Evening star., 1893-11-22
HAYES CHARGES SUSTAINED.
Progress of His Fight on General
Master Workman PowderIy

According to the Philadelphia Times to-
day, yesterdays session of the general as
sembly, h. of L., at Philadelphia, was
scene of defeats for Mr. Powderly. The
morning session opened with lively skir-
| mishes between the two factions over mo-
tions by the Powderlyites that certain
documents be referred to certain commit
tees without being read to the convention.
Many of the documents were resolutions
from district assemblies. protesting against
the actions of the executive board, and the
delegates presenting them protested vigor-
ously against their reference without a
reading TO Powderlys committees. The
question was put to a vote of the conven-
ton, and the demand that the documents
be read was carried by three to one. This
vote was the first feeling of the pulse OF the
delegates. and was victory for the Hayes
faction.
Nenturing a trife further, the Powderly
faction moved that certain unimportant
committee reports favorable to Powderly be
accepted. The opposition delegates vigor-
ously declaimed against this, and demand
ed that the matters be referred back to
the committees for further consideration
Upon a decisive vote they We're referred
back. the anti-Powderlyites thus scoring
a second victory.
Then came the battle royal of the morn
ing session upon the question of whether
Hayes charges against the executive board
should he discussed by the convention. The
debate was very acrimonious 1t was de-
cided to defer the matter until after the
finance committees report. AS the Powder
/ ly opponents knew what that report was
to be the deferring of this matter was
another anti-Powderly victory.
Hayes Charges Sustained.
The finance committees report upon
Hayes charges followed, and proved to be
the surprise of the convention, a committee
of Powderlys own choosing sustaining the
secretary-treasurers charges. The report
opened by complimenting Hayes in his ca
pacity as secretary and for the
correctness of his books and financial ac-
counts, and declaring that the books would
do credit to any banking institution in the
land.
Besides sustaining Hayes charges against
Powderly, a. W. Wright and Devlin of
financial mismanagement and reckless
ness, misrepresentation of funds. &C. the
committee added charge of its own to the
effect that the examination of the books
showed that fund raised for the benefit
of the New York Central strikers three
years ago, amounting to $4,000, was used
up in the salaries of the executive board"
The report went on to state that the books
/ showed that not one dollar of the fund
was used for the benefit of the strikers
The reading of this statement ELECTED a
general howl. and delegates looked at each
other with scowling faces and whispered
a
official careers of the accused officials
Then the unusual motion in the knights
was made. that this report be not con-
sidered until it had been printed and a
printed copy placed in the hands of each
delegate for study.
The objection was raised that it would
take too long to do the printing. Voices
were heard exclaiming:
Let ii be printed IL ii takes until Christ
| mas"'
Upon this motion was fought the ba tile of
! the day. and the vote is said TO have been
| test one. showing the relative strength of the
! factions. The motion to print was carried
! by vote in which ayes outnumbered the
! nays three to one.
Then came the climax. One of the
heavyweghts on the executive boards staff
! sprung a resolution to declare the charges
| by Hayes of mismanagement by the gen.
eral officers sustained by the evidence with
| the exception of those relating to Powderly
| Devlin and A. W. Wright. who were to be
eNonerated.
The most heated discussion of the day fol-
lowed this motion. The motion made
| to lay on the table, and amid great ex-
element was Carried. virtually killing the
! scheme to exonerate A. ". Wright Dev-
| lin and Powderly.
Then the now historic motion to declare
4 vacant the seats of all the general officers
was again made. This was laid over until
the finance committees report is printed
| and distributed, after which time the whole
| matter will be reopened for general de-
bate. Inquiries by eager delegates as to
/ when this report could be printed were
| answered by the statement that il would
be in type by tonight. Copies will be dis
| tributed at Thursdays session.
! The committee appeals and grievances
1 reported and caused further eXClamations
of surprise among the delegates by reflect
! ing severely upon the executive board for
their action in having the general assem-
! bly, meet in Philadelphia when the general
| assemby's instructions at st. Louis last
! year were to have this years assembly
meet in Chicago. Resolutions of condemna-
| ton of this action from various district
! semblies We're read i'm this report. EVERY
| body seemed anxious to debate on this SUBJ