The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-11-17
KNIGHTS OF LABOR
Report of the General Executive
Board Made Public.
A REVIEW OF LAST YEARS WORK
And Justification of the Boards
coursc-rhe Year One of Trial For
Organized Labor-Not Profitable to
Discuss tho Cause OF the Panic.
1t Is Sufficient to Know That 1t Came
and Labor and It's Cause Has Been
the Greatest Sufferer,

| AhS NASNbGSS eSAhSASN'
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Nov. 16.-Tho re-
port OF the general executive board
Knights of Labor was given out for pub
Iication this morning. 1t opens. with
a review OF tho years work and justifi'
cation OF the boards course as follows:
"The past year has been one OF trial
TO organized labor When your board
has been appealed to aud asked for
their advices in cases otdespair or when
reductions OF wages have been proposed
by employers they have felt it their
duty to counsel cautions and conserya-
tive actiou, even in instances where in
justice, demand for increased wages,
or the resistance OF proposed reduc.
ton would have been proper and right.
The steady stream OF immigration,
which in spite of restrictive legislation
continues to flow to the shores
OF this continent makes it com.
paratiyely easy for employers to
filtthe places OF striking workmen. In
addition labor has had this year to
reckon with the fact Of a financial panic
andI an industrial depression. The
cause OF the panic is question that 1t
would be improbable 10 here discuss.
Whether it was occasioned by the op-
Grafton OF the so-caIled Sherman act as
some assert; to the uncertainty regard
ing tariff legislation. as others main
tain; or whether it was part OF de-
iberately planned conspiracy, having
for its object the doubling Of the value
OF the worlds funded debts through
contracting the worlds money, which
would be the inevitable consequence OF
the demonetizatIon Of silver, as an in
creasing number believe, need not here
discuss"
Reference followed to the report OF
the secretary treasurer and the falling
off of the per capita tax. This was
sscribed not to a failing belief in the
orders principles, but to sheer inability
OF members to pay their dues.
THE ROW IN THr RANKS.
The row in the rankswhlch started
last night with the filing OF the report
of Grand Treasurer Hayes, was contin-
ued with great bitterness today and to-
night. There are no evidences OF an
anic6bIe settlement. The morning
session OF the convention was taken up
with routine business,
In the afternoon the Hayes action
was renewed again and very bitter ad-
dresses were made by A. W. Wright
ana John Devlin, OF tho general board,
disclaimins the charges. Mr.. Wright
accused Mr.. Hayes OF having false
system Of bookkeeping and said that if
any unlawful expenditure was made it
was owing to that fact. He intimated
very strongly that Mr.. Hayes has been
carried away by his enmity to the
general master workman, to the extent
OF deliberately falsiiying the accounts
so as to mislead the delegates.
TIE RESOLUTIONS.
At the morning session the follow
resolutions we're referred to appropri-
ate subcommittee:
Recommending political action by
members in the interest Of organized
labor. Advocating the restriction OF
immigration so as to shut out undesira-
BILE persons. That the saloon question
which prohibits saloon keepers from
becoming members OF the order-be
modified so that barkeepers may be adj
mitted under conditions. Concerning
the relations Of the order with several
establishments upon which boyCotts
have been declared. Favoring the
Swiss method OF legislation, or initiative
and referendum. on political action.
On the question OF the amalgamation
OF all labor bodies into one powerful or
ganization, providing that the general
officers be selected from the four parts
Of the country-north, south, east and
west. On the special work in New Eng.
land, and providing for the consolida-
ton of the order there into one district.
Urging the enforcement OF the contract
labor law. Asking for an increase in
the pay of the letter carriers. On the
organization OF the women shirt work
ors. Protesting against the Comstock
law (allowing agents OF the society for
the suppression OF vice to open mail)
as unjust. On the organization OF the
coopers. Providing for the organiza-
ton OF political body to be known as
the Industrial Army.
When the assembly adjourned in the
evening the delegates were as nom
committal as on previous days.
One OF tho leading knights said to-
night that the outcome OF this assem-
bly, will be the beginning OF the greatest
movement for organized labor that
this country ever saw. Whether or not
Mr.. Powderly will be the head
OF the movement he could not say, but
he did not think that any one man
would again possess the power once en-
joyed by Powderly, and he did not
think it would be for the good OF the
organization to have so much power
vested in one head.