Wicks v. . Monihan , 130 N.Y. 232 ( 1891 )

This action was begun August 1, 1887, to recover the amount due on the following note:

"$500. AMSTERDAM, N.Y. Nov. 23rd, 1886.

"Six months after date we promise to pay to the order of William Perry, William Ryland, John Silber, trustees, and Jay Wicks, treasurer, five hundred dollars at the First National Bank of Amsterdam, value received with three per cent use.

"E.H. MONIHAN, "JOHN C. STACK."

It is conceded that the note was given for money owned by the society and loaned to the defendants, and that no part of it has been paid.

The defenses interposed were: (1) That the note was given for money advanced and used to sustain a strike, upon the agreement that it was not to be paid if the strike failed, and that it did fail; (2) That the plaintiff, as treasurer could not maintain the action; (3) That Local Assembly No. 4119 since the note was given has been dissolved by a decree of the General Assembly of the Knights of Labor of America and all of the property of the former had become vested in the latter.

The defendants testified that the money was advanced to promote a strike, upon the agreement that it was not to be paid in case the strike failed, and that it did fail. This was denied by the plaintiff's treasurer, who made the loan, and this issue of fact was determined by the referee in favor of the plaintiff.

The referee found that Local Assembly No. 4119 was, when the note was given, and when the action was brought and tried, an unincorporated association consisting of seven or more persons; and if these facts were well found the action was properly brought in the name of the treasurer. (Code Civ. Pro. § 1919.)

It is conceded that when the note was given and when this action was tried an unincorporated voluntary association with more than seven members existed at Amsterdam under the name of Local Assembly No. 4119 of the Knights of Labor. While the existence of the association is not denied, it is urged as a defense that the associated persons had, before this action was begun, ceased to be a Local Assembly of the Knights of Labor by reason of a decree of the General Assembly, of the order of Knights of Labor of America which assumed to annul the charter of Local Assembly No. 4119 and directed that all of its property should be turned over to the secretary of the General Assembly.

There exists in America a voluntary unincorporated association of persons known as the Knights of Labor having a written constitution, sections 1 and 2 of art. 1 of which provide: "§ 1. This body shall be known as the General Assembly of the Knights of Labor of America, and shall be composed of representatives or alternates, selected according to art. 2 of this constitution."

"§ 2. This General Assembly has full and final jurisdiction and is the highest tribunal of the order of the Knights of Labor. It alone possesses the power and authority to make, amend or repeal the fundamental and general laws and regulations of the order; to finally decide all controversies arising in the order; to issue all charters to the state, district and local assemblies." * * * How the "representatives or alternates" composing the General Assembly are selected does not appear, as the second article of the constitution is not given. The constitution also provides: "A District Assembly shall be composed of duly accredited delegates from at least five Local Assemblies," but how they are selected is not disclosed. It does appear that the organizations known as Local Assemblies are the units of the society, and that they are connected in some manner not shown by the record, with District Assemblies, and that both Local and District Assemblies are attached and owe allegiance to the General Assembly. It does not appear from the record that any contractual relations ever existed between the District and Local associations; or between them, or either of them and the General Assembly. This case was defended on the theory that the General Assembly possessed, and could rightfully exercise autocratic governmental powers over all subordinate branches of the society; and that it could, by its order, without a hearing, expel from the organization any Local or District Assembly, and by that act become entitled to all the property of the assembly whose charter should be revoked.

In August, 1886, more than seven residents of Amsterdam, after having effected a preliminary organization, were chartered under the name of Local Assembly No. 4119 of the Knights of Labor by the General Assembly of Knights of Labor of America, and was attached to District Assembly No. 126. The District and Local Assembly continued attached to the General Assembly until May 26, 1887, when the charter of District Assembly No. 126 and the charters of all of the Local Assemblies attached thereto (including No. 4119) were revoked and annulled for disobedience of the orders of the General Assembly, and the master workmen of the District and Local Assemblies were directed to deliver their property to the general secretary of the General Assembly, pursuant to section 1 of article 5 of the Constitution of the General Assembly, which provides:

"Art. 5, § 1. It shall be the duty of the district recording secretary to collect and take charge of the charter, seals, books, money and other property of any Locals attached to the District Assembly that may lapse, and shall give receipt to the officer of the Local surrendering the same."

Local Assembly No. 4119 declined to surrender its property, including the note in suit, to the general secretary, but continued its local organization and retained possession of its property in defiance of the order of the General Assembly.

It is asserted that the order of the General Assembly ipsofacto divested the Local Assembly of its title to the note in suit as well as to all other property held by it. This contention cannot be sustained on principle or authority. The precise question was determined in Austin v. Searing (16 N.Y. 112), which arose over the title of Cayuga Lodge No. 80 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows to certain property in its possession. In that case, as in this, there was a supreme tribunal called the Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in the United States of America, and, like the Knights of Labor, it had district organizations. By the constitution of the Odd Fellows, the Grand Lodge of the district had power to revoke the charters of all local lodges, and when revoked, to take possession of their property. The charter of Cayuga Lodge No. 80 was revoked for an alleged act of insubordination and a decree confiscating its property was promulgated. Nevertheless, the members of the lodge refused to surrender their property, but retained possession of it. Afterwards, a new lodge was chartered at Auburn by the Grand Lodge of the United States and given the same name and number as the old lodge, but composed of different persons from those associated as members of the first lodge. By the charter granted to the new lodge, all of the property which the Grand Lodge claimed to have acquired title to by confiscation was in form transferred to the new lodge. An action was brought by the persons associated and represented by the new lodge against the persons associated and represented by the old lodge for the recovery of the property in the possession of the old lodge. It was held that the provision in the constitution of the order giving the Grand Lodge power to confiscate the property of subordinate lodges, could not be enforced in the courts, and that the decree of the Grand Lodge revoking the charter of the insubordinate local lodge, did not divest it of its property, and that the plaintiff could not recover. This judgment has remained unquestioned for more than a third of a century, and is the law of this state to-day.

As before stated, this case was not tried upon a theory that the organizations which constitute the order of Knights of Labor are bound together by any contract, or that Local Assembly No. 4119 had contracted with the General Assembly that, under certain circumstances, its property should be transferred to and become that of the General Assembly; but upon the theory that the General Assembly was vested with governmental powers, and could by its edicts divest the title of any District or Local Assembly to its property and vest it in itself without a hearing. This position cannot be sustained. The property of Local Assembly No. 4119 was not derived from the General Assembly, but was contributed and owned by the associated members of No. 4119, and held by an absolute title as perfect and unconditional, so far as is shown by the case, as is the title by which any person or corporation holds its individual property. To hold that the General Assembly can by a decree divest the title to property and vest it in itself, is giving to it a power which is forbidden to be exercised by congress, or by the legislature of any state. Bills confiscating the property of citizens, or of associations, without judicial process, are forbidden by the Constitution; and no person, corporation or association authorized to acquire and hold property, can be divested of it by the fiat of any organization, nor in any way without its consent, or by due process of law.

This case is quite different from those arising over the expulsion of members from clubs and voluntary associations for violation of rules. In those cases, the rights of the individual members are fixed by contract, and it is held that a member may be expelled by the association for violating the terms of the compact, provided, however, that due notice of the proposed action, and an opportunity for defense be given.

The judgment should be affirmed, with costs.

All concur.

Judgment affirmed.