The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-16
PARSONS ON THE TRUST
MASTER WORKMAN SAYS THEY
MAKE MANY STRIKES.
THEY HURT LABOR WHEREVER FORMED
How to Meet Conditions Hostile 10 the Order
and Now Fast Approaching is the
Question for the Knights
to Considef.

Boston, Mass, Nov 15.-The session
of the General Assembly of the knights
of Labor began today with General Mas
ter Workman Parsons, of New York, in
the chair. After the appointment o.
committees the Committee on Credentials
reported that 20 delegates We're present
out of possible 105, and that several
others from Canada and the Far West
were expected today and tomorrow.
General Master Workman John \.
Parsons, of New York, in his report said
in part:
'Since the session at Chicago, | have
had occasion to visit n number of locals
including those of Chicago and Cleve-
land, and / feel fully convinced that We
are sorely in need of a competent cori;r
of organizers. During the coming year
the country will be again excited over
the issues that will arise in the contest
that will be waged for the control of thf
affairs Of this country for the succeed
ing four years. j think, therefore, i
behooves us at this meeting to take III
some of these issues, in order that oal
representative men may be given the beE-
eft Of the Judgment of all.
Perhaps the most important of those
issues viii be the trusts. The copcen
tration Of wealth as employed in the In
dustrics Of our country has made mall
strikes during the past few years and h1,
resulted to the w0rkingmen's detrim@d
wherever such combinations have bcel
effected 1t remains for us to uphold taG
stand taken by the founders of our order
who saw the approach of the condition
that is fast coming on. How to meet
it is a question that should be given yonl
careful consideration as the Knights 81
Labor, above all other organizations, viii
be expected to speak ON this important
question.
'''IIhe war just closed with Spain has
brought us new possessions and practi
cally new people. How to deal with
them Justly and wisely and with a flu
ture regard for our economic conditions
is a question upon which the knights OF
Labor should be heard"
The report of SecFetary-Treasur Il
Hayes was then submitted.
1ne report of the general executive
board was read by j. &. Schonfarber
of Maryland. I'm part it says:
'.We beg to suggest for discussion and
adoption at this session of the order the
Tp-eStaDllSIllnellJ or II UeIenSe ltlllu. SOlll(
step should be taken at this session t.
put three or four lecturers and organi
zers m the field
Immediately after the Adjournment Of
the General Assembly in Chicago, the
majority of the general executive boar
met in Washington and took up the set
element of the Powderly case. Mr.. Pow
derly agreed to accept our settlement ant
Withdraw all suits against the order. The
secretaE''s report shows that Mr.. Pow
derby accepted 1,500 as a settlement OF
back salary due him, the amount which
we had Mt all Times been ready to pay
him in settlement i'm full. However, ouI
claim against Powderly for the use OF
the orders name and his services in the
publication of the Labor Day annual
remains unsettled. While the majority
of the board are not yet satisfied as 20
the best course to pursue in reference
to this latter matter we are of the opin-
ion that something ought to be done by
authority of the General Assembly.
The delegates were given a banquet
at the American house tonight.