The Labor enquirer., 1885-12-26
ABoA
Sketch Or This Great 0rgani- :
xation Which Has Become
50 Prominent.
The Declaration Of Principles
and Offsets, and the Gen
eral 0dlcers.
work Done In the West During The
Past I've Years-C Cards Of Sene
OF the Assemblies.

=
Past I've Years Cards Of Sene
Of tho Assemblies.
No other organization has ever On.
ljoYed such q wonderful growth or
achieved so great prominence during
q short time in this country, as has the
Knights Of Labor. The wonderful sue
cess of this organizationis is due to several
causes, all perfectly natural, as the out
growth of advancing civilization which
mas within the past few years made it
possible for the employing class to
tighten its grip upon the wage-workers.
The society Of the knights Of Labor
| is purely an educational and protective
one. It is an advance upon trades
funionisn, from whence it sprang; is
more liberal in its principles and more
general in its application. And while
this is so, the order is in sympathy with
trades-unions and co operates with
them in all honest aims to advance the
cause of the wage worker.
The first assembly was organized
some seventeen years ago, in the city Of
Philadelphia, the organization which is
now SO powerful having as its neuclus
seven mechanics, led by Uriah Stevens.
But it was not until within the past few
years thatit has spread 80 generally
over the country, and extended into
Canada and Europe. The year just clos
ing has witnessed thirty per cent in.
crease in membership, and the indica-
tions for the immediate future promise
still more rapid growth.
The order is divided into local assem-
blies, represented in district assemblies
by delegates, which in turn send repres-
entatives to the general assembly, which
meets annually. This system, however.
does not include all of the locals, as
many of the latter are attached directly
to the general assembly. The present
officers of the general assembly, elected
at the session which was heldin Octo-
ber last, in Hamilton, Ontario, are
Terrence ". Powderly, General Master
Workman Richard Grifiths, General
Worthy Foreman; Frederick Turner,
General Secretary Treasurer; John q.
Cavllle, General Auditor, and Homer L.
McGaw, Secretary of Insurance. There
is q General Executive Board of FIVE,
consisting of the General Master Work
man, General Secretary and three others,
namely, John w. Hays. William ii.
Bailey and Thomas B. Barry.
6: !; d szg order
cannot be better stated than they are in
the following
/ DECLARATION.
The alarming development and aggressive
ness Of great capitalists and corporations. un-
4 less checked, will inevitably lead to the
i the toiling masses.
1 IL ID lulpcT4LlNc, We ucsiIO w Obgoy eaO
/ full blessings Of life, that a check be placed
upon unjust accumulation, and the power for
evil of aggregated wealth.
This muoh-desired object can be accom-
plished only by the united efforts of those
who obey the divine Injunction, "In the
sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread"
i Therefore we have formed the Order of
/ Knights Of Labor, for the purpose of organic
! ing and directing the power Of the industrial
masses, not as political party, for 1t is more
/ in 1t are crystalized sentiments and meas
ures for the benefit of the whole people, but
/ ii should be borne in mind, when exercising
the right OF suffrage, that most of the objects
4 herein set forth can only be obtained through
legislation, and that 1t is the duty Of all to as
sist in nominating and supporting with their
1 votes only such candidates as will pledge
their support to those measures, regardless Of
party. But no one shall, however, be COM
PEELED to vote with the majority, and calling
upon all who believe in securing "the greatest
good to the greatest number to join and as
sist us, we declare to the world that our aims
are: ss
Ito make industrial and moral worth, not
wealth, the- true standard of individual and
National greatness.
II. To secure to the workers the full enjoy
ment of the wealth they create, sufficient
leisure in which to develop their intellectual,
moral and social faculties; all Of the benefits,
recreation and pleasures Of association; In a
word, to enable them to share in the gains
and honors of advancing civilization.
In order to secure these results, we demand
of the STATE:
III. The establishment of Bureaus Of Labor
Statistics, that we may arrive at correct
4 knowledge Of the educational, moral and f.
nancial condition Of the laboring masses.
!, w That the public lands, the heritage OF
the people, be reserved for actual settlers; not
another acre for railroads or Spectators, and
that all lands now held for speculative pur-
poses be taxed TO their full value.
". The abrogation OF all laws that do not
bear equally upon capital and labor, and the
removal of unjust technicalities, delays and
Determinations in the administration of
Justice
VI. The adoption of measures providing
for the health and safety Of those engaged in
mining, manufacturing and building indus
tries, and for rindemnificationt 10 those engaged
therein for injuries received through lack OF
necessary safeguards.
/ VII The recognition by Incorporation, OF
trades, unions, orders, and such other associa-
tions as may be organized by the working
masses to improve their condition and pro-
tect their rights.
VIII. The enactment OF laws to compel
corporations 70 pay their employees weekly.
n lawful money, for the labor Of the preced-
ing week, and giving mechanics and laborers
a flrst lien upon the product OF their labor to
the extent OF their full wages