Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-06-21
POINTS
He Addresses a Big Meeting of
 Knights in New York.
MIR. GoMPERs WAS NOT PRESENT
The American Federation of Labor De-
 nounoed and War Declared.

An Attempt to stampede the Meeting. The Eight-Hour Movement Reviewed. Powdorly Willing to Resign if H1s Friends Desire It-Ths Knights Wnl | Resent All Attacks in Future.
 NEW YORK, June 21.-The prospect of hearing an exchange of civilities be- tween Messrs. Powderly and Gompers attracted large crowd to the Cooper Union last night. Many were unable to gain entrance.
 President Samuel Gompers, of the American Federation of Labor, was not present. He sent his respects, however, in a very strong letter, which was afterward read.
 The Executive Board, K. of L., ap- peared on the platform at 8 o'clock. Mr.Powderly introduced George Warner, of D. A. 213, as chairman. Alexander Wright. of the Executive Board, was the first speaker. Aftsr briefly ex- blaming the object of the meeting, made against the Knights by the Feder- ation of Labor, he introduced MT. Powderly, who was greeted with loud applause.
 MT. Powderly said he regretted the necessity of this meeting. After read ing MT. Gompers' recently published letter, he invited MT. Warner to take Board, after considering the letter, had decided that as this was regular meeting called for specific purpose, 1t would not be proper to adopt MT. Gompers' suggestion to give that gen. tleman half the time of the meeting for purpose not contemplated in the call.
 | 900 Men Leave the Hall. At this point body of about 200 men rose as if by prearrangement and left the hall. MT. Powderly said: "All who desire to leave will please do SO now, as there are hundreds outside who cannot get in." This pertinent and pal pably true statement was received with great cheering, and the effort of the seceders to break up the meeting fell flat. In a moment the hall was packed as full as before. When quiet was re- stored MT. Powderly addressed the meeting. He referred to certain insinu- ations made against the management of the Knights. He denied that he was in 1886 opposed to the eight-hour princi- pies. He was opposed, however, to certain methods of conducting the eight-hoi. movement. He believed in practice, .,aeasures. A hiss. "Geese and serprlls hiss; we are fighting them . right along" said the speaker. IA voice: "We are working people here." "Here, too," rejoined Mir. Powderly; ''it is a Q principle of our order that the man who works with his brain or his jaw is 8 laborer well as he who works with his hands," [Applause.]
 The Eicht-Hour Movement. MT. Powderly then read documents showing that the Knights were the first to suggest the eight-hour principle. At tho St. Louis convention they fixed May 1, 1890, as the date for it. "This being so, how could thirty eight men speak for the whole crowdP asked Mr. Powderly. There was deafening applaus SC at this reference to the Federation. MT. Powderly, referring to the future policy of the Knights, said they would continue. in the eight-hour movement, to help those who are willing to help themselves.
 He then went into an analysis of the statements of membership of the Federation, and asserted that the large apparent membership was made up by claiming=Knights of Labor as members of the Federation.
 Cause of the Present Trouble.
 MT. Powderly spoke of differences ot method between the two organizations He said the first trouble between them occurred whom the Knights succeeded in having the wages of cigarmakers increased. The man who headed the Shoemakers' Union was little better than lunatic, and the Knights had te expel him. MT. Powderly declared that all workingmen should stand together He was ready to resign in favor of Mir Gompers it tho workingmen would unite under himsas a leader. "T know as well how to follow as to lead. [Ap plause. l. The Knights have long borne !. insult and misrepresentations in silence Hereafter, as a part of their duty tt n labor, they will resent insultland strik, @ back when attacked" [Great applause.
 Powdsrly's Psroration. Q MT. Powderly spoke for two hours t. ,t show that the Knights were alway, # consistent, and concluded, after an elo h quent peroration regarding the worl of tho Knights, as follows:
 'The time has come when we hav' borne our last insult in silence. Fron = this time we will seek no quarrels but
 He advanced to the front of tho plat s form and continued: "When the snarl e ing cur snaps at our heels then ou j, weapon, whatever 1t may be, shal strike that snarling eur from the rank of honest labor" Loud and continues