The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-25
BEHIND THE PowDERLy CASE.


There Is an inside history Of the real
cause OF Brother Powderly's expulsion
from the order of the knights OF Labor.
or which he was for many years the leader
under the title OF general master workman.
The reason given for his expulsion Is dis
loyalty TO his brethren. but this is "A mere
pretext. The fact is that he has been ex-
PEELED because he had entered suit 10 re-
cover good sum OF money alleged TO be
due to him by the organization on account
OF unpaid salary. and also OF disbursements
made by him at various times during his
term OF Office. So long as he held power
he RETAINED from pushing his claims by
legal process; ont when he was ignomini-
ously deposed from the leadership half
year ago he determined TO appeal TO the
courts as the only agency through which
collections could be made. The sum in
volved in the suit, including sundry items
besides salary. was reported 10 be between
5000 and 5000. When his purpose be-
came known, in the early part OF the pres
ent year. a feeling OF Indignation was
aroused in the order. more especially in the
executive board. which was the direct object
or prosecution. "A bitter attack upon the
repudiated general master was made in the
official organ. The question was asked:
s sine &C HI ne Spowdery) cannot play the lead,
knighthood? Another part of the diatribe
ran thus:
Had he Powderly) once considered at
what an enormous cost has been accumu-
lated In the treasury the few dollars which
remain there and which he now seeks
from IL; those dollars held as a sacred
trust for the advancement of the
years w Of to are in p iSe piI t
at the hammer, at the loom, in the
field. or on, top of box car. and which
was compelled TO take the bread from the
mouths Of hungry children that he might
and give it the wherewithai to carry on a
great struggle for emancipation: had he
never would have taken the action he has.
or, then, taking It, have demonstrated 70
the world that he was in the cause only for
the leading there was IN leadership"
Words not less bitter than these and ac-
cusations even more discreditable. have
been uttered in many Of the local assemb-
Hes for months past The new leader or
the organization, j. II. Sovereign, has re-
peatedly given evidence of his hostility
toward his predecessor in office; and the
ported Powderly's board have INDUCED in
the most rancorous denunciation OF the
man who has brought suit against them for
the purpose of capturing Their treasury.
Ii is punishment for this action that
the once powerful factotum has been sub
Jected 10 the indignity or expulsion after a
secret trial at which he not present.
There are not sufficient funds in the treas
ury to meet POwderlys claims II the suit
But the charge brought against him at
the meeting OF the executive totrd was OF
another kind, for a reason that will be OBJ
vlous TO those who understand that IL
would be impolitic to impose a penalty
upon him for appealing TO tie Courts 10
determine his claim. He was accused OF
violating that article of the cnnsti ution OF
the Knights OF Labor which prohibits any
member of the order from - dvocatin
its disruption or the withdraw OF any ID
cal assembly" under penalty Of exp, ls'on.
He recently attended corfererce 4
ganizations. and these took the gr5uns RI,
the trades assemblies or the ETigh-t
should join the American Fede-. to
president and that thereafter Gonpsrsi
federation ard Sovereign's order shoui1 c
operate for the benefit of the merabersH
of both bodies. so that there might -, i'n''
ty of action upon all occasions. In pr
ing this course Powderly declared -
did not desire to disrupt the body Ct W
he was a member. but rather To I m
Its interest. and to put an end
squabbles which have existed FIR ON
years In the labor ranks. 10 the detri-,
of all concerned In them. His rropositfl
however, has been made the prete~-
his expulsion. IL is a quarrel OF sareAe.
and OF disgruntled bosses on both sia-f III
General Master Workman Sovereign
new leader Of the knights of Labor
cantankerous and babbling person. H
been wallowing In a sea Of trouble ever
since he was elected as Powderly's s'c-r
sor in November last. He does not =
sess the shrewdness of Powderly. The
ganization is dwindling under his direc'ioa
1t began. indeed. TO dwindle wears ~ +.
while yet Powderly was at the head OF -
and its membership i'm 1894 is less ban one
third as large il ten years before
Its influence is slight In comparison with
what IL was. The fall OF Pcwderv frnrl
his leadership and his outlawry from its
ranks are but incidents in its later ,.arear
of misfortune. There is every probability
that its bankruptcy will be declared n 'he
ex-general master should win b" ffit
which he has brought against its zc-e..ye
board