The times., 1897-11-28
IN THE WORLD OF LABOR.

There is stiIl great deal of unea siness
and anxiety among the local members OF
the order of the Knights of La Dor as to the
action of the General Assembly in refusing
to seat the delegate from District Assembly
No. &C. Master Workman La wson. the
delegate who was refused admission to the
annual convention OF the order, has made
a detailed report to Assembly No, SO,
giving his views Of the action OF the Gen
eral Assembly,. The newly elected gen.
eral master workman Of the order, Henry
A. Hicl;s, also wrote the District Assembly
letter explaining the situa tion.
These communications We're not given
out for publication, nor would the leading
members OF the order i'll Washington dis
cuss the contents. There is hardly any
doubt, however, that there is wide dir
ference in the conclusions reached by the
writers Of the letters and great differences
of opinion expressed by them as to the
fairness and causes OF the course pursued
by the general body. Mr.. Hicks statedthat
the cause Tor the refusal 10 admit the dele
gate was on account Of the standing Of
Assembly No. 66 III the order 1t was his
opinion that the local assembly was not in
standing since shortly after the adjourn
ment OF the General Asse emily, which con
vened in Rochester, n. Y, last Nov embeT.
At that meeting, it is said, certain manda-
tory orders We're issued TO Ass emily No.66,
which it refused to carry out according to
the instructions of the general convention.
The correctness of this statement is lie
! MED by many of the most prominent OF
the local Knights of Labor, Who claim To
bemore familiar with all the facts surround
ing the matter than the general master
workman is at this time. As a matter OF
fact, the local leaders say that il Mr.. Hicks
had not been lnisled by pre- JUDGED persons
he would sec that District AssemhIy has
been more sinned against than SHINING
As stated above, the status Of affairs
was reviewed in the reports of both the
local and general master wOrkmen in
their reports sent to the last n eetiug of
| the local District Assembly. These re-
| ports it understood, have been referred
| TO the various local assemblies FOR dis
cussioL and report. 1t Will probably take
| two weeks to lear from all the assemblies
on the report, and until then no action
| will be taken by the District Assembly.
| This way of dealing with the matter is vir-
ually referring the reports to the local
| assemblies under the referendum. and
their recommendat will no doubt be
| indorsed by the District Assembly.
| In this connection it may he said that
| it is stated on the authority Of the local
| master workman that several of the as
| senblies, which some time ago protested
| against his election a S A delegate to the
/ General Assem- bly,, ha e since Tescindefl their
| action, anG now ndorse the position ne
| has assumed. 1t was also rumorad last
| week tia those asSeu hlies whose delegates
| to the District Assembly Were lot in accord
| with the opinions of the ma jority woulG
be requested to withdraw and send new
| representatives in their places. In case
| this is not done, then it would be he policy
of the District tG ask the assemblies, whose
delegates We're Objectona BILE to withdra W
and in case of thei refusal they would bt
suspended.
This matter was referred to several oi
the local leaders. No action looking TO any
such procedure has been discussed in
assembly meetings, it vas said, although
it was known that several OF the local
members of the Knights of Labor consid-
cred that such u course might he nee
essary for the good of the order. Tn
more conservative members OF the orde
say that such a course of action wi
hardly he necessary to maintain the
standing of the Knights in Washington.
Another subject which has been widei
discussed blythe members OF local organize
labor during the week is the invitation Q
the Trades Uniontsts, extended 20 til
knights, To meet them in conference fo
the purpose OF devising some plan to briIl
about more friendly relations bet =,-<'an tn
two factions. a similar propos:sscl Wa
made by the Central Labor Union ove
a year ago, but no conference was helt
The reason given ny tie Knights for II,
meeting the Trades Unionists is that tn
personnel of the committee appointed b
them was such AS To prevent an agre
ment being reached. At that time n
. most intense feeling of hatred existed b
: tween the two factions, and it was in
possible 10 get the leaders from both side
, into conference,
AZ the present time a great deal OF tn