The herald., 1897-11-13
LABOR CIRCLES SURPRISED
BY PROCEEDINGS OF KNIGHTS
IN ASSEMBLY
The General Master Workman, Tired
Of Office, Makes Room for
Henry A. Hicks
.ssoc.ated Press Special Wire.

X. Sovereign, who has been general
master workman of the Knights of
Labor for the past four years, was this
afternoon relieved of his Office by the
general assembly, which has been in ses-
sion in this city since Monday last. Under
ordinary conditions Mr.. Soverign's term
of office would not expire until the next
meeting. This, however, it is said, makes
no difference with the order, whose gen.
eral officers during meeting are always
in the hands of the assembly and can
be chosen and disposed at the will of the
majority. Along with Mr.. Sovereign
there were three other officers retired
because of this special meeting, viz: T.
B. Mcguire, general worthy foreman of
Amsterdam,N. Y; Daniel Brown Of Mon
tana and H. B. Martin of Minneapolis, Of
the executive committee. Harry A. Hicks
Of District 253, New York city, was
chosen to fill Soverign's place and 1. d.
Chamberlain Of Pueblo, Col, was Sc
lected as general foreman. Sanf1eld
Fitzpatrick of Montreal and Henry
Bostwick of Assembly 300, glass workers.
were chosen as the two members of the
executive board, the third member be-
ing Andrew Best.
This decisive change in the corps of
officers of the K. of L. will cause con-
siderable establishment in labor circles
throughout the country. Save to those
who were ION the inside" SO to speak,
for the past three months, there was
absolutely nothing of this known. 1t
is said, though, that although the change
1t was done with the amicable consent
of all.
At headquarters it is hinted that it
had been arranged before the delegates
gathered in this city for the general
assembly. On good authority it is
learned that it was with Mr.. Sovereign's
most hearty approval that he steps down
and out. 1t is likewise with the appre-
citation and, in fact, love of his brethren
of the order that this is done. The same
holds good with the other officers, who
were relived. Mr.. Sovereign stated to-
night that he wished retirement. He
wanted rest from the labor which the
office entailed upon him.
Henry A. Hicks, the general master
workman elect, was seen after the meet
ing. He said that he did not intend to
outline the future policy of the order
under his administration for several
days yet. He expressed the highest adj
miration for his predecessor, saying that
he thought him one of the greatest ex.
ponents of the age of the prime idea
by the K. of L.
Ioi thn
man elect, is a newspaper man.
All the business transacted at today's
went through in the most
amicable manner possible. There was
not the slightest hitch. In the morning
session the remnant of the routine busi-
ness which had been left over was dis
posed of. The afternoon session was
taken up with the delivery
Of Mr.. Sovereign's annual address, which
was listened to by the delegates with
the greatest attention and greeted with
applause.
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 coinbats greed and avarice
and defies the cant and hypocrisy Of the
age"
The order he said, was today stronger
in membership, stronger in character
and stronger in the hearts of the people
than 1t was year ago.
He recommended that this session
confine it's deliberations largely to the
work of organization.
Mr.. Sovereign then took as his theme
the great miners strike in which he said
the Knights had a large membership
directly involved. He said in part:
"That great struggle was test between
underpaid. half starved labor and arro-
CANT, greedy coal barons. 1t was strike
born of hunger and necessity and ap-
pealed to all the higher impulses of hui
manity. On the side of the strikers stood
the charity and philanthropy of the
world, beckoning onward the slaves of
the mines. On the other hand the shot
gun policy of the corporations and the
despicable court injunctions. The armed
thugs were more tolerable than the re-
straining orders of the courts. The in
functions sought to give the air of offic-
ial sanction and the color of judicial
dignity to the vilest expressions of an
archy ever uttered in this country. But
anarchy in judicial robe is no more re-
spectacle than anarchy in rags; a judge
who will suppress peaceable public as
semblage is no less a traitor to his coun-
try than was Benedict Arnold, and the
citizen who will resist such an injunction
is no less patriot than were the signers
Of the Declaration of independence or
the heroes of Valley Forge. And If it ever
comes to a contest between constitution
of liberty and court injunctions. I would
prefer to wrap myself in the flag Of my
country and tear down the courts in
defense Of the constitution rather than
to dishonor the flag and tear down the
constitution in defense of the courts.
"While this great strike was support
ed by all recognized labor organizations.
and was the greatest struggle of the
kind ever known in America, to the cred
it of labor it can be said that there was
no lawlessness or riot committed by the
strikers"
After the annual address the change in
officers took place. The old officers were
relieved and the new ones elected and
Installed.
Mr.. Sovereigns name was the first
mentioned In nomination, but he imme-
diately rose and said he would not ac-
cept. No one opposed Mr.. Hicks. The