Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-22
A HARD FIGHT.
Barry Makes His Influence Felt in the
General blythe Kickers Plans.

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 21.-The charges of
Mr.. Barry against the executive board
have had an effect and this morning res
olution was adopted for the appointment
of a committee to investigate the methods
of the general offices of the Knights of La
Dor. Who will appoint the committee has
not been decided upon.
The resolution adopted at this mornings
session of the Knights of Labor providing
for the appointment of committee to in
vestigate the methods of the general Of
ficer's gave rise to a lively discussion this
afternoon, which resulted in partial de-
feat for Powderly and a corresponding
victory for Barry. The discussion as to
the method Of inquiry brought forth a
large number of amendments. Finally as
substitute for the many suggested
amendments, it was moved that the in
coming general executive board take
charge of the matter. This brought the
matter down to to a question whether
Powderly and his friends or his op-
ponents should appoint the committee,
and the test vote was anxiously voted. The
motion was lost by vote of 30 to 81. 1t was
a close fight and for once the administra-
ton majority did not materialize. How
ever as the vote shows all the delegates
Q46) were not present and so close vote
might not be had On another occasion. Still
Mr. Barry and his friends are somewhat
exhilarated over the result. The work of
this convention will settle whether the
miners, of whom there are many
thousand, at their meeting at Column
bus, o., will remain with the Knights of
Labor or organize a new and independent
order. In fact a combination of all labor
organizations or at least their operation in
the one aim and work of a strong minority
at this convention. This appeared at this
afternoon session when the committee on
the state of the order reported favorably
on double resolution which the conven-
ton acted on in sections. The first portion
of this resolution provides that the char
tiers of all trades assemblies be revoked, and
it was at once negative. The other por-
ton was to the effect that committee of
five be appointed to wait on the federation
of trades at their meeting at st. Louis,
December s. to cOntider proposals for the
amalgamation of the two orders. This
resolution brought on discussion in
which it was developed that amalgamation
was not desired. Ex-Secretary Litchman
defined the word amalgamation and ex-
pressed himself as strongly opposed to it,
Powderly took the floor to explain
that efforts were now being made to bring
about cooperative relation between the
two organizations and while not mention
ing the question of amalgamatiOn he
urged in favor of co operation. 1t is an
nounced that these resolutions were intro
duced by Master Workman Lewis of the
miners assembly. his object apparently
being to discover the position of the gen.
eral assembly with reference trades assem-
blies. Another resolution of similar purpOrt
has also been introduced by j. l.. Lee, ma
tional master workman of the railroad as
sembly, and he hopes for the ultimate
union of all labor organizations Just
how this shall be done is of less import
ance in his mind, than that it shall be
done as early of possible.
Hon. T. B. Barry Is still in city. He
will begin active operations on the stump
for his new order with lecture
in this city on Saturday night
and will follow it up with an
address in Cincinnati on Sunday
night. Mr. Barry was found by the Asso-
ciated Press correspondent almost buried
in papers at his room in the hotel. Being
asked for his upinion of the latest action
of the convention he said: by the action
of the general assembly IN comforting on
the general master workman the autocratic
power of a car, the goal of Mr.. Powder
ly's ambition has been reached. Itremains
to be seen whether the people who hold
membership of the knights of Labor will
quietly submit to the action taken by their
Observation-Disclosures" IN handing over to
bar of their own creation all the rights
and privileges of American manhood. 1t
no longer an organization OF freemen but
one that invites servitude on the part of
it's membership. The general executive
board being of the grand master work
mans creation, no man whom he selects
will dare raise his hand in opposition to
his will for fear of official decapitation at
his hands"