The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-05-20
A FIGHT OF THE FACTIONS
Organized Labor Disturbed by Those
Who Would Like to Control Affairs.
Knights of Labor Call the Local Leaders Of the
Federation Traitors and Followers of Barry
Strongly Oppose Both Organizations

There are indications that organized
labor needs harmonizing influence since
the American Federation has undertaken
to gain foot-hold here. Too many men, it
is said, want to be leaders, and a result,
there is contest of three factions that
does not promise any benefit to those who
shOHld profit from such organizations
Milton Farnham, Thomas Gruelle, John
Bodenmiller and several others are the
leaders of the movement to establish the
Federation of Labor in this city, while
second combination, headed by Thomas
Markey and others, still stands by the
Knights of Labor. Its purpose is to resist
any encrOachments of the new Organiza-
ton. The third factor in the fight is an in
dependent movement, supported by Samuel
Leffingwell and of the old organizers:
Leffingwell and his followers will
oppose both the Federation and I'd
ago he refused to have anything to
do with the Knights because he believed
the management was corrupt. He looks
favorably upon the aims of the Federation,
but will stand aloof from it because
Farnham Gruelle and Bodenmiller assume
TO manage its affairs. These three factions,
1t is said have reached point where they
cannot agree on anything, and there Is Il
struggle to control the greatest number OF
wage-wOrkers In Indianapolis. Three years
ago all the men named were prominent In
the Knights of Labor, and at that time the
order had 5000 or 1900 members in this city
and vicinity. 1t soon developed that there
were too many men who wanted TO be
leaders, and members and officers gradually
dropped ont or were suspended until the
order lost its force.
Those who remain with the Knights,
however, are not discouraged. The
m w ot inn
a :. fOOthold here for the Fed
GRAFTON of Labor are constantly ms.
representing the Knights Of Labor"
said a Knight. yesterday, They state
this district, when they know that is not
true. Numerically we are not as strong
as we were at one time, but otherwise we
are in a better condition. The truth of the
ship here, in accordance with the instruc--
tiOns of Powderly in his annual address at
the convention here last year. He said he
wanted every traitor expelled, and that is
just what we have done. The men who are
now trying to establish the Federation OF
Labor here were literally kicked out of our
order. They were traitors to the cause,
and always did us more harm than good.
Instead of trying to strengthen the Knights,
and be of some benefit to the wage-work
ers. they were always looking out for self
interest. They would not be supporting
the Federation if they did not expect to
reap some personal benefit from it,"
why were they expelled fromthe Knights
Their locals were suspended for
general executive board. These men
refused to be governed by the
that account they were kicked out. They
attempted to leave the impression that they
withdrew from the Knights, when they
know they could not get back in it if they
wanted to-"
do you think they will be successful IN
establishing the Federation of Labor hereW
They will get a good many followers for
time, but it will only be short while UNI
til internal discussions arise. With the
Federation, the entire governing power
rests with the local assembly. There is no
head, and, consequently, no body to appeal
to when trouble arises. These men could
not stick in an organization where there
was some one to govern them, and cannot.
see how they are going to be capable of
governing themselves"
What started the Knights in this city on
the down grader
THE trades-uniOns and the Knights Of
majority of the Knights belonged to some
union, and they were constantly complain
ing that the Knights were not doing enough
for their particular business The Knights
were not organized to help along any one
class of wOrkingmen. The International
Cigar-makers' Union gave MS a great deal
of trouble. 1t was booming union label.
and so were we, and consequently there
was friction. although we were both work
ing to accomplish the same endo
docs the Federation of Labor stand
alOof from pOliticsp
1T is al organization that can be turned
to political use much easier than the
Knights. The men who are at the head of
the Federation here will have control of the
Central Labor Union, and you will see that
it will become political machine. Farm
ham, Gruelle and BOdenmiller are already
figuring on the city campaign, and they are
anxious to get their local federation in
working order before the campaign comes
on"
Those who are interested in the fedora
ton movement deny that they were ex-
PEELED from the Knights of Labor, and say
they left the order because its manage
ment was corrupt and expensive. The
fight between the would-be leaders has be-
come so bitter that the President and sec
rotary of the Central Labor Union do not
speak to the master workman and secre-
tary of the district assembly. In the mean
time Leffingwen and his followers are
preaching the doctrine of Thomas Barry.
but as yet they have not attempted to give
Barry's order local footing.