Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1897-11-19
Mr.. SOVEREIGN IS DEPOSED
MASTER WORKMAN WAS WILLING,
HOWEVER, TO BE RETIRED.
new YORK MAN His SUCCESSOR.
Sensation Sprung In the General Assembly
OF Knights of Labor In Sessions at
Louisville, Ky.

James r. Sovereign, who has been
general master workman of the
Knights of Labor for the past four
years or more and who, before and
during that time, has been one Of the
ablest champions of the order and its
doctrines, was relieved of his office
Friday afternoon by the general
assembly, in session in Louisville, Ky.
Under ordinary conditions Mr.. Sow
ereign's term OF office would not ex-
pire until the next meeting. This,
however, it is said, makes no differ
ence with the order whose general
officers during meeting are always
in the hands of the assembly and can
be chosed and deposed at the will of
the majority. Along with Mr.. Sover.
eign there were three other officers re-
tired because Of this special election,
viz: 7. b. Mcclure, general worthy
foreman, of Amsterdam, N. Y; Daniel
Brown, of Montana, and H. b. Mar
tin, of Minnesota, members of the ex-
ecutive committee.
Henry A. Hicks, of New York dis
trict 253, New York city, was chosen
to fill Mr.. Sovereign's place, and 1.
ID. Chamberlain, OF Pueblo, Col, was
selected as general worthy foreman.
Senators Field Fitzpatrick, of Mon
treal, and Henry Bostock, Of Assem-
bly, 800, glassworkers, were chosen as
the two members OF the executive
board, the third member being Andrew
ID. Best.
This very decided change in the
corps Of general officers of the Knights
of Labor will cause considerable aston
ishment in labor circles throughout
the country. Save to those who were
on the "inside," 80 to speak, for the
past three months there was absolutely
nothing of this known. 1t is said,
though the change was sudden and
totally unlocked for, was done with
the amicable consent of all In some
quarters it is limited that it had been
prearranged.
1t is learned on good authority that
it was with Mr.. Sovereign's hearty
approval that he steps down and out
1t is, likewise, with the appreciation,
and in fact, love of his brethren of the
order that this is done. The same
holds good with the other officers who
were relieved. Mr.. Sovereign stated
that he wished retirement. He want
ed rest from the labor which the Office
entailed upon him.
Henry A. Hicks, the general master
workman-elect, was seen after the
meeting. He said that he did not in
tend to outline the future policy Of the
order under his administration for
several days yet. He expressed
the highest admiration for his
predecessor, saying that he thought
him one of the greatest opponents of
the age of the prime idea represented
by the Knights of Labor.
I. ID. Chamberlain, the worthy fore
man-elect, is a newspaper man.
All the business transacted at Fri. |
days meeting went through in the
most amicable manner possible.
The afternoon session was princi.
pally taken up with the delivery OF
Mr.. Sovereign's annual address.
Mr.. Sovereign prefaced his speech
with the statement that the opening OF
this regular session OF the general as
eembly presents to the world the "same
undismayed membership through
whose fortitude and courage the spirit
of progress combats greed and avarice
and deties the cant and hypocrisy Of
the age"
He then dwelt briefly on the triumph
of the principles of the order, saying
that il had survived the crimes Of it's
traitors, and prospered in spite of the
of its enemies. The order,
he said, was today stronger in MEM
bership, stronger in character aud
stronger in the hearts of the people
than it was year ago. He recon-
mended that this session confine its
deliberations largely to the work of
and to this end plans
should be put in operation which will
insure the service of the largest posi-
Die number of experienced and efficient
organizers in isolated and unorganized
fields.
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