The morning call., 1894-06-15
HAYES PECULIAR TACTICS.
Strange System of Espionage in
the General Office.
APPEAL TO KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
The Grand Secretary Treasurer
Threatened to Disgrace His Asso-
ciates When Pressed.

PHILADELPHIA, June 14.-Terrance Y.
Powderly, ex-master workman of the
Knights of Labor, las issued for private
circulation among the members of the or
der statement containing the inside his
tory OF the mOveme mt which compelled his
voluntary retirement. 1t forms PAM
phlet of thirty-four pages. IL a review of
the circumstances leading up to The events
of last fall, which have proven so momen-
tous to the knights of Labor. Powderly
alludes to the candidacy of John O'Keefe
in 1892 against Sayres for the Office of
general secretary-treasurer, which was
followed by OKeefe's discharge by Hayes
from his position In the general office.
OKeefe's complaint to the general ex-
ecutive board brought to light com plants
from other general Office employees. ali
members of the order, being watched,
dogged and browbeaten.
They asked for redress" says Pow
derly, ''and the general executive board
gave them u hearing in the general office.
The grand secretary-treasurer, who was
present when the clerks and other en-
ployes were called before the general
executive board, explained and refused to
be present at the hearing. The statements
made at the bearing were taken down in
shorthand and disclosed condition Of af-
fairs which gave the members of the gen.
eral executive board no little uneaslness.
Listening at keyholes. picking of pock-
cts, watching each significant move, read
Ing OF personal letters and, in fact, such
practices as would not be tolerated ln any
factory or other Industrial institution in
the land, were stated to be of daily occur
renee in the general Office.
when the general secretary-treasurer
was requested by the board to abolish the
system of espionage which prevailed in
the office. he denied that any such condi-
ton OF affairs existed. When pressed too
hard, he said in substance, I have infor-
nation that will damn the whole of you. l
can 60 to the world with a statement that
you are all engaged in stock jobbing, land
speculation and in every way neglecting
the business of the order for personal af-
fairs
when told that that would not be true,
ha said: 1t don't make bit of differ
ence; once lie is told it will go, and will
lie whenever l want to score a point.'''
POwderly then takes up the presentation
by A. r. Hayes of charges against the gen.
eral executive board which he denies in
every detail.
Recounting the consideration of these
questions in the last general assembly
Powderly says: when l had spoken for
four hours and twenty minutes, all told,
and the general secretary treasurer
(Rayes) had concluded his thirteen-hour
talk, Hugh Greenan of D. a. 404 stood up
aud asked the general secretary-treasurer il
there was any truth in his charges and he
said there was not"
Did these men mlsappropriate any of
the money of the order? Did they use any
of 1t for their personal ends? Have they
squandered the funds?' were the words of
Greenan as near as l can remember them.
The answer of the general secretary
treasurer was No to each question.
when making his speech the general
secretary-treasurer said: i always wanted
TO get rich. / want to be rich, and 1 will
get rich il / can.' At another time, after
explaining the workings of the gas scheme
in which he was engaged. he said: I am
the manager. the treasurer and the board
Of directors of the company. l made $1,000
on it this morning. and have the money
in my inside pocket now.
was in session." continues the statement.
james Hughes told me that the National
Democratic Committee had $4,000 there to
defeat me for reelection. / paid no atten-
tion to his statements, and told him 1t
could not be true. He said he had the
proof. At banquet given by the st.
Louis locals that evening James r. Sover-
eigD. who sat opposite, wrote on a card
and handed it to me. From the card now
before me. l quote these words: There
are $4,000 here from the East to defeat your
Say nothing. il will fall
"1n conversation he said he was positive
that the statement was correct, and that
he knew who had the money.
The ex-general master workman closes
with an appeal to the members to hold
their old assemblies together, but scrutinize
all new ones. and not allow SO many
''paper assemblies" to be organized that
the genuine ones would be outvoted at the
next general assembly at New Orleans.