The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-05-30

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and the te ms Of the treaty have never
before been made public. AT the
convention to-day the Executive Board
of the Knights OF Labor presented its
report, embodyiDg the address OF the
Trades L mons and the terms on which
they wish 10 settle existing troubles.
The address is as follows:
TIE Address.
The officers Of the National and In
terna ional Trades Unions desire to
make the statement that they have no
antagonism toward the Knights OF
Labor and believe that as an order 1t
has a legitimate mission in the labor
movement OF America. Through the
development Of industry and the ag
gregation Of capital the tendency istJ
monopolize the business OF the coun-
try Hence the various trades have
been affected by the introduction OF
machinery, the subdivision of labor,
the use of woman's and Child's labor
and the lsck OF an apprentice system
so that the skilled trades were rapidly
sinking to the level OF pauper labor.
To protect the skilled labor Il Amer
lea from being reduced TO beggary,
and 10 sustain the standard of Ameri-
can workmanship and skill the trades
unions of America have been estab-
lished. They are a social necessity and
their past history proves not only that
they have Keen a benefit in raising the
wages of and in reducing the bur
dens of toll, but they have full
filled the fraternal duty of assist
ing their members when unemployed
and in sickness, when disabled by ac-
cident and old age, and provided for
widows and orphans OF their deceased
brothers. Consequently, the trades
unions have become a fixed and per-
manent institution in America, not
antagonistic 20 the welfare OF the
coun ~, but calculated to elevate all
branches OF labor to a higher degree
of citizenship and larger share Of
social comfort. For this principle the
thoughtful and far seeing men of va.
rious crafts have formed unions OF
their respective trades, and to main
tain their trad,s unions the members
have sacrificed time and money, and
where ut first many predicted their
complete failure, time has proved not
snly their usefulness, but has demon
strated they are destined to fulfill
their higher mission, and their prog
ress is in exact proporulR 90 the in
tellectunl development SAoir mem
bes. When they are Ned on such
grounds there need be no fesr tf an
tagonism between them aud the
Knights OF Labor. OF late our great
est fears have not been that the
knights OF Labor would de-
stroy the trades unions, but
that the capitalists of the
country would use every opportunity
to put one form of organization
against the other and in the conflict
destroy both. The past year the
National and international Trades
Unions have grown with great strides
For example, we will cite few in
stances. The international Typo
graphical Union has gained 9642 mem
beers, the Cigar makers Internationa
Union 7l0l, Brotherhood of Carpen
tiers and Joinen l3,46l, National
Bakers Union 1864, lnternationa
Brickmake and Masons' 4574, Furni
ture Makers 6833, AmalgamateC
Iron and Steel Workers $3.50, Iror
holders I2,4O0, Granite Cutters
1922, Custom Tailors' 254l, Goa
Miners $4,000. Out Of the TWENTY-FIVE,
national and international union
represented in the Philadelphia con
ference and the fourteen additions
national and international unions tina
Endorsed its work only nine OF tn
chief officers are salaried and thei
salaries range from $l2 TO $40 pc
week, the balance OF the officers d.
voting themselves to their dutie
without salaries. The trades union
are economically managed and tn
most rigid accountability is exacte
from their officers in their transaction
as officers, pledged by the most sacre
obligations TO promote the interests I
their respective unions. The chi,
officers OF the union to attend ii
Philadelphia conference and the r
suits Of that conference are such thu
for the future there are no doubts thu
the Trades Unions OF America wi
not only grow, but bee me a mo-
fixed institution, The treaty isel
of course, is the most important pa
of the work and is the bone OF conte
ton, for il its terms are agreed to
the Knights Of Labor II will VOL
radical changes in the mansgeme
and organization OF local assemble
The treaty is as follows;
First that in any branch Of labt
having a national or international (
ganization, the Knights Of Labor sh
not initiate any persons or form a
assembly Of persons following said
ganized craft or calling without I
consent of the nearest national or
ternational union affected.
.Second.-That no person shall be I
mit'ed to the Knights of Labor W
works for less than the regular SC
of wages fixed by the union of
craft, and none snail be admitted
membership in the Knights of Lal
who have ever been convicted
scabbing rafting, embezz' ement,
any of the offences against the uni
of his trade or calling until examir
by the same
Third. - That the charter OF a
Knights OF Labor Assembly Of q
trade having national or internati
al union shall be revoked, and
members of the same be requested
Join a mixed assembly, TO form lC
union under the jurisdiction OF ii
respective nat onal or internatio
trades unions.
Fourth. That any organizer of
Knights OF Labor who endeayors
induce trades unions TO disband
campers with their growth or pI
leges shall have his commission TO
with revoked
FGh.-That whenever a strike
lockout Of any trades unions II
progress no assembly or district
sembly of the knights of Labor 8
interfere until settled to the salts
ton of the trades union affected,
Sirth-That the Knights of Ia
shall not establish nor issue any trj
mark or label in competition with
trademark or label now issued OF
may hereafter be issued by any
tional or international trades unto
ImmiKrnttoS. 20 Canada.