Wichita eagle., 1889-10-05
STRUCK RIGHT AND LEFT.
Powderly Diapoaes Of His Enemies One
at Time.


announcement that the general executive
board of the Knights of Labor would
meet this week in st Louis, public atten-
ton has been kept fixed OH General Mas
ter Workman Powderly and his board by
constant series of attacks which have
been made upon them and their organiza-
ton by disatfected members and ex-mem-
bers. Powderly's opposition to the ap-
pointment Of Furlong to tie United States
secret service and his exposure of alleged
crookedness in the attempts to obtain the
appointment, afforded the disaffected ele-
ment and Furlong's friends an opportu-
nifty to join forces in an attack which they
have been Boosting would compel Pow
derly's retirement and destroy the knights.
Tonight it was announced that Pow
derby would publicly meet and disprove
all the charges which his enemies have
been hurting at his head. Today Furlong
addressed an open letter to powderly
through the press, in which he challenged
his truthfulness and made "a number OF Sc
rious charges against him. The eXpecta-
tion that powuerly would answer all this
drew an immense crowd to tonight's meet
ing, Central Turner hall being crowded to
its utmost capacity.
Master Workman o. r. Lake. of district
II, occupied the chair. Mayor Noonan
opened the meeting with a neat address.
Powderly was received with perfect
storm of applause 1t had been announced
in the press that Powderly' senemes would
have chance to speak, but they
did not venture TO accept. He said that
be would speak in the interests, not only
of the Knights of Labor, but of organized
labor. he could not speak of all the
objects OF the order, but would touch Oh a
few. He said be regretted it was not DOS
sible for him to devote the entire evening
to expounding the objects of the order, but
other subjects must be touched on. He
was asked why be did not eXpound pro-
hiDition; simply because the order had not
declared for it. he was asked why he
did not advocate the single tax law;
though believing in it, again because
the order had not pronounced in favor
of 1t. He then addressed himself
TO a REPUTATION OF the charges made against
HIM. lie would refute every charge and
his audience should be his jury, whose
verdict he would accept. He then detailed
the circumstances connected with his pro-
test against the appointment of Furlong
He first produced batch of letters which
Lad been carried to him by Shaw, most of
which bore on the envelopes the ''recal'' of
Marshall L. Mcdonald. Constituting the
reporters present a committee he submit
all the documents to them. Turning to
another document he showed how Shaw
had garbled and falsiiied the
evidence he pretended to submit.
lurlong's letter in the morning
papers was next overhauled and from the
records of courts sworn at the time be
proceeded to demonstrate that Furlong
had conSpired with one McCeagan and
others to entice Martin Irons and others to
attempt to tap the wires. so that he could
- make a criminal case against the strikers
The letters carried TO Powderiy by Blake
were then takeu up and one after another
the men whose names were appended came
forward and pronounced them forgeries
no less than ten lorgerles were proven.
Powderly then repealed the charge thst
he had made public the private letters Of
Russell Harrison. His letters to Harrison
had been peddled around st. Louis.
IL was the duty of ali good citizens to
prevent the appointment OF scoundrels to
office such as the one Furlong sought and
in lodging his protest he but performed
his duty.
The story told by Blake and Mcdonald
that Powderly was in Kansas City last
Sunday was disproved 10y kilograms from
the Forest City house, Cleveland, and
Mably * Carew, OF Cincinnati, stating
that Powderly WAS in these cities on sun
Gay and Monday.
From the published official reports he
vindicateG his position on the stock yards
strike IN lAlcago ana The great southwest
strike.
Referring to Martin Irons he declared
that he had ever found him square and
honest. At his invitation and that of NJ
Nesham of Denver, he attended the con-
Nention at Kansas City. He then and
there frankly told the men OF the danger
and probable result of the strike. None
OF the men who bore the blunt of the
strike ever blamed HIM and until they did
he cared nothing for the attacks OF the
scoundrels now assailing him.
His interview with Gould and Hopkins
was described ana Gould's repudiaticu
of his solemn promise was told in graphic
phrase. After Gisposing Of each charge
Powderly asked the audience; Have l
made out my case? Who told the lie
now!" elicting applause from the audience
He closed with ringing appeal TO the
knights of st. Louis to close up their
ranks and perfect their organization. The
meeting WAS decidedly Powderly scccess.