Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-11-16
MOUSE FOR MILITIA
Sovereign Urges the Abolition
Of the National Guard,
REDUCTION OF UNCLE SANS ARMY,

And Consolidation of Organized Labor
National and state Troops Threaten .
Military Despotism and the Subjug.tion
Of Labor, He Says-Procee<lings Of the
Chicago Industrial Congress To he Per-
Petuated by a Book and Commission.
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 16.-The feature of
the knights of Labor session was the an
nual address of General Master Workman
Sovereign. Immediately after the opening
OF the session communications were read
from Vice President III. &. Robinson, of
Nigo County assembly, F. NJ. b. A, which
stated that while the +. NJ b. A., were
not OF the same order, they were in SYM
pathy with the efforts of the X. of l.. to
Hibernate labor from the thralldom which
now overwhelms them" A telegram was
also read from Miss Frances +. Willard,
stating that the W. c. T. L. would con-
vene today. Sovercign's annual address
was an exhaustive and elaborate resume
OF the work of the order from its incipi-
| sncy. He attributed the decreased MEM
bership of the order to the depression in
business circles, prevalent bankruptcy,
low wages, and forced idleness of the la
boring classes
His Suit Against the Bonds
He stated that he had Travelled b, i64
miles since his stewardship and had or
ganizcd eleven new assemblies and made
ninety seven public addresses. He reviewed
his action of last January when he secured
the services of Judge c. c. Cole ana filed
bill in the district court of the District of
Columbia, setting forth special grievances
OF his order and protesting against the is
suance of bonds by the secretary of the
United States treasury He characterized
the writ of injunctionthat the United States
circuit court of the eastern district of
wisconsin as despotic injunction. Refer
ring to the A. r. L. affiliations he advised
coalition with this. as well as all labor
organizations.
Wants the Militia Abolished.
His resume of the Pullman strike ter
minated in severe criticism of Major Gem
erai John NJ Schoteld and the recon-
| mcndations of that officer for an increase
| OF the army. which together with the
| action of Chicagos 'aristocracy" which
was permitted to present standard of
colors to the Fifteenth infantry. was IAN
indication OF an uneasy desire to subju-
gate labor through the military powers of
thc nation. he urged that the assembly
take strong grounds against an increase
OF the military force of the nation, and
that they advocate a decrease in the reg
ular army and the abolition of the state
militia. for from them are coming to the
surface the sentiments of military des-
potis!n."
Criticises the Banking Laws.
lie contended that too much of the
orders time was taken up by minor uues-
lions ana read correspondence of last
month between himself and Secretary II.
NJ. Farley, of the Civic Federation of
Chicago. He also made a sharp criticism
of the banking laws He advised n fsw
minor changes in the preamble of the
order. At the close of the address the re
port OF the general executive board was
presented and referred to the several com
inItteeS. 1t was a voluminous affair, but
contained much of interest to the dele
gntes. The meeting then adjourned for
| the day. The order of business for this
morning is the roll call of delegates for
I ne reading of resolutions
I