New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-22
BARRY'S CHARGE BELIEVED
DISCLOSING SECRETS OF THE EXECUTIVE
BOARD

rHE WITHDRAWAL OF A CHARTER FROM DIS
TRIcT ASSEMBLY OF THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR
LEADS TO AN EXPOSURE OF METHODS IN
THE GENERAL oFFIcE-DELEGATEs
TOO FREE IN OFFERING MONEY
MILEAGE ALLOWANCES.
rBY TELEGRAPH THE TRrrrNE
Indianapolis, Nov. o1.-The opponents of the
Powicriy administration had almost abandoned hope
OF accomplishing anything, when opportunity
presented Itself this forenoon. Mr.. Barry. the
PEELED member Of the General Executive Board, per-
onay had nothing, Of course. to do with the incident
but charge made by him furnished the pretext He
asserted that he could prove that the charter of Dis
lrict Assembly "a. East Saginaw Mich, Illegally
'ecaled on tho ground that the delegates from that
district supported Barry at the last session Of the
General Assembly The charg, reflected upon Charles
lJchman, who general secretary at the timo the
charter was withdrawn. Mr.. Litchman, fortified with
denial of the charges from the National Head
quarters at Philadelphia, took the floor 10 defend
himself He said that he had been charged with
nivng TO break up the East Saginaw Assembly, and
he wished TO set himself right. At the time the
charter withdrawn there were only four local
sembles IN the district Five is the minimum num-
ber which will constitute district assembly. The
case disposed OF itself this numerical basis and he
had no knowledge of any motive anybody's part
TO wipe the assembly because 1t was favorable to
Barry, or for any other reason aside from the
stated. Astonshment began to show itself at this
point, when Delegate CrowcI, clerk In the general
Office at Philadelphia, took the floor and stated that
he had been Instructed to demand tho return of the
charter Of the assembly in question There appeared
TO be only four local assemblies In the district but.
upon investigation, he discovered that there were
actually seven local assemblies He added:
al called the attention of the head clerk, Mr.. Row
land, to this fact but he gave 1t no heed'
Mr.. Itchman-If my head clerk gave It no attcn-
ion, why didn't you with the factsl
mr. CfOwellBecause clerks In the general office are
not permitted to approach general officers at ALL and
even head clerks are not allowed 10 talk TO general
officers, except at certain hours.
The cross-fre Of words became hot, and CrowelI
with every retort disclosed moro secrets that
positively stunning in effect Eventually he moved
that committee Of three bc appointed to proceed at
to Philadelphia to investigate into the truth Of
what he had said and of the various charges that
Involved. Amendments 70 lowed fast. De egatc
Lcwis Of District Assembly 35, moved that a
mittee OF three be designated TO wire to
reputable attorney to take instant charge Of all the
effects and belongings including books, Of the Cen
eral Headquarters and hold the same in trust until
the arrival Of the committee. This met with defeat
Tho motion TO name a committee was carried and the
commitse was instructed TO inquire Unto the method
in vogue at headquarters. There was prolonged
dispute over the question to how the committee
should be appointed Mr.. Powdery declined to select
the members. For the first time on any question
Of Importance, the adninist alton majority could not
be held together II was at last agreed that at
future session a methoa of selecting the committee
would be agreed upon. resolution Is pending TO tho
effect that a court of high appeals be established, TO
which all contested matters may be referred Such
a court Will certainly be constituted and the committee
In question will probably be designated by It,
some of the delegates who pledged financial assist
to the General Assembly beginning to hear
their authority. Ono of them says:
The constitution Of the Knights Of Labor spu-
latcs that no representative has The right pledge
money for assembly without instructions from those
who pay In tho money!
Some of those who profrcred help, 1t s asserted,
represent assemblies which have been excused from
paying the six cents per capita tax. Tho financial
ability of the Glass Workers Assembly, which author
lied tho Assembly draw against their 100000 Of
assets, Is not In question. Their assembly includes
nearly all OF the window glass makers In the country
But, Notwithstanding the adequacy OF esen help.
reform in financial methods IS deemed necessary by
many OF the delegates.
There Is aloat an extravagant opinion as to the
cash value of the orders assets. In the Cannclton
Coal Mine the order has invested $4,000, but this
amount Is not an asset The mine has long been
offered for sale at S13,000 without takers The order
Las recently lowered the selling price to $4,000
some of the other made by the order have
also proved to be unprohtabe In the =" hush days.
money being plentiful invested freely. Now that
1t comes in slowly, there IS disposition to- spend Il
carefully Reform and retrcnchmont are called fol all
along the line. The Mileage Committee has recon-
mendcd the allowance of - 90: i6 L. De Warte,
from Belgium is entitled TO T3322. Tb9le was a
long discussion to-day the proposition that mem
bcrs of local assemblies be instructed not TO WORK ior
lower wages than do members of trade assemblies
The action upon the latter was adverse, the reason
given being that the local ass ombcS themselves had
control of these matters. The decision occas.oned
some disappointment tho members of trades as
sembes as they thought measure of this sort would
strengthen the relations of the two OF ganlZaiions
EDWARD FINCKELSTONE RESIGNS.
Ever since James j. Coogan united his dcstinics