The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-16
KNIGHTS Of LABOR MEET.
SECRETARY HAYES REPORTS 4
REMARKABLE FEATURE.
Occur d'Alene Dynamiters - IN
Infanous aid Vicious Assault Up

BOSTON Nov 1.-THE sessions OF the
general assembly OF the Knights OF LABOR
were continued today with General Mas
ter Workman Parsons, OF New York. IN
the chair.
The afternoon session was devoted 70 the
reading Of the reports and 10 an ADDRESS
by Charles II. Iitchsm. ex-secretary-
treasurer Of the order.
Parsons Wants Politics Taken Up
General Master Workman Parsons, OF
New York. in his report said in part;
Since the convention at Chicago nave
had occasion to visit number OF !ocais'
including those OF Chicago and Cisyeiana,
and / feel fully convinced that We are
soreiy IN need OF a competent corps OF o.
ganizers. During the coming year TIE
country viii be again excited over tne
issues that will arise IN the contest that
win be waEed for the control OF the aHalfs
Of this country for the succeeding Tour
years. think, therefore. that 1T osnooyes
us at this meeting TO take up some OF
these issfes. in order that our representa-
tives might he given the benefit OF the
Judgment Of all in the stand they may take
In the name OF their order Tor -ne Dement,
Of the working people.
Perhaps the most important OF those
issues viii be the trusts. for who has not
observed the progress they are making,
and who will contend that they carry any
charm for the wage worker? The concen-
uaticn of wealth as employed in the Indus
tries OF our country has made many Strikes
during the past few years which have re-
ever such combinations have been effected.
II remains for us TO uphold the stand TAX
en- by the founders of our order who
through their foresight have seen the APP
proach Of the condition that Is fast COM
Ing on
Secretary Hayes Report.
The annual report OF John W. Hayes. the
general secretary-treasurer OF the knights
OF Labor. on the condition of the order
was presented. He said that N spite OF
a
third Of century the knights of Labor
had not only held their ground. but had
grown and fourished. From the reports
received. both from assemblies and organ
tiers. he felt that he would conscienticusly
congratulate the order upon the prosperous
condition and hopeful outlook for the fn-
ture.
His Version of Occur d'AIene Trouble
A most infamous and vicious assault up
on organized labor had developed In Ida
no. The writ OF habeas corpus had been
suspended and martial law declared, with
out shadow Of excuse. Over 400 unfortu-
nate men have been held In prison for
months. being guilty of no crime except
that of attempting to earn a support with
out permission of the military autecrat, be-
cause they were members OF organized la
Dor and trial is still denied. Nothing APP
preaching the infamy OF this affair has
ever occurred outside the boundaries of abb
solution. He recommended that the as
sembly urge upon congress the necessity
OF making searching investigation in this
case.
Attacks the Industrial Com mission.
He said the leading feature of the in
dustriai commission was that IL was 20
be strictly nonpartisap. but the fact was
that out of the nineteen members, the
entire number appointed by the president
nine In all are bitter Republicans. three are
Democrats and two Populisss: only one is
accredited 10 labor. and he Is merely ac-
credited. The Investigations are perfume
tory. The commission was entirely dis
| credited by all who knew anything Of it's
| doings and looked on as a mere machine.
manipulated TO prevent any damaging
facts I'm relation 20 existing evils becoming
public as far as possible. Actual proceed
ings had been begun against them for blue
pencfling and emasculsting written testi-
mony and destroying the true and intend
ed impression, and further intimidating in
the form u prosecution In the courts for
libel II certain statements Of facts were
not withdrawn or modified.
Fears Competition of the FiIipfnos.
Speaking Of the expansion policy he
said. We already realize the effect of
the competition of European paaper labor
Should these islands be annexed In any
form II means the competition Of 10 coo go
or 100000 Of unskined Malay iahorers
What this would mean 70 us Ii is useless
for ne to say. Imperialism means des-
potisnh the end OF free government, and