Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-04-29

parents, who were Baptists, for the minis
try, hut reverses came 20 the family, and
he was apprenticed 10 be q tailor and cut
ter, as which be settled in Philadelphia In
lS+5, From 1883 to 1853 he travelled in the
West Indies, Central America, Mexico and
up the Pacific coast to California. Having
returned TO Philadelphia, he took promi.
nent public Psrtin
The Anti-Slayery Movements.
He was one OF the first to urge upon Lin.
coins administration the right Of suffrage
and right to the soil for the liberated
freedmen of the South. In later years
Stephens abandoned the Republican party
declaring that only one great, undivided
labor party could ever redeem the American
people from the thralls of class legislation
and The Greenbackers Of the
Fifth district of Pennsylvania nominated
him for Congress in 1878, but not being
elected he retired from public life. to de-
vote the remainder of his years 10 perfect
ing the organization he had founded. He
was the first Master Workman of the first
Local Assembly, which kept its existence
and its meetings secret up TO 1873. Then
the work was given to the carpenters, the
Shoemakers, the printers, the longShOremen
and to other trades in Philadelphia. Two
years after this the local assemblies OF
Philadelphia. having increased their mem
-bsrship 20 abOut fifteen thousand, orgHn.
lied the first District Assembly, composed
OF delegates from the locals. Stephens
was elected to be the first District Master
Workman. He appointed a number OF
travelling organizers, and they, instructed
by himself and equipped with
The secret Work
written by his own hand, went all over
Pennsylvania West Virginia, New Jersey,
Massachusetts, and Maryland, and three
hundred of local assemblies were formed in
Quick succession. On the lSt of Janu.
ary, 1878, upon a call from District As,
sembly No. 1 the delegates of fifteen
districts assembled in Reading,
Pa, 10 form the General Assembly, which
is now the legislative body for the entire
Order. Stephens was elected to be the first
Grand Master Workman, and a National
Resistance Fund was ordered 10 be set aside
from the monthly dues of the local assem-.
blieS, that fund to be kept intact by the
grand officers unless otherwise provided by
the executive board to assist brothers in
need against the aggreSSions of employers,
Every member of the Order contribut tes
five cents to this fund every month. Not
more than ten per cent. can ever be taken
from the fund at one time for any purpose
whatever. At the first session OF the Gen
eral Assembly il was resolved to issue
charters 10 the local assemblies then in eN-
IstenCe and to all other loCa Is to be organ.
ized thereafter, and q seal was adopted
bearing the words: That is the most per.
feet government in which an injury TO one
is the concern of al.
The Objects Of the Order.
The preamble to the Constitution adopt,
ed at Reading, which has been virtually I'M
changed up to this day, reads as follows:
PREAMBLE-The recent alarming develop
ment and aggression of aggregated wealth,
which unless checked, will inevitably lead
10 the pauperization and hopeless degrade
ton Of the toiling masses, render it impera.
tive, il We desire to enjoy the blessings ot
life, that check should be placed upon its
unjust accumulation, and system adopted
which will secure to the laborer the fruits
of his toll; and as this much desired object
can only be accomplished by the thorough
unifcatiOn OF labor, and the united efforts
Of those who obey the divine injunction
that "in the sweat of thy brow shalt thou
eat bread" we have formed the Order o
the Knights OF Labor with a view OF seCur
ing the organization and direction, by co
operatiye effort, of the power of the indus
trial classes: and we submit to the world
the objects sought TO be accomplished by
our organization, calling upon all who
believe in securing the greatest good L
the greatest number" to aid and assist Us
!. 10 bring within the folds OF orglniza
tion every department of productive in
dustry, making knowledge standpoint
for action, and industrial, moral worth
not wealth, the true standard oil individual
and national greatness.
IL. To secure to the tOilerS proper
share of the wealth that they create; more
of the leisure that rightfully belongs L
them; more society advantages; more OF thu
benefits privileges, and emOluments OIL tht
world. in a word, all those rights and priv
ileres necessary TO make them capable o
enfoying. appreCiating, defending and per
petuating the blessings OF good government
Ill. To arrive at the true condition OF The
producing masses in their educational, NOR
al and financial condition by demanding
from the various governments the estab
lishment of bureaus of labor statistics.
". The establishment of cooperative
institutions. productive and distrib1tive.
V. The reserying of the public lands
the heritage os the people-tor the actua
Settler-not another acre Tor railroads o
spectators.
vi The abrogation of all laws that dono
bear equally upon capital and labor; tn
removal of unjust techniCalitieS, delays ant
determinations in the administration o
Justice, and the adopting of measures pro
yiding for the health and safety OF thos
engaged in mining, manufacturing or bGild
ing pursuits.
Vii. The enactment OF laws to compe
chartered cOrorerationt t. pay their emPloye
weekly, in full, for labor performed durin
the preceding week, in the lawful none.
\ of the country.
VIII. The enactment of laws giving me
Il Il 1,hr hrZf thRl
work for their full wages.
IN. The adjustment of the contract sys
tenn on national State and municipal work
Y, The substitution Of arbitration TO
strikes, whenever and wherever employer
are willing to meet on equitable ground.
NJ. The, prohibition OF the employment
| OF children in workshops, mines and fa,to
| ries before attaining their fourteenth year
| MI. To abolish the system OF letting ou
| by contract the labor OF conyicts in on
| prisons and reformatory institutions.
| NH. To secure for both sexes equal pa
| for equal work.
| NIV. The reduction of the hours of labo
10 eight per day, so that the labOrerS ma
| have more time for social enjoyment ant
! intellectual improvement and be enabled
| rPap the advantages conferred by the labor
| saving machinery which their brains hay
| created.
Nv. To prevail upon governmetS to estab
| lish a purely national circulating medium
| based upon the faith and resources OF tn
| nation, and issued direct to the people
4 without the Intervention of any system Q
| banking corporations, which money shal
be a legal tender in payment Of all debts
| public or private.
On the 18th Of May, 1873, Grand Maste
| Workman stephens issued a call for
| special session OF the General Assembly t,
| be held on June 9th at Philadelphia to con
/ slider the expedienCy of making the nam
| of the Order public for the purpose of de
/ tending it, in the language OF the call, iron
| 1.-The fierce assaults and defamation mad
| upon il by the press, clergy and corporat
| capital" The General Assembly met ant
| a motion to make the name public wa
voted down, but all locals were directed Il
discuss the propriety of making the nam'
public in 1879, of expunging from tn
ritual all Scriptural passages and oaths ant
of making such notifications in the initia
tory exercises as would tend to remove th'
opposition coming from the church. Locals
were directed 10 take an informal vote upoi
each of the above proposals and to send TIT
result to the Grand Secretary.
The Development OF the Order.