr. Powderly has repeatedly
said that ne would not stand for reelection; but
his intimate friends declare that he is the only
man N whose hands the order can be safely
trusted, and will insist upon him accepting the
| leadership for another term. It is claimed that
he can be reelected if he is willing to accept.
as most Of his Influential enemies, it is said by
| his friends, are not in position to materially
| injure him. 1t is announced however, that they
will be in Indianapolis inforce, and will conducta
vigorous campaign from the outside aga inst him
The leaders of the opposition are Thomas Barry
| and c. W. Carlton, late OF the general executive
board, and j. p. Buchanan, now of New York
city. and until lately editor of the Chicago La
| Dor Enquirer.
The dissension first appeared two years ago
| at the Richmond session of the General AS
| sembly. When that session began there were
| enrolled In the order in round numb SOO,OO0
| men. The failure of the great Southwest rail-
road strike caused the first serious outbreak,
and strengthened feud which involved nearly
| the entire mem bership of the order.
The failure of the stockyard strike at Chi
| cago caused further trouble in the order. The
| feeling against Powderly became great that
Chicago sent a solid anti-P owderly delegation to
the Minneapolis Assembly one year ago. j. r.
| buchanan was present as delegate from
| Denver, Col, but was refused admission by the
committee on credentials, on the ground that
| his residence WAS in Chicago. Buchanan with
| drew, after declaring, in a speech, that he
would fight the order until it was annihated.
| While the assembly still in session be
organized the provisional committee, and
| in circular charged the administration
with corruption and all kinds of abuses Ho
urged ali local assemblies to refuse to pay
assessments for the support OF the administra-
ton. AS result OF the antagonism led by
| Buchanan and others. district assembly No.
| "a, of Chicago. dropped in membership from
%. 900 to 1900 in less than six months. There
have also been losses elsewhere. and men who
are informed make the statement that the total
membership of the order has dropped from
] oUu,UVU 10 leeS tndn IN TWO years. III ld
also said that the assessments have fallen SO
low that there Is not enough OF an income TO
pay the salaries of Mr.. Powderly
and the members of the executive board. In
view Of these facts the reduction of expenses
will be another serious question to be coneid-
cred at this session. proposition will be made
to consolidate the Office of grand secretary and
treasurer, and to reduce the expenses Of the
womens branch OF the order. Both OF these
propositions will be offered, but those who hone
| n n order ref0YYna
| absolutely necessary.
Hugh Cavanaugh master workman of district
assembly No. 49, of Cincinnati. who s in tho
city said last night that the constitution and by
cessors to the present general officers will be
elected. Mr. Powderly, he thinks, will be reelect-
ed to his present position il be can be
prevailed upon to accept IT, 81 presume
next to that of Powderly," said Mr.. Cavanaugh,
Twill be reelected for the fourth time if ne is
candidate. j. W. Hayes, acting secretary in
place Of Charles II. Litchman, probably wants
to be elected to that position, which is worth
$1,000 per year The other officers to be chosen
are treasurer and the general executive board.
Fred Turner will no doubt be elected treasurer.
| 1t 10 also quite likely that Mcclure, Ainsworth
executive board, but thsre is no intimation as to
who will be chosen for the other positions on the
board"
The assembly will meet in Mansur Hall. on
and will convene tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock.
General Master Workman Powderly left Phila-
delphia last night and will arrive here tonight at
| 1870 o'clock Several members Of the assembly
| arrived yesterday, among them Frederick Turn
er. of Philadelphia, treasurer; j. W. Hays secre-
| tary pro tenn. Richard Griffith, Of Chicago:
James Campbell. of Pittsburg. and E. l.. Jor.
dan, OF Washington d. G. Among those who
will arrive this morning are r. ID. Layton, of
Pittsburg, who is a candidate for secretary; w.
| Il. Lewis, master workman of ID. A. No. l35. of
PIttsburg; W. FL. Bailey and Tom O'Reiley,
also of Pittsburg. Mr.. Bailey will represent
| the miners and O'Reiley the telagraphers Of
Pittsburg. Thomas Barry and wife, of Phila-
delphia, have been here some days. Those who
came in yesterday were inclined to be non-com-
municative regarding the business that is to
| come before the assembly. The election of a
| general master workman was the principal theme
| discussed, and all the arrivals seemed to think
that Mr.. Powderly would be comDslled to accept
the position again. Richard Griffin, of Chicago,
who is likely to be elected if Mr.. Powdery u
| not, said last night that the sentiment SO far
seemed to favor Powderly.
| There is some talk Of the miners leaving the
order and going to the Federation. The move
ment, it is thought, will be headed by Master
Workman Lewis. of Pittsburg who is also at the
head of the Miners Association.
Pointed Letter to G. NJ. w Powderly.
Special to the Indianapolis Journas
LAWRENCE, Kan. Nov. 10 -Master Workman
Cameron of the local lodge of Knights of Labor
at this point, has sent the following letter to
Mr.. Powderly:
LAWRENCE, Kan, Nov 9, 1883.
''Terence v. Powderly. Esq:
'Dear Sir and Brother-The election is over
and, if the result announced is correct and Ben
jamin Harrison lives to be inaugurated land il
shall be my uDceasing earnest desire that he
will, l cannot thereafter ASSERT that l never
voted for President of the United States. But
l can boast that tie first President that l ever
voted for was che great grandson of that signer
of the Declaration Of Independence who was
chairman Of the committee OF the whole Con-
gress Of the great grandfathers. when they re-
solved to adopt and sign said Declaration.
"lnasmuch as / have this important oc
casion voted for the man who is elected, shall
not FEEL free from all solicitu6s respecting bis
administration as l would had 1 voted agans,
him. Is it natural for ali who have voted for q
President to feel individually responsible to
some extent at least, for his failures as suchi
But rejoice in the belief that the great-erand-
son of one who pledged his life, his fortune and
his sacred honor to establish the principles OF
the Declaration of Independence, feels, as you
or l would, similarly situated. bound by every
consideration sacred TO a generous mind, tc
carry out said principles in good faith-and
believe that all who love the Lord and keep his
commandments, who hate acknowledgements and
dishonesty, the criminal use of dynamite the
evil effects of the spirit of sect and party and
the spirits brewed and distilled, rejoice with
me. l am more convinced than ever that the
nrday Ofx oh @h he hnD 81 4