The evening times., 1899-03-28
SPLIT IN THE LABOR
DEFENCE COhNlIIEE
Matter Discussed by Trades
Unionists Today.
Explanation Offered for the Sudden
Withdrawal.
Personal DisaEreements Alleged 10
Have Been Factor-The QUAR-
rel Over Money Contributed.

The action of the Central Labor Union,
the representative local trades unionist or
ganization, in withdrawing its support
from the knights of Labor, in the District
who are under indictment for conspiracy,
was generally discussed today by the mem
bers OF local organized labor.
The immediate cause for the dissolution
of the bonds which bound the knights and
trades unionists together in defence of
common cause is said to be personal diff
ferences among the members of the local
organizations. coupled with party pride of
the trades unionists.
When several of the members of District
Assembly No. &c, Knights of Labor were
indicted last summer for violating the
antitrust law, the matter was made one
of common interest to organized labor in
the District. and the trades unionists,
though at odds with the knights of La
Dor, determined TO assist the indicted men
in providing for their defence. In accord
ance with this, a central committee, COM
posed of representatives from the four
central labor bodies District Assembly No.
&c. knights of Labor, Central Labor Tn
ion. Building Trades Council, and the To-
cal Federation. was organized for the pur-
pose of raising funds TO secure counsel for
the men indicted for conspiracy.
For some time all the members of the
defence committed worked in harmony
and the appeals for aid met with prompt
and generous response from organized Ia
Dor in Washington and the cities in differ
ent parts of this country. According TO in
structions from the organizations they rep
resented the funds collected through the
efforts of the Central Labor Union and the
Building Trades Council were deposited in
local bank TO the credit of two OF the
members of these bodies, on the defence
committee.
1t is understood that the members CT
these committees did not and would not
make known the amounts collected on be-
half of the defence of the members of or
ganiZed labor who are under indictment.
This manner OF conducting matters did not
please the knights of Labor and caused
dIssention in committee meetings.
At a meeting of the Central Labor Union
held last evening a member OF that organ
ization announced that on account Of the
treatment he and other members of the
union had received at the hands of Knights
Of Labor members of the defence commit
tee they had decided to cease further af-
filiation with the committee and asked the
consent of the Central Labor Union 10
withdraw.
After hearing the statement OF the dele
gate, the union passed a resolution Of cor
fidence in its representatives on The de-
fence committee, and it is stated, approved
CT their withdrawal
The member of the joint committee re
ferred to stated in his report shat At the
last meeting of that committee certain
knights of Labor, also members Of the
committee. representing the District AS
sembly. spoke of the representatives from
I .lx, T-,f, .,,I rhs
unionists generally in such uncomplimen-
tary terms as TO make il impossible for
The delegates from the union 10 longer
affiliate with the knights of Labor repre-
sentatives on the committee.
OF the whole amount collected for the
defence Of the members of the knights of
Labor. who are indicted for conspiracy, it
is stated that 500 is deposited to the credit
OF Two Of the members of the Central Labor
Union. who are its representatives On the
defence committee.
This money il was decided last night
shall be withdrawn from the defence fund
and held subject to further action of the
union. II was understood that il will in
all probability be returned 10 the unions
Rhich contributed it.
What effect, if any, the action of the
Central Labor Union VIII have In provid-
ing for the defence of the indicted men,
bers of local organized labor has not been
estimated but from a financial standpoint
at least, it is not believed that il wiz ma
terially hamper the cause of the Knights
of Labor. Other questions which present
themselves as a consequence of the result
of the action of the Central Labor Union
are. What will the Building Trades Coun-
Gil do in the premises and what action
will the organizations outside the city.
which have contributed to the defence
sund, take?
The Building Trades Council will meet
this evening and viii probably take action
on the matter.