The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1889-07-25
10 MEET M The SOUTH.


The General Assembly OF the Knights of
Labor to BE Held in Atlanta, Ga, ON
Tuesday. November I2-The Executive
Board In Session In Chieago-Pouderiy
Says the Order Is Prospering.
CHICAGO, July Inference v Powderiy.
Grand Master Workman Of the Knights Of
Labor. is in this city with several members
OF the Executive Committee OF the Grand
Lodge, discussing means for revivifying tho
| order
Tho members of the board present be-
sides Mr.. Powderly are: John ". Hayes. OF
Philadelphia. general secretary treasurer,
John Devlin, Detroit, Mich J. !. Holland,
jacksonville, Fla; A. W. Wright. Toronto.
Ont, and John Costello, president
About noon the executive board OF the
| Knights Of Labor went into executive ses-
sion, which was continued throughout the
day and evening until late hour The
first business OF the board was the selec-
tion of the time and place OF the next gem
eral assembly. 1t was decided that 1t
should be held at Atlanta, Ga. on the
second Tuesday in November
In an interview Mr. Powderly says the
| present meeting Of the board is quarterly
meeting called in Chicago for the con-
yenience Of Northwestern assemblies to
save them the time and expense of jour
/ nCl W AntldAClluisL 4AAO bttAtCAACut tuue
| this is an exceptional meeting Mr.. Powder
| ly claims to be untrue, and says: Livery
| one knows we meet wherever convenience
suggests. and as matter Of fact met hero
in Chicago two years ago" The board will
continue in session several days
Mr.. Powderly was told OF the many con-
lectures made as to the object of this West
ern trip-that the order was so broken up
in the East that 1t was to be abandoned and
rally In the West made; that the board,
alarmed at Barry's activity, was coIaing to
extend him the olive branch; and that
many other equally extravagant departures
were in the minds OF the master workman
and his staff. Mr.. Powderly smiled plens-
antly at some of these and sayageIy at
others, while for all he had nothing but
contempt
I'VE are not here to abandon the East
said he. The suggestion is born Of an in
sane fancy or the most malicious design
never heard or dreamed of such a thing.
and these wild commentators might as well
say that we came to Chicago for any other
foolish purpose that their folly or venom
prompts them to sag.
I'VE are not here" he then said, ito ex-
tend to Mr. Barry the olive branch CT to
give him any notice or consideration what
ever. II he is in Chicago / do not know il,
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 us
The general master workman was then
told that there were a number Of Knights OF
Labor who pretended to be in good stand
ing in the order who were also members Of
Barry's so-called brotherhood
what will be done if the cases Of these
men are brought ups" was asked
The names of all such, said Mr.. Pow
derly, emphaticaily, 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 this
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-
tion OF the Knights of Labor were brought
to Mr.. Powderly's attention
That" said he, rs an impression par
ticularly marked in Chicago by the fact that
the order has suffered from factional feuds
here 1t is not to be found so elsewhere
/ consider the order in healthy and
growing condition, far outstripping tho
showing of last year. We grew with too
rapid strides and to moderate
degree in 1856 during the excitement
attendant upon the eight-hour movement
That we should experience n relaxation
from this glut of numbers was natural
We entered 1885 with 5000 members in
good standing, and on September Of that
year had 10000 names enrolled ON our
books We didn't want such a big crowd
Much Of it was unfit material for the or
DER
DO you refere to the socialistic ele-
ment." was asked
..Yes; to that said Mr. Powderly, ''ard
other overwrought or ignorant elements
which soon found themselves not at home"
what is your present membership of the
orderg''
Something more than 2OO, 600, and grow
ing with a steady, intelligent growth
Now, while we show n decrease iu
the matter Of numerical membership
since 1881 we show a very fiattering
advance over last year. The enemies
OF the knights OF Labor always omit
that fact The truth is, the order
is fiourishing and as strong almost as its
most ardent friend might wish Il am free
to say, however" he continued, that thefs
has been unusual trouble in Chicago.
Though we still have about 1908 left here
there is much to be done to improve the
order. and 1 am confident that it will be
done"
Mr.. Powderly was asked about the eight
hour movement laid out for next year, be-
ginning Mayi. He said that the project
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
an open declaration npon such
matter of principle. as nc pre-
ferrcd to leave that to the judgment o. the
order, and personally avoid the charge -
autocracy. He was. however, very plainly
in favor Of the eight-hour movement, or
any rational procedure toward fower ho1ls
0f labor