Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-27
KNIGHTS AS JUDGES,
The Musicians Trouble Now
Being Investigated.
BOTH FACTIONS TESTIFY.
No Opinion Will be Given by the
Committee at Present.
THE SKATERS CASE ALSO HEARD.
There Are Now Nearly 5000 Members in
the Knights of Labor.
BOTH FACTIONS TESTIFY.
THE SKATERS CASE ALSO HEARD.
ITEMS CLEANED AMONG THE WORKERS

A. W. Wright and John Costello, mem
bers of the knights of Labor Genera
Executive Board, arrived in the city yes
terday to investigate the difficulties betweel
the Musicians Mutual Protectiue Uniol
and L. A. 1888, and between L. A. 491, Z
of L., Skaters and the Marble and Slat
Workers and Tile Layers Union.
This is Mr.. Wright's first visit to thi
city, but he is very we'll known on accoun
of his writings. He is a Canadian anC
halls from Toronto. He is pleasing in ap
,pearance, solidIy built and wears full side
whiskers. Mr.. Wright is one of the hard
est workers in the order, and is one of tht
editors of the Journal of United Labor.
The investigating committee upon arriv
ing in the city, went to the Central Hotel
where they held semi-oficial court. They
sent for Master Workman Rottkay, of L. A
1856, which embraces the majority OF the
members of the Great Western Band. The
Master Workman furn nished a list of the
names of the musicians in his assembly to
substantiate his statement that none of them
were expelled members of the NJ. M. P. q.
THE BAND Is IN TO STAY.
In reply to the rumors that the band
would leave the knights after the Exposi-
e.
They not only intended to remain in the
order, but would try TO organize national
trades district of musicians. He said the
K of /. organization was formed on ac-
count of the professional musicians disliking
the methods of the NJ. NJ. p. u, which took
in anybody who passed an easy examina-
ton.
Representatives of the Musicians Mutual
Protective Union were then sent for, and
last evening they gave their testimony. All
the documents in the case, with list of the
expelled and suspended members of the
union were furnished the committee. A
full statement of the case was made and
they asked that the charter of L. A 1888 be
withdrawn. The committee will hear both
sides again to-day, and Will make their re-
port to the General Executive Board at its
meeting in ST. Louis Monday next.
The skaters trouble was also ventilated by
both sides. In substance this is as follows:
About six months or more ago the mem bers
of the Marble and Slate Workers and Tile
LAYERS Union struck against a number of
men working in four shops in this city, who
had refused to jim their union. While the
strikers were out, Joseph L. Evans, who is
an organizer for D. A. No. 3, organized the
non-union men into L. A. 491.
THEY ENTERED A PROTEST.
The strikers were attached to the Fedora.
ton o Trades and en- cred a protest to the
Central Z | les Council ano to General Mas
ter Workman Powderly When the dele
gate from 491 applied tor admission into
the Trades Council he was refused, and that
body reported the matter to President
Gompers, of the Federation, cl aiming that
the Knights OF Labor had organized
''struck" men, in the face of an agreement
fba Tadororion nd ar
Dor not to do so.
In the meantime Organizer Evans had ap-
piled for charter for the new local assem-
bly,. While it was being made out a pro-
test was received at the K. of L. headuuar-
tiers against issuing the charter. The names
on the protest were not the same as those who
had applied for the charter, and through a
clerical error the charter was granted. For
a time it looked as if the Federation and X.
of i. would get into a struggle over the
matter, until an investigation was ordered.
1t is now an open question whether L. A
49l will lose Its charter or not. There is
nothing in the K. of L. constitution prohib-
Nlting the organization of a trade that al
Ready has trade union, although such
move is not advisable.
GUARDING HIS OPINION.
In speaking of the investigation last
night, Mr.. Wright said: "We have heard
both sides In botn cases, and cannot say
what our report will be. l would not like
to express an opinion whether or not either
local assembly Will be disorgauized. 1t is
not advisable to organize a trade that
already has an organization in any CITY:
but if men prefer the K. of L. to a
trade union, that is their bust
ness, and there is nothing to pre-
vent them from joining the order.
To make laws governing such cases as these
there will be general meeting of the heads
OF the different labor organizations in Phila-
delphia October Il. The meeting will be
attended by the general officers OF the K. of
L., Federation of Trades and the railroad
brotherhoods. We need general laws to OBJ
Tiate trouble between the different organiza-
tions. The most important question is the
organization into an order of the bad men,
bers OF another order. Uniform laws re-
gardlug working cards will also be made
In Washington City there is war going on
between the &. of L. carpenters and the
brotherhood. The former will.not recognize
the working cards of the latter, in retalIa-
ton Tor the treatment knights have been
receiving from the brotherhood in other
cities. This has also been the case in Pitts
burg. where trades unions have refused to
ASSSS AANS bAAS IA. Va LIZ MOIkluS CdIQS 1SSuGQ
to travellers in other cities.
FLoURISHING ORDER.
II have written a reply to the statement
made in a Pittsburg paper last Sunday that
the h. of L. was going 10 pieces. The
reason the general lecturers were called in
was because the special fund for that pur-
pose was exhausted. We could not use other
funds to pay the expenses of the lecturers
because the constitution would not allow it.
The statement that the order is poor is i'd
lotto. According to our July reports a
per capita tax was paid on over 2O7, 900
members. This does not include the dis
tricts which have been exonerated on ac-
count OF strikes. At the General Assem-
bly, we will have close on to 225, 900 men,
bers in1good standing. There will be about
140 delegates at the convention. A number
OF minor changes will be made in the con-
stitution, and it will be made smaller. No,
Mr.. Powderiy will not resign"
Messrs. Wright and Costello will hear
more testimony to-day, and will leave in the
evening for the Hooking Valley, where they
will attend a meeting.