The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-05-21


The charges against Powderly and his
are based on the following
laws OF the Knights, contained in article
81 of tho constitution:
Any member OF tho order advocating its
disruption or tho withdrawal OF any local
assembly or othor assembly from the order,
shall by that act stand expelled from the
order.
The foregoing section was especially
framed by Powdorly whom in power to
meet Just such cases as his own, whore
malconle ents advocated tho withdrawal OF
trades assemblies aud locals from the order
OthOr sections read: The general eXecu-
tive board shall when satisfactory eVl-
denc0 IL presented to them suspend any
member who at any local, district, nation
nj trade or state assembly advocates or nd-
vi'es the formation Of any club or other
association not controlled by tho laws OF
the order, unless an alliance exists bo.
tween this order aud such organization.
Any member Of tho order who shall
malign any officer or member ana
who shall fail to sustain his assertion
by proierring, within fifteen days, charges
against said officer or member and who
shall fail to prove the same upon convic-
tion OF the cifense shall be expelled.
Whenever member Of the order uses
the public press or takes 10 the public
platform TO name an officer or member In
such manner az to reflect on the name,
character or reputation OF that officer or
member upon satisfactory proof OF such
act to the general executive board, said
board shall declare tho offending member
expelled or fix such other penalty rs tho
magnitude OF tho olfense may warrant.
subject to appeal to the general assembly.
With these sections Of tho constitution
as a basis, MessrS. Mcclure, French and
Martin, constituting u quorum Of the gen
eral executive board, met in Boston, and
after an investigation OF the charges, ex-
PEELED the three members as stated. Gem
eral Secretary.Irea,ure Hayes was at
once notified and the letters notifying the
delinquent members OF their expulsion
were ut once mailed from this city.
Meanwhile POwderly, no doubt aware
that his actions and utterances would ultl-
mately bring about his expulsion, has been
casting about fora field for his peculiar
talents. ana failing with the Federation OF
Labor has hit upon the Prohibition party.
In an article published In tho last Issue Of
the Voice he denounces high license, advO-
Gates prohibition and ilagellates the saloon
keeper as II habitual violator OF the law,
the door.opener TO arson, forgery and all
manner Of crime, and the DTiber OF the po-
lice, the municipal authorities and the
ministers OF God.
DENIAL OF THE REPORT.
Mr.. Powderly WAS seen last night at
his home on North Main avenue by q
TRIBUNE reporter, who was the first to
carry to him the reported action of ex-
pei lment by the new general executive
committee. He pronounced the report
"A fabrication.
THE laws guiding the knights OF
Labor" said Mr.. Powderly, "sny that
no member shall be dismissed from the
order without first being given trial
at which TO prove his innocence Of the
charges preferred
DO those laws apply TO any charge.
he was asked2
They do. aud l have not been mott.
fed"
When asked what part he played in
the so-callel snap conference held last
month at Philadelphia for the alleged
purpose of handing over at his, Mr..
Powdcrly's, inStigation the Knights
OF Labor organic ltion to the Federation
OF Labor, he said:
Pursuant to call issued by Joseph
r, Buchanan OF New York, a con fer
encs Of representatives OF organic "a
labor met for the purpose Of promot-
ing better understanding and greater
harmony in action between the various
organizations OF labor throughout the
country. This Unofficial meeting was
officially reported rs D'ing attended by
nearly all the recognized labor leaders
representing all branches Of trades
"Did you at that meeting Rdvoca.
the absorption OF the Knights by tht
Federation. =" questioned tue raporierH
Il did not, nor did | propose our ALI
anco with any other labor organza
tion.
1t was suggested by the reporter tina
the Object announced ns the purpose o
the April Philadelphia meeting-''t
promote greater harmony, etc, be
tween labor organizations" might b,
construed to moan just what the &C.
cusations against him, Mr. Powdsrly
implied.
"That is impossible" he said "bs
cause the men present at that meeting
know the views expressed; they are
matter Of record"
DID NOT ADVOCATE ABSORPTION.
"Will You state through The TRB
UNE what reference you made at tn
meeting regarding any afliliation or ab
sorption OF the Knights Of Labor by
another bodyf
II said nothing about 'ahsorbtion,
quickly replied tho erstwhIlo labo
leader.
What did you say. ploasoT
II said the past was gone an,
it wh not my purpose to ro
call 1t. Nun is the only animal VIII
gobbles up his own species; the othe
divisions of the animal kingdom pre-
only upon other Npecies Isaw In thi
conferences the battle-Scarred veteran
OF tho labor movement, and said |
might possibly bc true that 1t would b
better to have the work OF the confer
ence carried on by tho younger me
who had been less identified with fac
tionnl strife.
II was there TO build up both tn
knights OF Labor aud trade unions. S
long as dual organizations exist, trou
bio will ensue, Unity must DO locr
first, There ia where most fights be
gin.
81 had just returned from Canada
whore the members OF Dstric
Assembly, 1875, had been pre-
pairing to leave the order
told them to stay In tho order, to nls
have their craftsmen 20 into the trad
unions where the aff lirs Of the trad
could be better handled"
Il thought nrl aIvoca'ad that