Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-20
THREATENED MR.. SOVEREIGN,
excitement mt n h. of l.. Meeting An
Philadelphia.


General Master Workman James r.. Sow
ereign of the Knights of Labor went 70
Fhiiadelphia yesterday, and, in company
with Secretary-Treasurer John w. HAYES
ana members of the general executive
board. T. u. Mcguire and Henry r. Martin.
unsuecessfuily attempted to participate I'm
meeting Of District Assembly, No. i, X.
OF L.. yesterday afternoon. Mr.. Sovereign
ana the other general officers present mar
roWiy escaped rough USAGE at the hands of
indignant delegates
About thirty-five delegates to ID. A.. No.
l. We're present in the hall at 8 O'Clock,
"hen H. Z. Traphagen tried to call the
meeting TO order, but they were not there
70 assist him In the transaction of business
Iraphagen had been deposed from the once
of master workman at the assembiy's last
regular meeting on Thursday. August y.
and the members of that body declared the
meeting called by him for yesterday after
noon 10 he Illegal, making the Iurther allie
cation that in the sending out of notices OF
the meeting known opponents of the ad-
ministratton had been sighted. So, when
Mr. Traphagen took the chair yesterday,
the delegates sat around like wax figures
ana refused to participate In the opening
ceremonies.
Sovereign Takes a Hand.
Then General Master Workman Sovereign
attempted to take charge OF affairs. When
he announced his purpose, however, IL pro-
voked chorus of bowls. not musical, but
effective. Janitor Fitzgerald was sent for,
when Mr.. Sovereign saw that he was not to
be accorded a hearing. The janitor is a
dian OF ID. A rs charter. When he ap-
preached the general master workman the
latter impre2sively said:
Il am the general master workman ani
have the right TO demand this charter"
Fitzgerald replied: You have no authorf-
ty here, and III you. or others. attempt to
create any disturbance, IN throw you all
into the street."
Mr. Sovereign. after few moments re-
hection. sent for a policeman. when the
policeman arrived Mr. Sovereign asked him
to clear the hall.
IF anyone is TO be removed from this
hall, spoke up JanItor Fitzgerald. here
are the people i want removed" and the
janitor pointed his finger successfully at
Messrs. Sovereign. Hayes. Martin ana Ma.
guire.
The policeman. Heeing no sign that the
quiet of the Sabbath was being disturbed,
left the hall. Fitzgerald remaining master
of the situation.
When Mr.. Sovereign again tried to sreak
the commotiop was so great that disorder
prevailed. One of the members of l.. A..
No. i, said to have been illegally suspended,
rushed up to Mr.. Sovereign, and, shaking
his fist in threatening manner, denounced
iAiiii ds ptlnS "a TOOL OF secretary HAYES.
The General Omcers Leave.
Several delegates interfered and prevented
trouble. The roise of the disturbance In
the room, by this time, had attracted q
large crowd Of people to the outside of the
building, who wondered what was likely to
happen. The disturbance proceeded no fur
Their, because at this point AFR. Sovereign
and his friends left the hall.
The general executive board adjourned to
Mr.. Sovereigns room at his hotel after
leaving the hall, and. IL is said, decided 10
call meeting of a district assembly which
shall be formed of nine delegates from the
three local assemblies, one of which is COM
posed of the employees OF general head
quarters, at Sl4 North Broad street; anoth-
er, the local assembly which, Il IS alleged.
has Illegally taken the place of the genuine
L. A.. No. 1, and the third an Italian la
borers' assembly
IL is expected that this body will be recog-
nized by the general officers as ID. A. No. 4,
ana viii elect a representative tc the next
general assembly, TO be held in New Or
leans In November. who VIII favor General
Secretary Hayes. Mr.. Traphagen has been
Secretary Hayes candidate for this posi-
ton. and, IL is said. he expects to 70 10
New Orleans as the representative Of D. A.,
No. 1, of Philadelphia.