The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-08-21
UNIONS AND ASSEMBLIES
Clash Between Trades-Workers and the
Knights of Labor Draws to Focus.
The Latter Are Likely to Be Thrown Out Of
the Labor-Day PrOcsedings-Alsa the Ma
chinery MOulders-A Story OF Faction

Delegates from thIrty-tW0 labor unions
assembled last night at No. q West Pearl
street. In response to the call from the
Pressmen's Union to consider the interests
of the Labor-day demonstration. These
delegates represented the following unions:
Cigar-makers.' BAKERS plumbers machine
benchworkers'. furniture workers. car
painters three unions. hsir-spinners, wood
carvers.' architectural iron-workers'. bicy-
cle-workers', blacksmith's, printers tEn-
slish and German), hard-wood-work-
ers', upholsterers'. metal-pollshers and
buffers, locomotive firemen. The
presiding officer was ex-President
Mccarthy. of the pressmen. E. A.
Perkins was elected secretary. The occa-
sion of the cali was not stated. but for q
correct understanding the following state
ment is essential:
When. early in the spring. the prepara-
tons for she celebration of the first Mon
day in September, which is q legal holiday
In honor of labor, were begun. the execu-
tive committee, holding over from the year
before. sent invitations to every trade and
labor organization in the city. The pur-
pose was declared to be desire for o
harmonious demonstration that would
show the strength of all the or
ganized labor of the city. The
catholicity noted in the invitation
led the four assem- blies of Knights of La
Dor TO believe that they would be well
coined. When the meeting of the delegates
appointed under the call was held, the four
Assem- biies, K of L.. had each two repre-
sentatives present properly credentialed.
For the moment the deep-seated antipathy
held against the Knights of Labor was
overlooked, and their delegates were seat
cd with the rest. There was feeble pro-
test, but the one or two delegates object
ing did not persist In the demand for o
hearing. By the same oversight the dele
gates of the local union of the Brotherhood
Of Machinery molders, which is obnox-
ious TO the iron-molders' organization.
were admitted. The full import of the &C
lion taken was realized in the time inter
vening until the meeting two weeks later.
especially az the recognition of the knights
was emphasized by the selection of one of
their number, Mrs. Kern. as treasurer of
che committee. Since the second meeting
there has been q continual unessiness, q
constantly growing dlsconteDt among most
Of the labor unions. The cigar-makers Iirss
withdrew. and the printers the pressmen,
the book binders and several other unions
have followed the example. 1t was intended
NJ first to ignore the defections. but
within the last week it became evident to
the leaders that It was indlscreet TO do SO
longer. The unions, which for haTmony's
BAKE have consented to affiliate for the one
day with the Knights of Labor. came to
the conclusion that the situation was one
TO be borne with no longer. Throughout
the period of dissatisfaction the knights
have shown. It Is said. no constituencies to
the openly expressed dislike to them.
When, on last Sunday morning, vote was
taken IS to whether the knights
should be unseated. the result
was 20 ayes and 80 noes. The
eight knights of Labor delegates were
present and counted as part of the thirty
who voted in their favor. Their leader is
I'D Gould, he of the dOllar-a-day lie of 1888.
The meeting last night was attended by
the grievance or harmony" COMMITTEES, as
IL was fscetlously called. which was APP
pointed by the Labor-day committee.
Through the influence of these five commit
teemen the meeting was induced to fOrego
radical measures. 1t was broadly limited
that when the meeting of the bor-day
committee shall adjourn to-day. the knights
OF Labor and the machinery molders
will have been elected. unless they foresee
With such an understanding the press
mems meeting authorized the appointment
OF o committee of five. consisting of Messrs.
Perkins, Corcan. Lockwoo Cramer and
Robinson. to prepare statement of the
objections to the obnoxious organizations
and Of the reasons for the action taken.
Another committee consisting of Messrs.
Hampton, bingham, Brentlinger, Eden
ALd Tamm, was authorized to select
grounds and arrange for a separate demon
stretion in case the election of the Knights
and machinery-molder is not accomplished.
The discussion developed that the breac b
between the Knights and the unions can
not be closed. The delegates generally de-
nounced the Knights as not properly to be
ciassed as labor organizations. 1t was
plain that Gould was regarded as the type
Of Knight of Labor. 1t was shown that
the total male strength of the Knights is
not over sixty. and that these sixty have
eight votes, while unions having four
hundred members have only two
votes. A speaker said that when
be asked the knights what they wanted
20 be In the demonstration for, any way,
the answer was, I'VE want to be in il fol-
the stuff" Another speaker, in urging Q
delay Of radical action. promised that to-
day 'Mr. X. of L. would take q sneak,
The plasterers aud the painters announced
their unions bad decided to draw out OF
the celebration for one of their own. II
such IL not the case. It was made plain
that the demonstration ia doomed to fail
ure unless the causes of the division in
labors ranks IL removed. There will be
. large attendance at the meeting at Ma.
chinists Hall this morning.