The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-24
The Passing of Powderly.

Terence V. Powderly, late General
Master Workman of the Knights of
Labor, has been expelled from the order
Of which he was so long the head The
charge against him was conspiring
against the order, to break it up and turn
its strength over to rival organization.
The scheme, it was alleged, and presume
bly, proved, has been at work ever since
the deposition of Powderlv at the last
general convention of the knights
AT an unofficial labor conference held
at Philadelphia recently it is said direct
Overtures were made by Powderly and
his coterie of followers to the orRaniza-
ton which it was proposed should absorb
the Knights of Labor. The plan was
that Powderly and his followers, in the
name of the Knights of Labor, should
adopt resolution favorable to the alb
sorption of the assemblies of the knights
by the other order, and telegraph it all
over the country as having the sanction of
the general executive board of the
knights. knowledge of this action
caused the knights to expel Powderly
and several of his lieutenants forthwith.
With the expulsion, Powderly's career
as labor leader comes to a close. In
deed he has been only an agitator since
he was removed from the head of the
order, and the chances are that he will
never again be anything more. He prob
ably had an idea that the disruption of
the knights might enable him to build
himself another throne upon the ruins.
But the summary action of the order
spoiled that possibility
Powderly's career has been a remarka-
BILE one. During the first few years of
his leadership of the knights of Labor he
was one of the most powerful men in
America. The order was intensely loyal
to him, and apparently he gave it his un-
divided devotion. Powderly was poor
then. Latterly he began to accumulate
property, and acquired a desire for politi-
cal distinction. And these influences
seem to have changed his character 1t
is charged that he used his position to
better his own fortunes, and eudeavored
to lead the great non-political organiza-
ton into politics by the nose. The
knights growled considerably when thew
saw him getting rich so fast, and cut off
part of his salary and perquisites; but
there was no concerted movement to-
ward his overthrow until he had bios
somed out as a politician and endeavored
to teach his followers socialistic opinions.
Powderly's dabbling into politics, how
ever, was not the sole cause of his down
fall. That cause came along about the
same time with other causes and con-
tributed largely to the result. He had
made too many promises which he could
not live up to, and had grown over-confi-
dent from long tenure of Office He
promised 70 lead the order to higher
wages, shorter hours and a management
of affairs about as the order pleased. He
failed, time after time, and the men lost
confidence in him. But he was so arrogant
as to think he held the knights in his
vest pocket and could do as he pleased
with them, IL has not been very long
since he conferred upon himself the title
of the Uncrowned King of the Work
ingmeu." And he probably thought he
had reached the period of sovereignty.
And then the order fired him and elected
a Sovereign.