Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1896-11-16
TRIANGLE DENOUNCED.
Sovereign's Order Resents What it
Terms VilIainous Attacks
by Socialists.

eraI assembly, knights of Labor, went
into secret session Immediately after con-
vening today and will remain behind
closed doors until p. m. General Mas
ter Workman Sovereign's report was
read, and was followed by the report OF
General Secretary and Treasurer Hayes
Nothing of the other proceedings Will bs
given out to the press until the different
committees report, which will probably
be tomorrow morning.
The annual report of Secretary.Ife
urer J. w. Hayes opens with reference
to what the official named terms attacks
of a most villainous character on the
general officers of the order Shy reason
of the just stand taken by them Ill re-
fusing to allow a small clique OF men
who are Familiarity known as the New
York Triangle of the Socialistic Labor
party to get control of the machinery OF
the knights of Labor for the dlssemlna-
ton of their doctrines
The so-called triangle, according to Mr..
Hayes, consists of Daniel De Leon, Luz
Glen Sanial and Ernst Rohn.
Mr.. Hayes complains that although the
laws of the order prescribe that working
cards, receipt books and other supplies
be obtained through the general assem-
bly,, the receipts from those sources
amounted to only $2437.
The report treats also of the action of
the American Federation of Labor di-
recting all organizations that were affil-
lated both with the Knights of Labor
and with the Federation (for trade pur-
poses to withdraw from the knights of
Labor.
This action, the report says, is in di-
rect violation of the arrangement entered
into with the general executive board by
the representatives of the national union
previous to the formation Of national
trade assembly No. 35, wherein it was
agreed that the interest of the order was
to be the first consideration, that the en-
tire trade should be organized under the
jurisdiction of the knights of Labor and
attached to national trade assembly No.
30 and that the general assembly should
render all possible assistance to the trade
in protecting their members from unjust
and tyrannical employers.
Mr.. Hayes recommends that the brew
ing industry be thoroughly organized
into the order of the Knights of Labor
by the district assemblies in whose juris-
diction the business is located; that all
local assemblies so organized be attached
to the district assemblies organizing
them; that the general organization rem
der all possible assistance to districts
doing this work, and that all organizers
any persons who owe their first al
legiance to the National Brewers union.
Among the amendments proposed are
these: Making the per capita tax to the
General Assembly 3 cents instead Of
cents; to so amend the constitution as to
abolish the office and title of the general
executive board and thereby place the
entire supervision of the order in the
hands of the general master workman,
general worthy foreman, general secre-
tary and treasurer, the elective officers
of the general assembly, subject to the
approval by vote of the representatives
of the general assembly; to so amend the
various articles and sections of the consti-
tuition as to make the decision of appeals
to the next highest authority governing
on court cases, or points of law as the
decision final; to amend initiation cere-
moniS by shortening the same; to give
to District assembly No. 253. knights of
Labor building contractors, the absolute
authority and right to organize the build
ing trade into locals, to be attached to
said districts in a radius of twenty-five
miles from the general postoftice in New
York city.
Statements of all receipts during the
period of one year and three months,
commencing July 1, 1895, and ending
September 80, 1896. show a total of $780,
1913. On July 1, 1885, there was Il bal
Rnce Oh hand of $6404. so that the pres
ent cash balance is 1896.
Grand Master Sovereign in his annual
report said: ''After a struggle of TWEEN
ty-seven years against the evils of ag-t
gregated wealth by our order. we are
confronted with more serious problems,
affecting the rights and liberties of the
industrial masses than ever before. Not
only have the idle Specializing classes
demonstrated their ability to dominate
productive enterprises and accumulate. the
wealth of toiling millions, but they have
demonstrated their power to coerce wage
earners and mortgaged farmers with
threats of discharge and foreclosure into
submission to their will. The autocratic
holders of idle money have subverted the
principle of free government by forcing
political service from the poor as the
tenure of employment.
'Inthe election struggle just passed the
knights of Labor proved itself to be the
only labor organization that stood like a
the two continents" Mr.. Sovereign add
ed that, except Eugene " Debs, the,
heads of labor organizations, including
the Federation of Labor, gave no mate
rial aid in the recent struggle.
AS to future policy Mr.. Sovereign,
says: II would prepare an entirely new
secret work with stronger obligations
than we now have and establish degree
known as the minutemen and as far as
possible return 10 our former system of
working in absolute secrecy. / would
then appeal to the free silver and reform
forces everywhere for membership and
support and throw this off into the great
broad field OF agitation to fight the
money power and the corporations to an
everlasting finish"
cAuDy1rU cCNT TO ppvkN