The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-11-13
SOVEREIGN WAS DEPOSED.
Knights Of Labar Have Elected a
New Grand Master.
IT IS SAID TO Be A RETIREMENT
McGuire. brown ana Martin Went
Down With Iinl-Ilenry Hicks
Of New York Elected.

"o'A"ah OF the knights OF Labor for the
past four yeans or more and who. before
and during that time, has been one of the
ao'est champions OF the order and its doc
trinss, was this afternoon relieved OF his
ONCE by the General Assembly, which has
peen IN session here since Monday last.
onoer ordinary conditions -. Sovereign's
term OF office would not expire until the
next meeting This, however, II is said
makes no difference with the order, whose
general officers during meeting are al.
ways In the hands of the assembly and can
De chosen and deposed at the viii OF the
majority.
Along with Mr. Sovereign there were
uhree officers retired because of this spe-
cial election, viz. 7. B. Mcclure. general
worthy foreman. OF Amsterdam, n. ";
Daniel Brown Of Montana and II. b. Mar
TIN OF Minnesota. members of the executive
Committee,
Henry Hicks of New York City was cho-
sen to fill Mr. Soyereigns place and II. D.
Chamberlain of Pueblo. Colo, was selected
as general worthy foreman. Mtssls. Field
Fitzpatrick Montreal, and Henry BostwicN
OF Assembly 300 of The Glass Workers as
ISOLATION were chosen as the two members
OF the executive committee, the third mem
Der being Andrew D. Best,
This very decided change In the corps OF
general officers OF the knights of Labor
Will cause considerable establishment in the
labor circles throughout the country. Save
10 those who were on the inside" so to
speak, for the past three months, there was
absolutely nothing of this known. 1t is
said, though the change was sudden and
to.ally unlocked for. 1t was done with the
Noah
II is limited that it had been prearranged
before the delegates gathered here for the
General Assembly. On good authority II
is learned that 1t was with MIR. Sovor-
eign's hearty approval thar he steps down
and out. II is likewise with the apprecia-
ton and in fact love for his brethren OF
the order that this is done. The same
holds good with the officers who were re-
lieved
Mr.. Sovereign said tonight 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 tonight. He said
that he did not intend 10 outline the fu-
ture policy Of the order under his admin
istration for several dnys 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
II. u. Chamberlain, the worthy fore
man elect, is a newspaper man,
All the business transacted at to-
days meeting went through in the most
amicable manner possible. There was not
the slightest hitch and perfect brotherhood
prevailed.
In the morning session the remnant OF
the routine business which had been left
over was disposed OF. The aftermath ses-
sion was principally tal;en UP with the de-
nf Mr.
which was listened to by the delegates
with the greatest interest and greeted with
enthusiasm.
Mr. Sovereign prefaced his address with
the statement that the opening of this reg
ular session Of the general assembly pre-
sents to the world the same undismhyed
membership, through whcso fortitude and
courage the spirit OF progress combats greed
and avarice and defies the cant and hypoc-
risy of the age"
He then dwelt briefly on the triumph OF
the principles OF the order, saying that 1t
had survived the crimes OF its traitors and
prospered in spite of the contumely OF It's
enemies. The order. he said, WAS today
stronger In the hearts OF the people than u
was year ago. He recommended that this
session coufine its dellben2t.ons largely 10
the work OF organization and TO TINS enn
plans should be put in ooeration winch
will insure the service CT the largest pos
sble number Of experienced and efficient
organizers in isolated and unorganized
fields. The work OF wholesale reform in
the labor field, he commended. Is retarded
through the coercion and corruption OF the
pucr BY the holdens Of idle capiti.. who
dominate the press and debauch the noli-
tics OF the country, while the courts apply
the arrogant lash of despotism in the form
of injuncrions against the freedom OF speech
and peaceable assemblage OF the pOor.
conference. a,
was a united labor protest against the
most fragrant outrages ever committed
against civil liberty in this country. IT was
the vox populi of an outraged Nation thnn-
dering against the pomp and arrogance OF
returning despotism, and since that time
free spech las not been suppressed by conlit
injunctions
Nj Sovereign then took as his theme
the great miners strike, in which he said
the knights had q large membership iirect-
ly involved. He said in part;
THAT great struggle was test between
undergrad. half starved labor and arrogant.
GREEDY coal barons. II was a strike born
OF hunger and necessity and appealed 10 all
the higher impulse OF humanity. On the
side OF the strikers stood the charity ard
philanthropy OF the world reckoning on
ward the slaves OF the mines ON the ether
hand, the shotgun policy OF the corpora
tons and the despicable court iniunctlons.
ne armed thugs were IltNt hHdu
the restraining orders OF tho courts, The
injurctions sought TO give the air OF cffi-
cial sanction and the color Of judicial zig
uity to the yilest expressions OF anarchy
ever uttered In this country. But anarchy
in judicial robes Is no more respectable
than anarchy in rags judge who VIII
suppress public assemblages is No less
traitor to this country than was Benedict
Arnold and the citizea who will resist such
an Injunction is no less patriot than were
the signers OF the Declaration OF lndeaend-
ence or the heroes Of Valley Forge. And II
Il ever comes to contest between consti-
tutional liberty and court iniunctions.
would prefer to wrap myse!f IN The flag
OF my country and tear down the courts In
defense OF the constitution rather than 10
distcnor the flag and tear down the con-
stitution in defense Of the courts.
while this great strike was supported
by all recognized labor organizations and
was the greatest struggle OF the kind ever
known In America, to the credit OF labor
II can be said that there was no Law less
ness or riot committed by the strikers"
Mr.. 4overeifn's reference to the Hazel