The San Francisco call., 1897-11-13
Action Taken by the General
Assembly Surprise to
Outsiders.
BUT 1T is ALL DONE BY
PREARRANGEMENT.
An Interesting Annual Address
Made by the Retiring Head
of the Order.
Special Dispatch to The CALL

LOUISVILLE, Nov. 12-James R Sow
ereign, who has been general master
workman of the Knights OF LABOR Ior the
past four years or more, was this after
noon relieved of his office by the General
A embIy, which as been in session in
this city since Monday last. Under ordi-
nary conditions Mr.. Severe gn's term of
office would not expire until the next
meeting. THIS however. it is said, makes
no difference with he order, whose gem
eral officers during a meeting are always
IN the hands of the assem- nly and can be
chosen and deposed at the Will of the ma
jority.
Along with Mr.. Sovereign there were
three other officers retired because of this
special meetnr, VIZ. : T. B. Mcclure. gen.
eral worthy foreman. o. Amsterda m, n.
Y. Daniel Brown of Montana and II. B.
Martin of Minneapolis OF the executive
commit ee.
Henri A. Hicks of District 253 New
York City, was chosen 10 fill Mr.. Sover-
e gn's place, and l. D. Cham perlain OF
Pueblo, Colo, was selected as general
worthy foreman. Sanfeld Fitzpatrick k
OF Montreal and Henry Bostock of As
mbly 300, glass workers. were chosen as
the two mem 5ers of the ex- cutive hoard,
the third mem Der being Andrew Be t.
This decisive change IN the corps OF
fficers Of the Knights of Labor viii cause
Considerable astoniShmen IN labor circles
throughout the country. Save 20 those
who were ION the inside, so to speak. for
he past three months, there was absolute
ly nothing of this known. 1t is SAID,
though, that although the change was
sudden and totally unlocked or it was
done with the anicable consent OF l.
AL headquarters it Is limited that it baa
been prearrang before The delegates
gathered in this city for the General AS
sem Gly.
On good auth ority it is learned that it
was by MIR. Sovereign's most hearty ap-
proval that he steps down and out. II is
ikewise with the appreciation and, in
TACT, love of his brethren OF the order that
his is done. The same holds good with
the other officers who were relieved. M.
Sovereign stated tonight that ne wished
retirement. He wanted rest from the
LABOR which the office en- allied upon him.
Henry A. Hicks, The general master
workman elect, was seen after the meet
ing. lie said hat he did no intend to
outline the future policy of the order un-
der his administration for several days
yet. He expressed lie highest admira-
ton for his predecessor, saying thai he
thought h IN one of the greatest expo
pents of the age Of the prime idea repre-
sented by the Knight, of Labor
/. ID. Cnam berlaln, the worthy fore man
elect, is newspaper man.
All the business transacted at to-day 8
meeting went through in the most
amlcable manner possible. There was
not the slightest hitch, and perfect
Brotherhood prevailed. In the morning
session the remnant or The routine busi-
ness which had been left over was dis
posed OF. The atternoon session was prin-
ci ally taken up with the delivery OF Mr..
Sovereign's annual address, which was
listened to by the de egates with the
greatest attention, and greeted with ap-
plause.
MIR. Sovereign prefaced his address
with the statement that the opening OF
this regular session of the General as
semi bly, presents 10 the world the "same
undismayed mel bership through whose
fortitude and courage the spirit OF progress
com bats greed and avarice, and def s the
cant and hypocrisy OF the age" The order,
be saiu, was to-day stronger in mem bel
snip, stronger in character and stronger
in tn" hearts of the people than it was
year ago.
He recommended that this session con-
fine its deliberations large 10 The work
OF organization. The work of who! esale
reform in the la bor field, he contended, is
retarded through the coercion and corrup-
tion OF the poor by the holders OF the Idle
capital, who dominate the press and de-
bauch the politics of the country, while
the courts apply the arrogant lash OF des-
potism in the form of in functions against
the freedom Of speech aud peaceable as
tenn blage OF the poor.
THE st Louis conference" he said,
was uIited labor prote against the
against civil liberty in this country. 1t
was the vox populi of an outraged nation
laundering against the pomp ana arro-
gance of returning dcspotisin, and since
that time free speech has not been sup
pressed by court injunciions."
MIR. SOverelgn's reference TO the Hazel
ton affair was brevity itself, he simply
saying that it was cold blooded murder
of inoffensive Hungarian miners by the
Sheriff OF Hazelton," whom he character
lied as an agent Of employing corpora
tions.
After the annual address the change in
officers took place. The old officers were
relieved and tue new ones elected and in
stalled. Nr Sovereigns name was the
hrst one mentioned in nomination, but
he Immediately y arose and said he would
not accept. No one opposed Mr.. II cks.
The other officers were also chosen with as
much ease. The assembly was then de-
clared formally organized. The regular
order OF business will be taken up to-