The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-11-13
SOVEREIGN SUCCEEDED.
The Knights Of Labor Leader Re-
tired From Leadership.
SUCCEEDED BY HENRY A HICKS.

ereigu Declined a denomination,
Louisville, Nov. 18.-James r. Sow
ereign, who has been general master
workman of the Knights Of Labor for
the past four years or more, was yes
terday afternoon relieved of his office
by the general assembly, which has
been in session in this city since Mon
day last. Under ordinary conditions
Mr.. Sovereign's term Of office would not
expire until the next meeting. This,
however, 1t Is said, makes no difference
with the order, whose general officers
during a meeting are always in the
hands Of the assembly and can be
chosen and deposed at the will OF the
majority. Along with Mr.. Sovereign
there were three other officers retired
because Of their special election, viz.
T. B. Mcclure, general worthy fore
man, of Amsterdam, N. Y, and Daniel
Brown of Montana and H. B. Martin
Of Minnesota, members of the exeou-
tive committee.
Henry a. Hicks, of New York city,
was chosen to fill Mr.. Sovereign's place,
and L. ID. Chamberlain, Of Pueblo, Cal,
vas selected as general worthy fore
man. Sarsheld Fitzpatrick, of Mon
treal, and Henry Bostock, Of Assembly
300, glass workers, were chosen as the
temporary members Of the executive
board, the third member being Andrew
d. Best.
Though the change was sudden and
totally unlocked for, II was done with
the amicable consent Of all. In some
quarters 1t is limited that It had been
prearranged before the delegates had
gathered in this city for the general
assembly. It was with Mr.. Sovereign's
most hearty approval hat he steps
down and out. In fact, he declined a
denomination. The same holds good
with the officers who were relieved. Mr..
Sovereign stated that he wished re-
tirement. He wanted rest from the
labor which the office entailed upon
him.
In his annual address yesterday Mr..
Sovereign spoke very hopefully Of the
future of the order. He said in part:
Mr.. Sovereign prefaced his address
with the statement that the opening Of
this regular session Of the general as
sembly presents to the world the same
undismayed membership through whose
fortitude and courage the spirit Of
progress combats greed and avarice
and defes the cant and hypocrisy of
the age"
The order, he said, was today strong
er in membership, stronger in character
and stronger in the hearts Of the peo-
pie than it was a year'ago. The work
of wholesale reform in the labor field,
he c%0ntended, is retarded through the
coercion and corruption Of the poor by
holders of idle capital, who dominate
the press and debauoh the politics of
the country, while the courts apply the
arrogant lash Of despotism in the form
of injunction against the freedom OF
} speech and p~eaoeable assemblage OF
the poor. 1.-THE st. Louis conference
he said, " was a united labor protest
against the most fragrant outrages
ever committed against civil liberty IL
this country"
{ Mr.. Sovereign then took as his themt
the great miners' strike, in which hi
n said the knights of Labor had {
large membership directly involved. HI
said in part:
THAT great struggle was a test be
tween undergrad, half starved laboi
and arrogant, greedy coal barons. 1
s was a strike born Of hunger and ne,
cessity, and appealed to all the highsl
impulses Of humanity. On the side o
e the strikers stood the charity and phi
/. lanthropy of the world reckoning on
ward the slaves of the mines. on thu
. other hand the shotgun policy Of tn
corporation and the despicabIe cour
injunctions. The armed thugs werl
-e more tolerable than the restraining or
ders Of the courts Anarchy in judi
cial robe is no more respectable thai
anarchy in rags. A judge who viii
e suppress peaceable public assem-
Il blages is no less a traitor to this coun
try than was Benedict Arnold, and tn.
citizen who will resist such injunction
L is no less a patriot han were the sign
d ers Of the Declaration of independence
n or the heroes of Valley Forge. And /
It ever comes to a contest between
constitutional liberty and court in
functions 1 would prefer to wrap my
self in the flag Of my country and tea
down the courts In defense OF then con
stitutlon rather than to dishonor tn
flag and ear down the constitution 4
defense Of the courts"
Mr.. sovereign's reference TO the Ha
zleton affair was brevity itself. II
a simply said that It was "a cold bloode
IT murder Of inoffensive Hungarian mir
% ers by the sheriff Of Hazleton," who h
\ characterized as an agent Of employin
!, corporations.
L.