Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-06-09
To KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
Address Adopted by the Convention al
Cleveland, Ohio.

Address Adopted by the Convention a5
Cleveland, Ohio.
Before adjournment, the Knights OF
Labor convention at Cleveland ADOPT
ed the following address:
BROTHERS IN THE CAUSE OF LABOR: We,
the Knights of Labor, in general assembly
convened, extend our heartlest greetings TO
all branches Of honorable toll, welcoming
them to the most friendly allianceln COM
mon work. This organization embraces
within it's folds all branches ri honorable
toll and conditions of men, without respect
to trade, occupation, creed, color, or ma.
tionality. We seek to raise the level OF
wages and reduce the hours OF labor, to
protect men and women in their occupa-
tions, in their lives and limbs, and In their
rights as citizens. We seek also to secure
such legislation as shall tend to prevent the
unjust accumulation of wealth. to restrict
the powers uf monopolies and corpora
tions, and to enact such wise and beneficial
legislation as shall promote equity and JUS
tice, looking forward to the day when co.
operation shall supersede the wage system,
and the castles and classes that now divide
men shall be forever abolished.
We recognize the service rendered to hui
manity and the cause of labor by trades
unions organizations, but believe the time
has come, or is fast approaching, when all
brow shall be enrolled under one general
head, as we are controlled by one common
law-the law of our necessities; and we Will
gladly welcome to our ranks, or to protec-
ton under our banner, any organization
requesting admission; and to such organlza-
tions as believe their craftsmen are better
protected under their present form OF gov
eminent we pledge ourselves as members OF
the great army Of labor, to co operate with
them in every honorable effort to achieve
the success which we are unitedly organized
| to obtain; and to this end we have ap-
pointed special committee to confer with
a like committee of any national or inter-
national trades-union which shall desire to
confer with us on the settlement OF any
difficulty that may occur between the mem
bers Of the several organizations.
We have received communication from
| q committee of the national officers OF
some of the national and international
| trades-unions, requesting certain specific
| legislation at our hands, but as we believe
that the object sought and stated in the
| preamble to the communication above re-
ferred to can best be accomplished by q
| conference between committee OF this as
| ISOLATION and q committee of any other
organization, and as the propositions con-
! tanned therein are inconsistent with our
| duty to our members, we therefore defer
| action upon said propositions until con-
! ference of the committees can be held. The
basis upon which we believe an agreement
can be reached would necessarily include
the adoption of some plan by which all
labor organizations could be protected
from unfair men, men expelled, suspended,
under fine, or guilty Of taking the place OF
union men or Knights of Labor while on
strike or while locked out from work; and
| that, as far as possible, q uniform standard
of hours OF labor and wages should be
adopted, so that men of any trade enrolled
| In our order and men of trades unions may
| not come in conflict because of the differ
ences in wages or hours of labor.
We also believe that q system ofexchang-
ing working cards should be adopted, so
that members of any craft belonging to
different organizations could work In
harmony together-the card of any MEM
Der of this order admitting to work in any
union shop and the card of any union man
admitting him to work in any Knight of
Labor shop.
| We further believe that upon demand
| for increase of wages or shorter hours of
| labor made by either organization, a con-
ference should be held with the organized
laborers employed in the establishment.
When the demand for increase of wages or
reduction of hours is contemplated, action
upon a proposed reduction OF wages or
other difficulty to be agreed upon in like
manner, and that in the settlement Of any
difficulties between employers and employees
! the organizations represented in the
establishment shall be parties to the terms
OF settlement. We trust that the method
proposed herein will meet with your ap-
prevail, and that organized labor will move
forward end onward in harmony of effort
nd in tarest