Clarksville evening chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn) 1886-1890, 1888-11-16
TTHE KNIGHTS.
Secretary Hayes Report to the
General Assembly.
THE ORDER NOW HAS OVER A QUAR-
TER OF A MILLION MEMBERS.


Much Depends on the AC ion of the Con-
vention as to Whether the Order Will
Continue TO Thrive or VIII Dwindle
Away-The Delegates Divided on the
Question.
INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 6.-Secretary J. w.
Hayes report to the general assembly
Knights Of Labor shows 5,666 locals in good
standing, with 259,5lS members reported
and 81, 300 not reported.
Among amendments to the constitution
presented are the reduction Of the per capita
tax, combination of the offices of secretary
and treasurer, reduction of the executive
board, annual election of officers, support of
strikes only to the extent of money secured
by appeal fixing salaries of general officers
and expense allowance of members Of the
general executive.
The executive board reports the case Of
the Cincinnati shoemakers, showing that
District Assembly No As preferred charges
against H. J. Skefiington of opposing the
action OF the assembly, sowing seeds Of dis
cord and otherwise injuring the order Trial
was set, but Skeffington appealed to the
general assembly, decrying the power OF the
executive board to try him. Thomas B.
Barry's protest is on the same grounds.
The committee reports that he was ex-
PEELED on complaints, from all parts OF the
country, of incompetency and violation of
his obligation as a member and general
officer A. A. Carlton, another member of
the executive, is relieved, after resigning
and submitting an expense account deemed
exorbitant.
II Barry is heard before the assembly it
will be upon the treasurer'a report, which
shows the receipt and expenditure of 1872,
oG1 90 for the year ending June 30. A sup
Elementary report to October 81 shows S53, :
5si. u received and S49, 9266S expended.
Much interest is manifested in report
read by Mrs. L. M. Barry, of Philadelphia,
lecturer and organizer. In urging legisla-
! ton to cure the evils in the working wo
mans lot she drew many illustrations from
! Cincinnati, such as women working on pants
at five cents per pair, and on vests for two
and a cents each, the making OF undergar
ments, trimmed, at twenty-five cents 9
dozen, and white shirts, ruffisd, at fifty cent?
dozen. She also referred to the system OF
fining in Rockwell's restaurant and pointed
out strongly the inevitable driving OF girls
to ruin and crime
The delegates and others who are in atten
dance on tho twelfth general assembly OF thu
| Knights of Labor, have settled down &
work and the time away from the assembly
is largely devoted to committee work. Muct
gossip is irdulged in regarding the probable
outcome of the convention, both as regard
the election Of officers and the future success
or failure Of the order.
Two years ago Grand Master Powderl.
announced that he was beginning his las
term of office, and at the Minneapolis con
yenton his last year he repeated the state
ment In view OF these declarations b
might be thought to be out of the fight, bu
such is not believed to be the case by many
4 Instead of repeating his former plain refusal
to continue to serve, he now simply refuse
to speak, and this fact is considered an evi
dence of willingness to accept once more.
The selection of other officers depends o.
Powderly's decision and the action Of tn
general assembly as to the reduction of tn
force Much depends on the action OF thi
convention whether the order will thrive o
dwindle away. While many are anxiou
about the outcome they express a firm be
lief in the long life and great prosperity c
the organization.
| OL0ofS, anu LHeT6 d1b many VI IuoIu uolt
gates, are equally of the opinion that thes
are the last days Of what one of them call
"a gigantic confidence game"
These latter think that the overthrow c
Powderly and his associates in the genera
executive board is essential to the good G
the order, and some of them assert that Il
investigation Of the inside workings at th
general offices will reveal an astounding sta:
Of affairs They claim that the general ea
ecutive board have been living at the e1
pense of, and not in the interest Of the work
ing classes, and promise big sensation be
fore the general assembly adjourns.
1t is claimed by those who profess to
informed of the facts that the cause for th
delay in Powderly's report is that he ha
| given ex Secretary Litchman sever
handling, and that Litchman in his repoi
had returned the attack with interest Tn
two were, it is said, finally brought togethe
and the matter amicably arranged, and tn
delay has ceen caused by the reprinting {
the report with the savage part elm
mated.
Harry j. Skeffington, of Cincinnati
claims that membership OF District Assembl
No. 4S of that city, has been Illegally il
fated to allow two representatives instea
of one, and he took occasion to say SO on IL
floor Of the general assembly, hut was owe
ruled by Powderly
The morning session has been devoted
further reports and routine business.