The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-31
HISTORY OF THE K. OF L.

yards this afternoon, but dispersed
under the pressure Of the police.
HISTORY OF THE X. OF L.
Philadelphia was the birthplace Of
"The Noble Order OF the knights OF
Labor" and its founder was Uriah s.
Stevens, a tailor, who was born in
Cape May county, N. j.. August 3,
1921. In 1869 he collected together
the first body OF laboring men under
the sbove-given title, though the first
properly organized local assembly was
not created until 1873. 1t YVES largely
composed of clothing cutters. The
order ad rapidly, for as ION as its
general objects were made known to
wage. earners their sympathies were
inevitably enlisted and they raw in
the plans contemplated by the found
ers the means OF affecting what prob
ably could not be achieved by sepsr-
ate trade examinations. Well enough
in their way as they were, they were
far behind the scheme OF the Knights,
which YVES to knit in one common
brotherhoo cd all be dies Of age-earners
from the Atlantic to the Pacific,
80 that, il necessary, the power
of the union could be brought
to bsar, through indirect influence,
with its whole weight upon the CAPT
talitt, against whom his employees
we're struggling even were he in the
most remote corner OF the land.
Whether right or wrong, this is the
logical result Of the principles Of the
order. Its present leaders declare
that their methods are conservative.
They believe that arbitration can set
tie most disputes between capital and
labor, and they permit or order Q
strike only when negotiations fail.
Along with the weapon Of the strike
goes the boycott; that is, the prohibit
ton of all members OF the order from
buying the goods manufactured or
sold by the person who may be placed
under the boycott. The last resort OF
the order Is the extreme form OF the
boycott; that is, to put under the ban
not only the goods OF the capitalist
originally boycotted, but the goods or
business OF any firm, company or per-
son (not connected with the Knights)
using the goods or helping in any way
the business Of the object of the orig
inal boycott. The Knights gay that
this measure of coercion is not ap-
piled until every other attempt to set
tie the dispute fails. Its effect was
seen when this city, at the word OF
the Executive Committee of the car
drivers organization, was stripped OF
all means ofsurface railway communi-
cation in order to enforce the sur
render of the cross-town railways,
which had not Welded to the car
drivers demands when the lines rum
ming north and south did go. tits the
cause OF the blockade on the South
western railway system, where the sins
OF the Texas Pacific are being visited
upon all its connecting lines. From
Philadelphia the order Of Knights OF
Labor spread to Pittsburg, and then 1t
seized firm hold on the coal and iron
regions OF Pennsylvania. In 1873 q
convention was held for the formation
OF a General Assembly Of North Amer
lea, and Mr.. Stevens, who had presided
over Local Assembly No. /, was chosen
as General Master Workman, the head
OF the order. He served a second
term. From this time on the progress
made by the Knights was more rapid,
probably, than that which has ever
attended any similar association.
THE DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES
Of the order contains many demands
which the large body OF the people
would regard as just and proper. It's
aims are stated to be: First, to make
industrial and moral worth, not wealth,
the true standard of individual and
national greatness; second, to secure
to the workers the full enjoyment of
the wealth they create, sufficient leis-
ure in which to develop their intellec-
tual, moral and social faculties; all OF
the benefits, recreation and pleasures
OF association; in q word, to enable
them to share in the gains and honors
Of advancing civilization" In order
to secure these results the fol-
lowing demands are made "at the
hands of the State" The establish
ment Of bureaus Of labor statistics;
the reservation OF public lands to
actual settlers; the abrogation of all
laws that do not bear equally upon
capital and labor and the improve
ment of the administration OF justice I;
legislation to protect the health and
lives Of those engaged in industries
and for proper indemui6cauon in case
OF injury; the recognition of unions Of
laboring men; the compelling of cor
porations TO pay employees weekly,
in lawful money, for the labor OF the
preceding week and securing to me-
charles and laborers frat lien upon
the products of their labor to the ex-
tent of their full wages" the total alb
clifton of she contract system; the
establishment Of compulsory arbitra-
ton between employers and the en-
ployed; the prohibition of the hiring
out Of contract labor, and "that a graz
uated income tax be levied"
OFFICERS OF THE ORDER.
The order is composed OF local as
semblies which send delegates to the
district assemblies, aud the latter are
represented in a general assembly,
which is the supreme Legislative
body. The local assemblies are com
posed as far as possible Of members Of
one particular trade. Where this il
impracticable linked" assembly il
organized. The local assemblies
regulate their own initiation fees and
annual dues, but each knight payi
"a cents a year to the General As
sembly. These contributions form
the fund from which are paid the ex
pense of the officers and organizers
boycotting, maintaining strikes, etc
The General Assembly meets an
nually. 1t chooses officers and al
Executive Committee that is intrusteC
with the direction and government o
the affairs OF the order. The presen
officers, elected last October, were
General Master Workman, reranc,
V. Powderly, of Scranton, Penn. gen
eral worthy foreman, Richard Girl
fiths, Chicago; general secretary
treasurer, Frederick Turner, Phila
delphia; general auditor, Johl
G. Caville, Brooklyn; secretary OF In
sursnce Association, Homer L, Nc
Cav, Pittsburg, Pa Executive Board
Messrs. Powderly and Turner, Johl