The Labor enquirer., 1883-10-13
KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
The Preamble and Declaration oi
Principles Of this Great
Order.

The alarming development and aggression
of aggregated wealth, which, unless checked
will inevitably lead to the pauperizaIion and
hopeless degradation of the toiEng masses,
renders it imperative, If we desire to enjoy
the blessings of life, that check should be
placed upon its power and upon unjust accH
mutation, and a 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 uni6caton of
those who labor, and the united efforts of
those who earn their bread by the sweat OF
their brow, we have formed the order of the
Knights of Labor, with a view of securing
the organization and direction, BY co.opera,
tive effort, of the power of the industrial
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 to the greatest
number" to aid and assist uS.
/. To bring within the fold of organization
every department of productive industry,
making knowledge stand point for action,
and industrial, moral worth, not wealth, the
true standard Of individual and national
greatness.
2. To secure 10 the t"ilers a proper share
of the wealth nat hey create; more of the
leisure that righliuIly belongs to them more
ocety advantages; more of the benefits,
privileges and emoiuments of the world in
word, all those rights snd privileges neces~
ary to make them capable of enjoying, ap.
preciatng. defending ard perpetuatiug the
blessings of good government.
3. To arrive at the true condition Of the
pr, ducing masses in their educational, mora
and financial condition, BY demanding from
the various governments The establishment
o. bureaus of labor statistics.
4. The establishment of cooperative in.
>ttuti, ns productive aid distributive.
5. The reserying of the public landslide
h ia aye of ths people for the actual settler.
Not another acre for railroads or corporations.
6. The abrogation of all laws that do not bear
equally upon capital and labor; The removal
Of " just technicalities, delays aud discrmi
nsrions in the administration of justice and
he adopting Of measures providing for the
eulth and safely of those engaged in mining,
manufacturing and building purs suits.
7. The enactment of laws 10 compel
char ter'd corpo- tions to ray their employees
weekly. in full, for labor performed the
preceding week. in the lawful money OF the
'un'rv.
8. hr e sctment of laws giving mechanics
and lnLCrers the first lien on their work for
heir full wages
The establishment of the contract system
% national, s ate and municipal work
10 The substitution of arbitration for
strikes, whenever and Kherever employ ers
and emplr ye are willing 10 meet on equitable
grounds.
II. The prohibition of the employment OF
children in workshops, mines and factories,
before attaining their fourteenth year.
IL To abolish the system of letting out by
contract the labor of convic in our prisons
and reformatory institutions.
13 To secure for both sexes equal pay
for equal work.
IA. The reduction of the hours of labor to
eight per day, so that the laborers may have
lectual Improvement, and be enabled to reap
the advantages conferred by the labor-saying
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 a legal
tender in payment Of all debts, public and
private. ... .,...at