Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-29
K. OF L. AND SOCIALISM
Action of the General Officers Toward 9
New York Assem- bly,.
MIR. Mcclure Says the Order Does Not
Want Members With Extreme Views
Strength of the Organizations.

The members of the executive board or
the Knights of Labor were again in session
today at their headquarters, No 43 b street
northwest, and it was stated that the mat
tiers considered were of routine nature, in
which the general public feel no interest.
The board is anxious to complete its bus
mess and adjourn today or tomorrow. as
it is necessary, said Mr.. Thomas B. MCGUIRE
to Star reporter, that some of the men,
bers at least shall be in New York Monday,
when it is expected Local Assembly. No.
1868. of that city will be reorganized, this
assembly having been suspended for cause
some time ago.
1T mas been reported" continued Mr.. Nc
CURE, that No 1863 has a large number
of members who also belong to the interna-
tional socialstic party, and that these, hav-
ing been thwarted in their plans for turning
the assembly into socialistic society, have
determined to cut loose from the regular
organization and make an appeal to work
iHgmen holding similar opinions and form
sort of independent Knights of Labor.
1T is fact that Local No. 1868 has among
| ITS membership some whose views on social
ism are opposed to the principles of the
knights of Labor. but these are few in
number and have little influence.
The wish of these men has been for some
time past to turn their assembly with all
who are willing to affiliate with them, into
branch of one of the European socialistic
societies, but far the general master
workman and the executive board have
been able to keep them from accomplishing
any HARM
so far as the K. of L. are concerned we
do not want members who possess such ex-
IRENE views on the subject of socialism
Sanization, and the sooner they leave u.s.
the better We will be pleased.
Statements have been made that there
Is also dissatisfaction in Assemblies Nos.
of Vnrl-
Brooklyn and It's of New Jersey, but this
Is not SO, except to the extent that there
are very few dlsSruntled individuals in
~. l am safe in asserting that outside of
- and 1863, the assemblies named are
loyal to the present administration. If 1t
were not so, 1t is strange that when the
question OF the acceptance of the resigna-
ton of General Master Workman Sovereign
was before the general assembly last week
tteir representatives did not vote to ac-
cept it. The truth Is, the dissatisfied ele-
ment Is so hopelessy in the minority they
are poWerless to do anything. The idea
that few socialists of New York have
as has been stated, authority 10 speak for
the Knights of Labor of Massachusetts
ana PENNSYLVANIA and the miners of the
latter state is ridiculous
Il see in some papers they say the move
| ment which it is alleged some of the mem
bers OF 1868 have in contemplation will wipe
out the present organization of the knights
OF Labor. Well, we are not alarmed as to
tnat We We're told when we elected a sue
cessOr to Powderly that he would have So
many sympathiZerS that we would be prac-
tlcally wiped out, but we were not and we
have no fears as to the outcome of the new
movement ii 1t shall ever assume definite
shape.
1.-The K. of L. had on July 1 last 1873 600
members in good standing, besides a large
rumber OF assemblies whose members owing
to the depression, have been unable to keep
their dues paid up. and these have been
exonerated from payment Of dues for the
present. 1t is our intention to do all in our
power to extend the benefits of the organt-
cation as much possible between this
time and the assembling of the next con-
VentiOn."
Mr.. Mcclure and two other members of
tne executive board who were present
laughed heartily when Mr.. Mcclure read
70 his colleagues the following clipping
from New York paper of a recent date:
1t Is reported that Assembly No. 40 and
the Excelsior Labor Club will Jointly issue
a manifesto to the Knights of Labor. stat
ing that the order as row conducted by
General Master Workman Sovereign and
General Secretary Hayes is more of a fake
labor organization, run in the interests Of
capitalists and politicians, and calling upon
all K. of L. men who are dissatisfied with
the condition of affairs In the order to come
ous and Join them as they claim to be the
true Ancient Knights of Labor, who devote
their time and energies for the welfare of
labor.
That" said Mr. MCGUIRE 'is so absurd
as not to be worthy the dignity of reply"