The times., 1897-11-21
IN THE WORLD OF LABOR.

The action of the General Assembly of
the knights Of Labor in annual session at
Louisville, KY, last week, in refusing to
seat Mr.. A. N Lawson, as d representative
Of District Assembly No. So, has been the
chief topic of discussion in labor circles
dun ing the ,lsst week. Not only among the
KnighCs Of Labor ofthe city but also among
the trades unionists, has the matter been
discussed from every possible standpoint.
Several uf tie knowing ones have ventured
to predict the result so far as local La tor
| is concerned, bat merely as a ma tier OF
opinion, without any foundation in fact on
which TO base their conclusions.
The situation, as seen by many Of tue
local members OF the order, is simply
that they have been in the past paying
| trthUte 10 the national organization ia
| the shape OF per capita tax and assess.
| ment., without the privilege Jf representa-
tlnn ii tie national council OF the order
Under such conditions they think they
would be better cut of it, once ami for all.
| II such q course is determined upon by
the local assemblies affiliated with Dis
trict No. SO, the question which next pra
sents itself is, where will they 60 to- VIII
they form an Independent order or Join
the TtuEs OF the American Federation?
The latter is highly Improbable. For,
ever since the organization of the Frtl-
Grafton. d feeling of intense unfriendlineSs
has existed between the members OF the
two organizations.
IL the local district assembly is unani-
nous in its action on the question, w hat is
best Co bn dcne2 and tie locals should decide
to leave the order, it would be more likely
that an Independent organiza ton w.,utd
reformed There-is, however, another i'm.
portant matter winch would have to he
considered in case such a course is lie
cded upon. Many Of the assemblies COLI
I,ected with District No. Go have national
trade affiIla tiCns. Such of the ma tIonal
bodies as are represents ed in the Knights If
LHbor would, of course, object to thrir
subordinate bodies connecting themselves
with either the American Federation of
Laber or with an Independent organfza-
ton.
On The other hand while the various loea:
assemblies may disa pprove OF the action
OF the General Assembly of the order to
such a degree as to warrant their with
drawai, still they may conclude that they
VIII he able 70 receive greater support, mora,
and financial, from their national trades
organizations than they possibly could from
an inGepend ent local order.
Another pha Sc of the matter which viii
demand the serious attention OF the differ
ent local assemblies i'll case they decide
to with,lrw from the Knights of Labor,
is the disposition Of their funds. Accord
Ing to the laws of the order the funds
OF the local assemblies are the property . /
the general assembly, and upon the with,
drawal OF any subordinate assembly must
be turned over to the general secretary
treasurer. An assembly, however, while
A member of the order can make any dis.
position its members see fit of its property.
1t can make it a gift to anyone it chooses
or donate it for the benefit of public or
private charity.
There is, however still another phase of
the question. The lines of action suggested
above, it is undelst TODD. are only possible
when tho District Assembly would act
unanimously in the matter. If, however
a sufficient number of assemblies indorse
the action of the general order and de
ternine 10 maintain the organization of
Assembly No. 66, the whole complexion
of affairs will be changed.
At tie meeting of District A ssenlbly No.
66 last week the master workmans report
Of his trip to Louisville WAS eagerly looked
for. but it was not forthcoming. He, how
ever, Hadc a brief verbal report, but this,
it is said, did not sa tisfy the delega teS, who
insisted on having report in detail at
the next meeting
1t was stated that the master workman
had completed his report, buG his typewriter
disappointed at the last moment. The re-
port. 1t is understood, will be quite lengthy.
anu deal with the subject OF his rejection
as delegate in detail
The leading Trades unlonists of the city
express the opinion that the end of Dis