The Dillon tribune., 1885-10-17
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.

OF LABOR IS Iaplu'f gaming HeLnOetsH sup
throughout the country. The pronounced
hostility Of the organization to the Chinese
has brought it into great prominence lately.
The Assemblies in different parts Of the
country arc making war on the Celestials
and their battle cry is-"The Chinese must
CO." The order is not only opposed to
Chinese labor but it opposes convict labor.
The Knights Of Labor have been holding
a convention at Hamilton, Ontario. From
the published proceedings we are informed
that the convention was fur ,nore conser.
vatiye than was to have been expected,
considering some Of the doings and ex.
pressions Of various branches Of the OF.
ganization throughout the country. Mas.
ter Workman Powderly delivered an ad'
dress that had more sense and moderation
in it than is usually found in addresses de.
livered upon such occasions. He said he
had prepared the draft Of bill to submit
to Congress the object Of which was TO
prohibit the employment Of convict labor
upon Government buildings. That is a
very good suggestion and one that should
be carried out. Convict labor is not an
honest competition because contractors
who hire 1t get it for almost nothing, and
can bid at such low rates that the labor
market can not compete because price
that to them would be no loss to convict la
Dor would be great gain. This is very
sensible view Of the matter, for if the Gov.
eminent erects its own buildings, the EN-.
ployment Of Government contract labor
is all very good-but if the Government
contracts for the erection Of its buildings,
the employment Of convict labor is wrong.
The general sentiment Of the country is
against contracting the labor Of convicts.
On this question the position Of the Knights
Of Labor will meet with the approval Of
the mass Of the people. The employment
Of convicts to the extent Of defraying the
actual expenses Of their keeping is proper,
but that should be the limit. The opposi.
ton Of the order to the Chinese does not
meet with a unanimous Endorsement by
any means. That the Chinese are curse
to any Christian country few will deny.
Our Declaration Of Independence pro-
claims the self.evident truth that all men
are created free and equal and that they
are endowed by their Creator with certain
inalienable rights, among which are life,
liberty, and the pursuit Of happiness. In
carrying out this sentiment our Constitu.
ton and the laws of the land have been so
framed that Cinnamon, Jews, 1rishmen and
foreigners from every country on the face
Of the earth are permitted to settle among
US and enjoy the benefits and blessings of
the freest and best government in the
world. The Cinnamon cane 10 our shores
before the passage BY Congress Of the law
prohibiting any more Chinese from landing
at the ports Of the country. The China.
men are here on the same footing so far as
the law is concerned as alt other foreigners
who have sought our country as a free asy-
lum. Granting that the Chinese are an
undesirable population, they are entitled to
that the Celestials are curse to the coun.
try are opposed to robbing and slaughter.
ing them. In our own city Of Dillon the
Knights If Labor have taken decided
stand against the Chinese. The warning
Of the knights that the "Chinesc must
go" is posted up all over the city. The
knights have
Resolzed, That after this date the officers
and members Of this Assembly will not
patronize or employ Cinnamon in any ca.
pacity, and that after November lst we
will withdraw our patronage from any per.
son who still continues to employ or pat.
ronize the Chinese, and institute ,ygo,oxs
boycott against them.
The italics are the knights. What Ct.
feet this movement will have ON the dc.
scendants Of Contucius remains to be seen.
The Chinese, as yet, do not appear 10 have
had their cquanimity disturbed The threat
to boycott citizens who employ Chinese to
do drudgery, washing, cooking and wood.
chopping has stirred up considerable feel.
Ing. The Knights Of Labor, forming as
they do 4 respectable fraction OF our pop.
ulation, have u perfect right to withdraw
their patronage from any one who does not
comply with their demand. This is a re.
ma'kably free country. There Is no law to
compel an individual to trade where he
does not want to. Money buys muscle as
we'll as the necessarics of lite, and so long
As there is no violation Of tine law agains,
the Chinese the boycotting game can GO
OH and wurk out its t,xn solution