Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1889-10-10
CONDITION OF THE KNIGHTS.
Speaks to Large Audience al
ChicagO-A Steady, Systematic
Growth of the Order.

Five thousand people were present at
a meeting in Central Music Hall, Chicago
Sunday afternoon, the feature of which
was to be an address by General Master
Workman Powderly, of the Knights of
Labor. The gathering was remarkable
for its cosmopolitan character and enthu-
siastic feeling, as well as for its numbers.
Powderly was greeted with tempest
of applause such as is seldom given to
any man. He began by referring to the
criticisms that had been launched at
him from Chicago and said few years
ago he would not have expected such an
audience or such a hearing. His re-
marks were emphatic and pointed en-
ough to elicit repeated outbreaks of ap-
plause from even the most hostile of his
hearers. Mr.. Powderly continued:
"You have been told that the chief
officer of the Knights of Labor is most
villainous character. He is not going to
deny it. Bnt 1 will agree that the
citizens of Chicago, not connected with
any labor organization, may select a
committee of three honest men, and /
will place before them the records of the
Order since its organization. If that
committee does not say that what they
have heard on the streets is slander of
the Order, then l will submit that it is a
just verdict. If the respectable, decent
citizens of Chicago do not care to accept
this offer, I feel that they do not believe
the SANDERS"
Mr.. Powderly spoke on Monday night
at Hamilton and then went to Scranton
to work upon his report to the General
Assembly, which meets in Atlanta on
November IL. On the 14th Mr.. Powder
ly will go to Philadelphia to hold a con-
ference with the Chiefs and Secretaries
of the Federation of Labor Unions.
"They insist" said Mr.. Powderly, in an
interview this evening, 'that we shall
present the eight-hour question to the
General Assembly. We have our views
on this question and they have theirs.
The object of our conference is to learn
just what they want"
docs that imply that the eight-hour
day question will be submitted by you
to the Assembly as the Trade Federation
desires it?"
"It means that we are willing to
discuss the question, but the strike will
not be recommended. Possibly should
not attempt to speak for the Knights of
Labor, but know this is the feeling. l
believe in q shorter day; l have been
NhbttAA titbhEA pil bildt w uldht IL DldlU.
But it will never be done by. strikes.
We will bring the question before the
assembly in way agreed upon in the
coming conference, but it will not lead
to verdict in favor of strike May /
1890, or any other time"
Regarding the alleged financial straits
of the Knights of Labor, Mr.. Powderly
said: "We are clear of debt we have
balance in the treasury, and we shall
hold General Assembly in a few weeks,
at which each delegate will receive his
expenses and then we will have money
left. Our condition is better than ever
before"
In the quarter ending October l there
has been organized $50 new local assem-
blies, with total charter membership
of S,340. During the same time "a
assemblies were re-organized and 50 re-
instated. This gives the Order 266 more
locals than it had three months ago.