The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-19
A KNIGHTS OF LABOR WAR
The Convention Called by Chamber.
lain Violently Interrupted.
Doors mt the Headquarters of the
Order Alleged to Have Been
Broken In-JOhn N. Parsons and
others Arrestcd-Deny Guilt-Hnyes
Makes Statement of Occurrence.

The differences existinglqbetween the
opposing factions of the Knights of La
Dor resulted in clashing Of the two par
ties yesterday morning at headquarters.
No. 43 B Street. the outcome OF which
was the arrest of John N. Parsons. the
General Master Workman of the order:
Messrs. O'Keefe and Conner, members OF
the executive board. and others, who were
charged in the police court with "forci-
BILE entry"
Some time ago Parsons and other MEM
bers of the executive board of the Knights
Of the District for an order to restrain
John W. Hayes. ne General Secretary
Treasurer of the order, from molesting
or interfering with them in the use Of
the use of the books. seals, and private
papers of the Knights of Labor. at head
quarters. This litigation assumed sever
al forms before there was a final decis-
ion by the court. which ultimately re-
fused to grant the petition. While these
proceedings were pending in court a meet
ing Of the executive board was called and
charges of neglect of daty preferred
against Hayes, and after trial he was
removed from the position of general sec
retary-treasurer.. A demand was then
made upon him for possession of the of
flee. This Hayes refused to comply with
on the ground that the executive board
was illegally constituted and without pow
er to remove him.
Two Conventions Called.
The friends of Hayes and Parsons
throughout the country then took sides.
Among those who contended that Hayes
was in the right is l, D. Chamberlain. the
worthy foreman of the order, the official
next in authority to Parsons Chamberlain
maintained that Parsons by his action in
appealing to the civil courts to adjudicate
any differences pertaining to the welfare
and government of the order. disqualified
himself under the constitution of the
Knights of Labor for the position to
which he was elected. On this ground
Chamberlain assumed the duties of gen.
eral master workman and issued a call for
a general assembly of the order to meet
in this city on June Is. at which meeting
he said the existing differences between
Hayes and the general officers would be
considered
Some few days later Parsons. as general
master workman of the order also issued
a call for an assembly of the order to be
held here On June &c. at which the
troubles within the ranks of the order
would also be considered.
Melee mt Headquarters.
1t was in resp Jnse to the call issued by
Chamberlain that many of the prominent
leaders in the ranks of the Knights of
Labor assembled yesterday at head
quarters. AS to what took place there,
and under what circumstances the Hayes
faction conducted it's convention. there
are two sides TO the story. The report
given out last night at Knights of Labor
headquarters is as follows:
The General Assembly of the knights
OF Labor was called in special session Il:
the headquarter OF the order. 40 B Street.
by Acting General Master Workman l. D.
Chamberlain, with nearly dil the delegates
entitled to representation present The
various difficulties that had occurred be-
tween the general officers In the courts of
tho District OF Columbia eliminated in the
morning at 10 o'clock. in the breaking in
OF the door of the headquarters of the o.
der by number OF men. among whom
were some not entitled to admission. I'M
mediate!y thereafter warrants were sworn
out for their arrest. and they were placed
under bonds to keep the peace.
When Mr.. Chamberlain attempted to call
the meeting TO order Mr.. Parsons, against
whom charges were pending. and the So
called executive board. interrupted the
proceedings and prevented Mr.. Chamber
lain and the delegates from, holding the
regular meeting.
During the hubbub and conversation
which ensued the officers appeared with
the warrants for the arrest of John n.
Parsons and others for forcible entry into
the building. After these men were ar
rested Mr.. Chamberlain called the meet
Ing to order. and on the roll call the fol-
lowing District assemblies responded
through their regularly elected delegates:
ID. A. 3. ID. A. IS, ID. A. go ID. A. 80. D. A.
IL, ID. A. 40, D. A. 81, d. A. 10, ID. A. 135.
d. A. 900. ID. A. 253. State Assembly of |
Colorado, and L. A. 800 Glass Workers.
The preliminary work OF appointing the
Credentials Committee was proceeded With
and the General Assembly took a recess
pending the report from that committee
until the afternoon. Secretary Hayes then,
owing TO the hubbub and trouble resulting
from numerous men trying to prevent the
General Assembly from meeting. called in
the officers and had the headquarters of
the order cleared. The Genera! Assembly
was reconvened in the afternoon. at which
all of the above districts were fully rep
resented, except ID. A. 40 and 1875
Hayes Makes Statement
When questioned after the session about
the trouble. Secretary John w. Hayes said
The attempt being made to break up the
session OF the General Assembly as legally
called under the cognzance of Judge Bar
nard of the Supreme Court of the District
of Columbia is in keeping with the pre-
vious actions of some of these people.
The peculiar part of it is that John n.
Parsons had assumed to issue a call for
a session OF the General Assembly on
June 26. and had stated that this session
Of the General Assembly was q rump one
but when he appeared in the headquar
ters this morning he pulled a paper out |
Of his pocket and read a so-called de- |
cision, declaring that this session of the
General Assembly was now legal. and that |
be would assume to act A large number |
Of the delegates present. however, re-
fused to recognize him. and the result |
was that he was entirely unsuccessful in |
his revolutionary attempt.
Committees Of the General Assembly |
will meet tonight. and will hear the |
charges against these general officers, and.
On their reports. the General Assembly, |
legally convened. with Mr. Chamberlain
presiding. will act on these charges.
"The public should not understood" Mr..
Hayes said. that this is a small body |
Of the order meeting, but that the dis
tricts answering to the call of Mr.. Cham
herlain represents nine-tenths OF the or
Ter in the country, including every dis
-rict. State and local assembly. with the
exception Of three or four districts.
The order" he said, has withstood
hese assaults before; they have always
been inspired by either ignorance greed.
,r a design of some people. who may hope
% get control of the order for either