The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-12-20

He Furnishes q Statement of His Trouble with
Callahan-Prepared for Arrest.

SCRANTON, Pa. Dec. 1T. v. Powderly
to-day furnished the local papers with a
lengthy statement of his difficulty with
Edward Callahan, of Scottdale, which led
to the present prosecution for conspiracy.
Mr.. Powderly says that the commencement
of this trouble dates back to the appoint
ment of a committee of Knights of Labor,
in the spring of 1887, to watch legislation
In the interests of ~worlkingmen as it came
before the General Assembly of Pennsyl-
varia. This committee vas appointed by
a convention called by Mr. Powderly. He
heard no more of the matter until March 2,
1888, when he received o letter from Ed
ward Callahan. stating that the committee
neglected its duty. and that the writer was
reliably informed that members who stood
high in the order did not want
the committees reports published.
In reply. TO, this, Mr.: Powderly
wrote that he had not been before appraised
that the committee had neglected it's duty.
and at any rate the matter was not IN his
hands. In conclusion, Mr.. Powderly re-
quested Mr.. Callahan to give his authority
for stating that members who stand high
in the order do not want their reports pub
lished.p asking this under the seal of the
general master workman.
On March z Mr.. Callahan wrote his reply,
telling Mr.. Powderly that "he would see
him in hades. and the order on top OF him."
before he would give him, under the seal of
secrecy, what is already public property.
He also said that Mr.. Powderly was dere-
lict in his duty in not having the committee
report to BIN. and that the committee was
ban published in the Pennsylvania
Argus, at Greeusburg, y communication
stating that he went to the committee ap-
pointed to watch the Harrisburg Legis-
lature. and to obtain the record of G.. &.
Legislature, whom Mr.. Callahan accused
of treachery to w~orkingmen and to the bill
known as the "Bymer check-weighmnn
bill" Chairman McGraw, of the commit
tee. stated that it had published no reports.
and no members high in the order were
seeking to have them suppressed. Mr.. Cal
lahan then gave he history of his CORE
~spondence with Mr.. POwderly, and said
that after his last letter Mr.. Powderly cir
culated an infamous lie about his letter to
chances badly. IL fell by the hands of sup
posed friends" said Mr.. Callahan. but 4
rise again to expose the villainy of labor
organizations when the interests of their
pets are assailed."
Some time in June a convention was held
for the purpose of nominating q candidate
for Assemblyman in the Scottdale district.
A short time before the convention MIR.
Callahan wrote Mr.. Powderly. saving that
injurious stories. had been circulated
about him by JOhn X. Byrne. of Fayette
county. and others. which bore upon their
previous correspondence. To correct these
Impressions. Mr.. Callahan requested Mr.
Powderly to publish his letters. One OF
these letters was dated june s. On June1 II
Mr.. Powderly received another letter, in
which Mr.. Callahan informed him that he
was 1.-The most contemplate. the most hate
full and the most designing villain who ever
escaped a halter" He accused Mr.. Pow
DERBY of villifying him by circulating the
stories which led TO his defeat. Had you
published my letter." he declared. you
would nave saved me. but if you
had published it You would have exposed
your Own treachery to the knights, and you
DERBY published a full statement of the
difficulty, together with several of Gala
hans letters, in the Journal of United
Labor, on =. 1888. In which he asserted
his innocence of the charge brought by Cal
lahan and his surprise at the rash utter
ances of the man.
Mr.. Powderly told a reporter. to-day, that
he knows nothing of the present case, ex-
cept what he has seen in the newspapers,
but supposed that it is a renewal of the
charge of conspiracy. He does not know
Callahan, though that gentleman claims
to nave met him in the Bingham House.
Philadelphia, on April z. 1887 Mr.. Powder
ly thinks that there is no doubt that his
name has been used by Callahan's oppon-
ents, but he says he Is not responsible for
that. The libel is not against Callahan,
but against himself, for, although he is
thoroughly innccent in the matter. he has
been subjected to persecution and dam
aging allegations. Callahan mas even gone
SO far as to write Mr.. Powderly that he
/ made a fool of Cardinal Gibbons by lying
to him, and every one else. Mr.. Powderly
has not yet been arrested. but to-day he
placed all of his papers bearing upon the
case in the hands of his attorneys.