Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-27
MIR. POWDERLY RESIGNS,
He Was Unable to Carry Out His Will
in the Il. of l.. Convention.


Mr. Powderiy resigned his position as
general master workman of the Knights
OF Labor Saturday afternoon in Philadel-
phia. He was unable to keep the delegates
in the line he had marked out for them,
and this decisive move seemed to be the only
one left for him to adopt.
Immediately after his resignation was Of
fered he left the hall. as he said, to attend
to some personal business
This step was surprise to all the dele
gates, although a few of them said it was
what he should have done long ago. No
action was taken on the matter, although
1t was the topic of a discussion which last
ed until the assembly adjourned at 3
O'Clock. The causes which led up to the
resignation are numerous.
After Mr.. Powderly had been repeatedly
urged by the assembly to substitute new
list of names for members of the execu-
tive committee he acquiesced in these de-
mands. The second list was not much more
favorably received than the first, but he
was most persistent in his efforts to have it
accepted. Mcclure of New York was the
only one elected. and the assembly adjourn
cd Friday without getting any further
along.
Saturday the fight was begun with new
vigor. Every point raised by the master
workman was stubbornly fought by his
opponents with still no result.
In the afternoon new life seemed to have
been instilled in the anti-Powderly faction,
and they began to elect a board that would
best suit them. The first man chosen in
this way was II. Il. Martin of District AS
Sembly iJl, who got a majority vote of 81.
James NJ. Kenny of District Assembly 81
got a vote of -, and J. A. McGuirk OF
W washington polled % votes, bare ma
jority.
Mr.. Powderly's efforts to have his slate
considered were all in vain. He was almost
frantic in his endeavors to impress upon
the assembly that he was only exercising
the powers his office gave him. He wanted
his appoint elected His opponents told
him ne had rlisconstrued the meaning of
the constitution.
This only added fuel to the flames Mr.
Powderly would not accept the committee
men the delegates had elected. He declared
their election illegal Then the climax
came. The defeated leader spoke with re-
marKable clearness as he said:
Gentlemen, you must either obey the
spirit of the constitution or declare the Of
flee of general master workman vacant. /
now tender you my resignation"
With that he left the han. All the dele
gates We're astounded The subject was
discussed in all it's phases, and while they
were talking the hour arrived for adjourn
ment.
Mr.. Powderly was asked afterward if he
had really resigned. When l was loath to
stem the tide that was bearing some of the
men, and truest of the order downward"
he replied, Il told the delegates that they
must either declare my office vacant or ac-
cept my resignation, as | would no longer
serve. In a day two 1 will make state
ment, but at present / do not feel that l
should do So When 1 left the hall 1t was
to attend to some private business
While the outcome of Powderly's resigna-
tion was still in doubt some talk as to his
probable successor was INDUCED in. Sow
ereign of Iowa and Mcclure of New York
are those most prominently named, with the
former somewhat in the lead.
Sovereign Consents to Act.
The delegates who are opposed to Pow
derry held a caucus yesterday and at its
conclusion sent telegram to Labor Com
missioner Sovereign of Iowa, asking him if
he would permit the use of his name in
connection with the office of general master
workman. Last night a reply was received
from Mr.. Sovereign stating that he would
accept the position IL 3Ir. Powderly had re-
signed. 1t was further agreed at the eau
Gus that the resolution declaring the office
Of general master workman vacant will be
pushed through. thus bringing further hu-
initiation to Mr.. Powderly. Several of the
delegates lett for home Saturday night and
yesterday. most of them being friends of
Mr.. Powderly.
There has been much talk among the
delegates about q personal alteration
which Mr.. Powderly permitted himself to
be drawn into at an early hour yesterday
morning. Several of the knights, including
Mr.. POwderly, were discussing recent hap
peningS in the lobby of their hotel when
Mr.. Powderly used rather harsh language
toward one of the party. The man sprang
at his former leader and was about to use
his fists on him when friends of Mr.. Pow
derby dragged him upstairs to his room.