The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-12
X. or I. GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Sovereign Urges Organization for the Nat
tie for Free Silver.

to q Frto SttNSts
ROCHESTER, Nov. 11.-This mornings ses-
sion of tho General Assemble Of tho KniShts
Of Labor opened at 10 o'clock. On taking
tho chair, General Master Workman Sover-
eign delivered his annual address. ho ro-
pented the charge OF tho coercion OF worklngmen
and mortgaeod farmers during tho political
campaign. and continued as folio "
"In the struggle Just passed tho knights
of Labor proved itself to be the only labor or
ganizntion that stood like an iron wall before
the fire OF the organized money power OF two
continents. Every general officer ana every
district and local assembly OF our order spurned
every offer of bribery, and scorned every threat
of tho money king. When the test came our
order-was found to possess the knowledge. the
courage. and the manhood to defy and combat
the CmissRrics OF organized greed. EXCEPT
tho great support given by that matchlcss
champion of labor, Eugene V. Dobs. the chief
officer of no other national labor organization
gave us material aid in our struggle for tho
cause Of tho common people. The American
Federation of Labor proved too loose In it's
organized capacity: and too weak In its test
of membership to either resist or evade tho on.
slauGhts of tho Wall street combines. and 1t
therefore became an easy prey to the ennis
sarics of corporate wealth.
Many trade unions ant many Of the officers
of trado unions stood Loyalty by the cause of
depressed labor. and did valiant service in,
our late struggle for economic reform. and
they cannot be too highly praised for the high
type of manhood their acts expressed. But
trade unions, In a general sense. are too frail
In their organic construction to depart from
tho narrow lines of craft and selfshness
and lead n great labor movement against tho
encronchment and aggressions of avarico and
urap1 That duty feynlyes ppnp fha KNIGHTS
of Labor, and at this session of the General
Assembly we should prepare the way, to unite
under the shield OF knighthSoG all the indus
trial reform forces of America.
To that end | would recommend that the
e c werr dii ,rsy i1Ieit , vi AZ tns I n@pW hi nre esrsen nS
effects to livhtJn his burdens in a dangerous
march across a dreary desert: l would instruct
possible, adjust all local differences with en-
ployers. leaving the general officers free to de-
vote the entire coming year to the work OF or
II would so change and abbrcviatc our pres
ent test of membership as to centre our imme-
diate demands upon an equitable income tax.
the free and unlimited coinage OF silver Mt the
present legal ratio. the pny inent o. all Govern
the Government issue of all the money OF the
country. | would make positive and uneQuivo-
ton, Increase of the standing army. the pay
ment OF the bonded debt In gold alone. the
issue of bonds in time of peace, and the issue of
circulating notes by banking corporations.
II would then prepare an entir. new secret
work, with stronger Obligations than we now
have, establish u degree known as the minute
men, and. as far rs possible. return to our for
mar system of working In absolute secrecy.
II would then appeal to the frec-silver and
reform forces everywhere for members hip and
support. and throw this organization into the
great broad field OF agitation TO fight the
money power and the corporations 10 an ever
lasting finish.
II would not recede from our demands for
land reform. nor from any of the other great
principles contained in the preamble of This
order. hut I would designate them as battle
grounds to he fought over after we have throt-
rled the life out of the money power that Is
undermining the foundation OF American lib
erty.''
The report of General Secretary. Treasur err
Eayes refers to the 'deep-laid plot" OF q small
clique of men. who are familiarly known as
the New York Triangle" OF the Socialis;ic
Labor Party. TO get control OF the machinery
of their doctrines. which he believed inimical
and ut variance with the platform and princi-
pies OF the order. He says that the movement
was sor the purpose OF enabling Daniel De
Leon. Lucien Sanial. and Ernest BONN to con-
troll tn order in every dcpartu ent.
In regard to tho troubles In Assembly 300 of
New Orleans. the report favors n reorGaniza-
ton of the assembly. and that part of the pres
ent organization be put again In charge OF the
funds and assets of the Window Glass Work
ers of the United States.
TIE report shows receipts during the year Of
S33. 7I4.13 from NIL sources; balance on hand
July l. 1895. S6.40+.9g: total, S40,l19.T -.
Disbursements. $40. 193. 20: balance on hand,
S326. 40. The sum OF S1.7i2.gT was ex pended
on account OF tho journal OF tho X. of L."
while the receipts were but 81, 50.