St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-11-18
POWDERLY GETS HOT.
vigorous Denial OF the Charges
Made by Treasurer HAYES.

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 17.-The fourth
day of the Knights of Labor general
assembly was the hveliest yet. General
Master Workman Powderly made
scathing denunciation of the methods of
certain men in the order, and general
denial of the charges made by Secre-
tary-Treasurer Hayes. He talked for
a long time about the state of the
order and its future prospects. Other
members made things lively by decar-
ing that the stories printed in two of
the Philadelphia morning papers were
lies made out of the whole cloth. Their
statements were challenged by several
OF the opposing faction. who said there
was great deal of truth in the stories
This debate was so long and so ami
mated that the general master work
man did not start his speech
until nearly - O'clock. AS usual, the
meeting was held behind closed doors.
and the reporters We're referred to A,
S. Worsley, of Beaver Dam, KY, editor
of the Kentucky lndustrialist and
member of the press committee. Mr..
Worsley said the greater part of the
time this morning was taken up with
the past three days.
The only question of interest up to
this morning in the opinion of the press
COMMITTEES was proposed change in the
constitution, by which delegates shall
hereafter be elected by popular vote, in
stead of from central organizations, as
at present. The new plan is favored
by many, but is opposed by some, and
no action was taken upon it.
In the afternoon Master Workman
Powderly resumed his address. He
called to mind a number of alleged yio-
lationS of rules by some of the dele
gates. He said, very plainly, that some
one was dlVulging the secret delibera-
tions of the assembly, both to indivdu-
ais and newspapers, and recommended
that measures be adopted by the dele
gates in person who were not
guilty of any such violations, to en-
deavor to have the. practice stopped.
This created no little comment, and the
usual proIestationS of innocence from
all. Mr.. PowderIy also denounced the
charges made by Secretary-Treasurer
Hayes as absolutely and unqualltiedly
false. He said that there had been no
misapplication of funds donated for the
relief of the strikers at Homestead, and
that each and every act of the executive
of the delegates to the general as
sembly. He explained where and
how all the money SAID to have
been misapDiied was used. He then
appealed to the general assembly and
asked if they were not satisfied with
his explanation. He intimated that
charges and false reports were given to
newspaper representatives by persons
who had a grievance, real or fancied,
I'm, No. NE
board, and i'll unmeaSured terms de-
nounced such proceedings as being un-
worthy of a knight and gentleman.
On the views looking towards the
amalgamation of the order with kindred
organizations, he elaborated quite
extensively. He stated that he had the
personal assurance from officials of sew
eraL of the large labor organizations
thatthey would take Immediate steps
to set the matter properly before their
respective associations.
A committee was appointed to confer
on the amalgamation idea and held q
secret session tonight. In the morning
1t VIII make its report.
n Populist Congressman Davis is au-
thority for the statement that some ac-
ton Of general interest will be taken by
the assembly tomorrow. The committee
on finance, he said, will make its report,
in which not little public interest has
been manifested because of the alleged
misapplication of funds.
A meeting was held tonight for the
purpose of considering ways and means
for the amalgamrtion of all the existing
labor organizations. 1t is asserted that
representatives from all the large bodies
of worklngmen were present and that
plans were formed which, If carried out,
will bring about the consolidation. Those
present. are said to represent a member
ship OF 100000 to 100000. A result of
meeting will depend on the action the
generally assembly make take, but as
the meeting was attended by represent
alive Knights close to Mr.. Powderly, 1t
10 claimed that the general assembly