Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-07-24
TO MEET IN THE SOUTH.

| TO MEET IN THE SOUTH.
The Genoral Assembly of the Knights O
LABOR to 30 Held in Atlanta, Ga, or
A"osdny, November IL Tho Executive
ho"rd In Session in Chicago-PowderIy
Says tho Order Is Prospering.
CHICAGO, July Inference v. Powderly
Grand Master Workman of the knights OF
Labor, is in this city with several members
OF tho Executive Committee OF the Crane
Lodge, discussing means for reviyifying the
order
Tho members of the board present be.
Sides Mr., Powdcrly are: John ". HAYES. OF
Philadelphia, general secretary treasurer
john Dovlin, Detroit, Mich J. J. Holland
Jacksonville, Fla. A. w. Wright, Toronto,
Ont, and John Costello, president.
About noon tho executive board Of the
Knights OF Labor went into executive ses-
sion, which was continued throughout the
day and evening until a late hour. The
hrst business OF tho board was the selec-
ton or tho time and place OF the next gen
eral assembly. L. was decided that it
should be held ut Atlanta, Ca, on the
second Tuesday In November
in an interview Nj: Powderlyssays the
present meeting OF the board is quarterly
meeting called In Chicago for the con-
venence OF Northwestern assemblies to
save Chem tho time and expense of Jour-
ney to Philadelphia. The statement that
this Is an exceptional meeting Mr.. Powder
" claims to be untrue, ana says: Every
ono knows we meet wherever convenience
suggests. and as Il matter of fact met here
In Chicago two years ago." The board will
| continue In session several days
| Nr, pOWOerlV was told Of no ,popv nm
lectures made as 10 tho object of this West
ern trlp-that tho order was so broken up
IN the East that it was to be abandoned and
n rally IN the West made; that the board,
alarmed at Barry's activity, was coming to
| extend him the olive branch; and that
many other equally extravaganza departures
were in the lEinds of the master workman
and his staff. Mr.. powdcrly smiled pleas
antly at some OF these and sayagcIy at
others, while for all he had nothing but
contempt.
I'VE are not here to abandon the East. ~
said he. ''1he suggestion is BON of an in
| sane fancy or the most malicious design.
never heard or dreamed of such q thing
| and these wild comm eutators might as we'll
say that we came to Chicago for any other
foolish purpose that their folly or venom
prompts them to say.
I'VE are not here" he then said, Ito ex-
tend to Mr.. Barry the olive branch or to
| give him any notice or consideration what
| ever. If he is in Chicago do not know it.
| nor does his whereabouts affect the course
| OF my movements any more than the dust
| In the road We are not in the least iota
| influenced by Mr. Barry or his people, He
and they are not of ua'
The general master workman was then
fhorR r1,r 10 6
Labor who pretended to be in good stand
Ing in tho order who were also members of
| Barry's so-callcd brotherhood
What will be done if the cases of these
men arc brought up!" was asked
The names Of all such" said lfr Pow
DERBY, emphatically, will, when brought to
our notice, be erased from our list unless
| they surrender their membership to the
other No Knight Of Labor can or will
belong to Barry's organization or any
other association formed for the pur
| pose OF undermining the order of the
Knights of Labor This does not include.
OF course, the Trades Assembly, Central
Labor Union and other associations work.
ing collaterally and in harmony with us:
but it does most positively bear on Barry's
scheme
The many reports of the failing condi-
ton Of the Knights of Labor were brought
to Mr.. Powderlys attention.
THAT said be, us an impression par
hcularly marked In Chicago by the fact that
the order has suffered from fractional feuds
he:c. 1t Is not to be found SO elsewhere
l consider the order in healthy and
grew 'ng condition, far outstripping the
showing OF last year: We grew with too
rapid strides and to moderate
iy,
attendant upon the eight-Lour movement
That we should experience a relaxation
from this glut of numbers was natural
We entered 1886 with S7.OCW members in
good standing, and on September of that
year had 100000 names enrolled on our
books. We didn't want such big crowd
Much of it was unfit material for the or
der"
DO you refere to the socialistic ele-
mcnt?" was asked.
Yes; to that" said Mr.. Powderlv, lard
other overweight or ignorant elements
which soon found themselves not 1T home. l"
What is your present membership OF the
order?'
'Something more than 200, 0co, and grow
ing with a steady, Intelligent growth.
Now, while we show a decrease in
tho matter of numerical membership
since 1856, we show very tiattering
advance over last year. The enemies
Of the Knights of Labor always omit
that fact The truth is the order
is flourishing and as strong almost as it's
most ardent friend might wish. II am free
to say, however" he continued, that there
has bccn unusual trouble in Chicago.
Though we still have about 1000 left here
there Is much to be done to improve the
order, and am confident that it will be
done:
Mr. powderly was asked about the eight
hour movement laid out for next year, be-
ginning Mayl He said that the prof ct
had not originated with the Knights Of
Labor but with the Federation of Trades
and he could not speak upon it.
Furthermore, he hesitated to make
All open declaration upon such
mattor of principle, as he pre-
fcrred to leave that to the Judgment of the
order, ind personally avoid the charge of
autocracy. Ne was, however, very plainly
III favor OF tho eight-hour movement, or
any rat onuA procedure toward fewer hours
of labor
LIGHTNING STRIKES A KING,
ovN,,