The Labor enquirer., 1883-09-08
KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
The Preamble and Declaration Of
Principles Of this Great
Order.

! The alarming develop eLt an aggression
of aggregated wealth, which, unle s check ell
will inevitably lead 10 the paup, rizai anC
hopeless degradation of the toilinS masses
the blessings of life, that check should be
placed upon its power and upon III ust sccu
mutation, and a system adopted which viii
>ecure to the lsborer the fruits of his toll
ard as this mnch desired object can only bt
acc mpl shed by the thorough uni6ration o.
hose who labor, and the ublttd efforts OF
those who earn their bread by the sweat o.
their brow, We have formed the order of the
/ Knights of Labor, with a view of securing
the org4uiz4tion and direction, by co.opera
| tive effort, of the power of the industrial
Glasses and we submit to the world the
objects sought to be accomplished by our
organ zation, calling upon alNwh no believe in
securing "the greatest god to thu greatest
number" to aid and assitt uS.
/. To bring within the fold of organization
every department of productive industry,
making knowledge stand point for action,
and industrial, moral WORTH Ii, wealth, the
true standard of individual and national
greatness
2 To secure to the tuiIers a proper SHARE
Of the wealth hat hey create more of the
leisure that rghtiully belongs to them more
ociety advantages; more of the benefits,
privileges and emoluments of the world in
word, all those rights and privileges neces~
ary to make them capable of enjoying, sp
preciating, defending and perpetustiug the
blessings of good government.
3. To arrive at the true condition of the
and financial condition, by demanding from
the various governments the establishme Mt
OF bureaus of labor statistics.
4. The establishment of cooper ative in.
stitutl, ms. productive AID distributive.
s. The reserving of the public lands the
hrrilage of the people-f'r the actual settler
Not another acre for railroads or corporations.
6. The abroga,ion of all laws that do not bear
equally upon capital aud labor; the removal
of unit ust technicalities, delays and discrimi.
nations in the administration of justice and
the adopting OF measures providing for the
health and safety OF those engaged in mining,
manufacturing and building purs uits.
T. The enactment of laws to compel
chartered corpor tions to pay their employees
weekly. in full, for LABOR performed the
preceding week in the lawful money OF the
country.
8. The enactment of laws giving mechanics
and laborers the first lien on their work for
their full wages.
9 The abolshmfn Mt of the contract system
on national, 8 a'e and municipal work.
TO- The substitution OF arbitration for
strikes whenever and wherever employers
and employe are willing to meet on equitable
grounds.
. II. The prohibition of the employment of
children in workshops, mines and factories,
before attaining their fourteenth yesr.
II. To abolish the system of letting out hS
contract the labor of convics in our prisons
and reformstory institutions.
13. To secure for both sexes equal pay
for equal work. i
ID. The reduction of the hours of labor TO
eight per day, SO that the laborers may have
more time for social enjoyment and intel.
Ieetual improvement, and be enabled TO reap
the advantages conferred by the labor.saving
machinery which their brains have created.
Is. To prevail upon governments to estab.
lish purely national circulating medium,
issued directly to the people, without the
Intervention OF any system OF banking cor
porations, which money shall be q legal
tender in payment of all debts, public and
private,