The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-11-17
POWDEHLY'S STATEMENT.


lie Says Turner's Charges arc Fa,so-Work
of the Gonrrni Assembly.
TOLEDO, o., Nov. lG.-Gcmcral Master
Workman Powderly makes the follow
ing statement in reply to ex-Trcasurcr
Turner's charges that ho Powlcrly)
borrowed X. OF l.. funds 10 build 4
house, and that his salary was raised in
order to pay back the money thus
used:
MY house was built and paid Tor
with my own money. | earned it, and
was under no obligations TO anyone. II
what Turner states were true it would
brand him as positively dishonest not
to reveal such IL matter to the general
conventions OF 1856 and 1857. | op-
posed him at Indianapolis in 1883 be-
cause he was incompetent, and ho then
circulated the same stories he now cir
culatcs. His accounts should contain
all OF his financial transactions with
the order and its officers. II he failed
to make fnll reports the opportunity 10
do SO was presented to h!m by the
special committee appointed ut the
Donver session, and what he now re-
haslcs could have gone into the official
report OF that committee.
Turner was himself member OF the
general executive board. At tho time
ho speaks of he WAS treasurer OF tho or
der, also, and when he states that the
100 delegates who assembled at the
Richmond general convention, in 1856,
increased my salary to 5000 to pay
back loan he tampcrs with the truth
very rccklcssly. Tho convention in
creased my salary TO $1,000 against my
protest, but am under no obligations
to the order or its members for that
money, for ! earned every cent OF it.
Mr.. Turner's contribution comes too
late, and must be regarded MS Il case OF
sour grapes, Tho general assembly has
aiull and explicit statement from me.
l am accountable to that tribunal and
not to any other for my conduct as Il
Knight OF Labor"
Thomas ScneX0n, whocxamincd Tur-
ncr's books, is in the city and SAYS Tur-
ncr's accounts are straight. Turner was
accused OF being short in his accounts,
t1't AZ ii'a ttiiill VI lllC GlluTpt Ilc llluuC
the counter charges against Powlerly.
81 have no knowledge OF what letters
M Turner may haye published in the
Philadelphia papers, and cannot be cx-
pected to reply to them. In Official in
tercourse OF several years many letters
OF personal and private character were
necessarily exchanged, and while have
no comment TO make on the publication
oiprivate letters, know that there was
nothing in these letters That l an
ashamed Of. The means resor,ed to
to increase my salary and build my
house wore not rs stated in Mr.. Turner's
published statement. Tile money that
paid for my house was due me, it was
mine. and am not, and never was un-
dor obligations to the order ior one cent
oi it. Tho cancelled cheeks AIr. Turner
holds may be Just rs he says but thesa
checks should be in the possession OF
the general assembly OF the X. OF l.. ii
they were for money OF the order they
belong 10 the ordor and in retaining
them Mr.. Turner gives coloring to the
charge that he is dishonest, while I
never accused him OF anything worse
than incompctcncy. All the money
| have ever drawn from the order was
drawn OH checks and should be in
charge OF the present treasurer"