The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-13
THE MEETING OF KNIGHTS
Some of the Many Things That Will Be
Considered in the General Assembly.
What II Said About the Election Of Officers
Around Which Powderly and Anti.Pow-
Derby Men Will Center Their Strength.

Several of the delegates to the General AS
sembly Of the Knights Of Labor arrived ysster-
day, but those who have LONG distance to
travel will not get here until this morning.
There are nearly 200 accredited delegates to the
assembly, bat not more than $50 are expected.
District assemblies in foreign countries are en-
titled 70 delegates, but from the information re-
csived by the general officers probably only one
delegate from abroad will be present and no
will come from Belgium. Among those already
here are the general officers, with the
exception Of Mr. Powderly, the men,
bers Of the executive board, and Of
delegates who are seeking Office in case many
changes ars made. The secretary and treas
rrsr and members Of the executive committee
were engaged all day yesterday in making
preparations for the meeting Of the assembly.
Mansur Hall. on the corner Of Washington and
Alabama streets, where the proceedings viii
take place, has been attractively decorated.
According TO the rules OF the order the commit
tee on credentials must meet two days before
the assembly opens, and it was therefore in
session all Cay yesterday. The commit
tee was appointed at the General Assembly
last year, and is composed Of James
Campbell, Pittsbure; Chairman G. P. Hall. New
Jersey; J. r. Hogan, Troy. n. Y; Thomas
Nsshan, California, and Charles NJ Metz, New
York. Tie credentials Of delegates were all in
the hands of the committee several weeks ago
There will be several contests, and some of them
will rrossbly have to 60 to the assembly for
settisment There are two sets OF delegates
from d. A. No 40, of New York city, and that
case was being looked into yesterday. An effort
will be made to keep out some delegates alto
eether, among them Thomas B. Barry, of Mich
was recently ended by resignation: but after
that the Powdsrly people adopted reso-
luton expelling him. An attack VIII also
be made on Charles II. Litchman, who also re-
signed from the executive board and espoused
the cause Of the Republican party. The general
officers are inclined to believe that the contests
will all be settled without any rupture in the
order.
In all former assemblies the business has
been transacted slowly, and it is possible that
this years session may be prolonged ten days or
two weeks. It will be several DAYS. the officers
say, before any important business will be
reached The work is nearly all accomplished
through committees, which will be appointed by
General Master Workman Powderly at the be-
ginning OF the session. Ii seems to be the unan-
imous opinion of those here that there will be
general revision OF the constitution Of the
order, and there seems to be demand for
reduction OF running expenses which il is
proposed to meet by consolidating the Offices Of
general treasurer and secretary, and by reducing
the salary Of all officers, including that OF the
general master workman. There is also talk OF
requiring one man to act as general secretary,
treasurer and secretary of the executive board.
There are thrse strong candidates FOR this posi-
ton, IL it is created-John w. Hays, who has
filed both secretaryships since Charles II. Litch-
mans resignation; Robert Layton, Of Pittsbure.
and Frederick Turner, the present treasurer.
Hays 10 reputed to be the one man IN the order
who is in Powterly's full confidence, and there
fore has . considerable following on that
account Layton has many supportersin Penn
sylvania and throughout the West. For a time
there was \ breach between him AID Powderly.
but 10 has been healed. In case MIR. Powderly
positively declines tn be elected general master
workman. Layton Is a probable candidate for that
position. Turner has a strong personal follow
Ing and If the Offices should be consolidated the
contest promises to be interesting, as no one or
the candidates could muster strength enough i'm
nediatey TO be elected over the other two.
The most interesting feature of the session
promises TO be the opposition TO the Powderly
administration, led ey Mr. Barry and
thought by some Of the delegates that Barry and
Carlton will attempt to establish a new order IL
they should be defeated here. 81 know they
have considered such STEP" said one delegate
isfied Knights as . nucleus ne could build MP an
order that would soon swallow the Knights. 1t
will not be an order whose principles will be in
opposition to the present one, but it will oppose
those personally who constitute It's pres
snt administration. 1t is useless
20 conceal the fact that there
are many dissatisfied Knights who would DO
glad to JOIN any movement Barry might pro-
pose.'
'Whsre would the membership of new or
Ia ha
'sIn New York principally, and in Michigan.
If B. j. Shsfhngton, master workman OF ID. A.
No ZIG. Of New York, which is the National
Shoemsksrs' Assembly is not seated
following would 60 with Barry. All this. how
ever. 10 spe ,ulation, and would not talk this
way over my own name
The woman section OF the order will figure
prominently in the proceedings, the delegates say.
If an attempt is made To make it less expensive,
there viii Le objection by Mrs. L. NJ. Barry, the
lecturer and general investigator. She has
made national reputation as a speaker She
Is candidate for reelection. and there seems
to bs no opposition TO her. She will arrive here
this morning.
TIE leading question among those who have
arrived rs whether Mr.. Powderly will consent
TO o reelection. If he will not. they say the
whole situation will be changed. The anti
Powdsrly delegates feel certain that hs will not
run again. and are talking of persons they will
put forward as . candidate. John j. Jarrett,
OF Pennsylvania, has been suggested as a good
man upon whom TO compromise. In addition
20 him and Robert Layton, mention is fire.
quently made Of Richard Griffith. of Chicago,
who is next in official rank TO the general mas
ter workman.
General Master Workman Powderly, who was
confidently expected to arrive last night failed
to come. He will probably be here early this
morning. He has engaged rooms at the Grand
Hotel
The New Order of Knights.
epecial to tns Indianapolis Jonrna.
WASHINGTON. Nov u General Senior Work.
man John P. Thompson, Of the Independent Or
der, Knights of Labor, who has his headquarters
in this city, was seen by press representative
to-day respecting the annual session Of the Gen.