The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1882-03-29

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eev I'D ee} Apsrposes anseg
wbi ast sht Mig the hours q
labq toll@1 NJ ting men to . new
sod sta1f asd 70 459DUol strikes. II
had II birth 81 Phila1elphis twelv
yeas go, but until ps6sntly be- sxer-
cised but little influence among the n
boring masses. At Ant Il grew slowly,
but - its object became better nndG-
stood It spread and now em6faces q
most oil trades and has assemblies In
every Eastern city Of any sise. In some
phases It he taken the place q Unions
entirely. It differs from the Unions, in
that it b designed to take in working
men Of al trades, apd it, ultimate object
tocreate new state Of society. There
are also connected with the order assem-
blies Of women such - bindeEs and
women working In shoe manufactures.
All Of these assemblies are represented
in and bound by = National Convention
and hence all the Knights Of Labor act
- unit in certain things. At the same
time the local assemblies are ct liberty
to act independently in other specified
matters.
In the matter Of strikes it acts differ
emily than Unions do. Upon this point
the secretary Of the National association
says: ANY assembly having, ~ it sup
poses, grounds for striking may opubmit
IT'D case to thu executive committee. In
that case the lirst thing done 10 the ap-
pointment Of sub committee to exam
inc into the question. It isan article Of
the constitution that no strike can be
authorised until after . conference has
been held With the employers. Should
such . conference result in . showing
BY the employer that . rise In wages or
> shortening q hours h impossible, the
executive committee refuse to authorize
the strike and do their best to prevent
Il. The local assembly h then 1t lib
erty 70 strike but, in such case Il ~
eeives no help from that organisa&ion.
But should the Executive Committee
decide that the strike b Just, then the
whole organization will support the
striken. Each assembly h forced to
put apart certain percentage Of IT'D 10
ceipts, which b called the resistance
fund. This cannot be touched for any
purpose except when . strike b author
ised BY the Executive Committee. Then
this resistance fund in each assembly in
the country is drawn upon to support
the strikers. While the organisation
does not nor will not appear in politics
a. . body, 1t encourages it, member to
take part In It for the parpose Of secur-
ing better legislation In the interest Of
labor and laboring men. The associa-
ton hopes to be able, in time, to make
its members, in . measure, Independent
Of capital, by making them their own
capitalists. This will be done by en-
couraging habits Of saving and frugali-
ty. The members desire to do away, -
far - possible, with middlesnen. They
already have their own courts, in which
all civil cases between members Of the
organisation are tried. While they feel
bound to support member through
everything, - long he hes not broken
the law Of the land, they lend no aid to
criminals Of any kind. On the con-
trary they are obliged to lend every A.
sistancc to officers Of the law In arrest
ing aud prosecuting those who defy the
law.
This II brief outline Of the objects
and purposes Of the organization. AZ
they are presented It seems the knights
Of Labor have built their structure up
on . solid foundation, one which will
Withstand the assaults Of criticism and
survive the attacks Of malignefs.
Should the organization adhere to
it, purposes and policy It has 1t In its
power to elevate the laboring masses
and to protect them not only from OPP
pressive monOpolies, but what il far
better, from their own indiscretions and
errors ofjudgment.
WOODRUFF MILLER EXPLAINS.
1t was hardly necessary for Senator
Wood-pulp Miller, Of New York, in his
speech yesterday in the Senate ON the
Tariff Communion bill, to confess he
Wa new member, and was unaccus-
toned to public speaking. An old, ex-
perieneed member would have not fallen
into the error Of aftemnfin0 tn h,,ll4ao.o