The times., 1898-07-26
TROUBLE IN LABOR CIRCLES
The Knights of Labor at War
Among Themselves.
AFTER HAYES'S SCALP AGAIN
Action of General Officers Con-
demned by Local knights - Per-
sonaf Prejudice Said to Re the
Cause of All the TroubIe-Situa-
tion Growing Serious.

The refusal Of the executive committee
Of the order Of The knights Of Labor 10
Indorse the appeal of the District As
Eembly of this city TOR funds 70 he used
for the defense Of the local members Of
the order who are indicated for conspiracy
under the antitrust law has reopened
hostilities between Assembly No. e6 and
the general officers.
AS a matter Of fact, in consequence of
the refusal Of the general officers 10 en-
tertain the appeal for funds, District
Assembly No. 66 Of this city. has issued
a circular letter TO the knights of Labor
throughout the United States demanding
the removal OF Henry A. Hicks, the gen
eral master workman of the order, An
drew Best, a member Of the general eX-
ecutive board, and John w. Hayes, the
general secretary-treasurer Of the order.
To those acquainted with the labor sit
uation in the District, so Ear as the
knights Of Labor are concerned, the re-
fusal Of the general officers to indorse the
appeal Of Assembly No. &C was no great
surprise, for it is known that they have
not been on friendly terms for more than
two years. The cause Of this unfriendli-
ness, however, was due to personal diff
ferences and the local knights say that
on such an occasion as the present, when
the interests Of organized labor at large
are al stake they hoped that the old diff
ferences would be forgotten. for the time,
ct least. This. they say, is not the case.
and in the circular letter TO the assem-
q 11a af
the general executive board wholly TO the
personal prejudices Of its members 10 the
local knights.
The master workman OF District As
sembIy No. 66 was out Of the city yes
terday and was not seen. prominent
member Of the order, who has been TAX
ing a very active part in preparing for
the defense Of the local Knights under
Indictment. said that there was no doubt
in his mind that the action of the general
executive board was prompted by person
al animosity entertained by its members
against some Of the men indicted rather
than a lack of interest in the result Of
their prosecution. He also attributes the
ACTION Of the board TO the undue infiu-
ence Of Secretary Treasurer Hayes,
against whom charges were preferred a
year or more ago by some of the men un-
der indictment. Another cause for i'll
feeling between the general executive
board and District Assembly No &c, he
said, is that the latter Endorsed Henry B.
Martin, an ex-member Of the board, for
q place on the industrial commission
while Jake Schonfaber. formerly editor of
the Journal Of the knights Of Labor, was
the choice Of the executive board.
AS soon as the members of District As
sembly No e6 were indicted, that body
issued an appeal 20 the other central
labor bodies in Washington for aid. This
appeal met ready response from local
organized labor, the trades unionists
especially coming promptly and cener-
ously 10 the assistance Of their fellow
wori men.
lie Central Labor Union. the repre-
sentative body Of the trades unionists.
prepared a circular letter which was
Endorsed by Samuel Gompers, president
Of the American Federation of Labor
and this was sent very generously
throughout the country. It was this same
appeal which the general executive board
Of the Knights of Labor was asked TO
indcrse, but refused 10 do.
SecretaTy-T Treasurer John ". Haves
said yesterday he was at loss to know
why his removal was asked for by Dis
trict Assembly No IS. He had. he said.
really nothing TO do with the action Of
the executive board in its refusing to
indorse the appeal. The appeal was sent
10 and received by General Master
Workman Hicks and by him referred TO
the board, Of which he is not member.