The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-02
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.

All Future Strikes and Boyc0tts Must Be
Approved by the Executive Board.
CLEVELAND, O., June 1.-The Knights of La
Dor convention was opened at 8 o'clock this
morning, the first business being the adoption of
the amended report Of the committee on strikes
and boycotts The executive board must ap-
prove all future strikes, and, except in certain
grievous cases, where immediate action is neces-
sary, a strike or boycott will not be allowed
without their approval
An address to the Woman's Christian Union
was adopted, after which the committee on leg
islation presented this following report, which
was adopted:
In place of document No. H. entitled, AN act
fixing the measure Of value and further regu-
lating the value of money your committee calls
attention to the petition passed at the annual
session held at Hamilton, in October last en-
bracing the same subject. which petition was
known as document No. ", and is printed on
pages 118 and 119 of the record of proceedings Of
that session; and We urge that said petition be
presented to Congress, as there recommended.
and that it also be given to the press for publica
further legislation by the General Assembly on
the subject"
Document No. IT. referred to by the commit
tee, is as follows, and was introduced by Repre-
sentative A. FL. Low. of Pennsylvania:
Resolved That the following petition be presented
to Congress:
The petition of the members of the order of Knights
of Labor of America through their representatives
in General Assembly. met at the session held at
Hamilton, Ont, commenced Oct. 5. 1885, and at
tested by their proper officers respectfully
That your petitioners mostly citizens of the
United States and members of the aborng classes of
society; that while human labor produces all wealth.
those who have performed no honest labor have
49, - cd L l..n
performed the labor have least to enjoy; that feel
this state of things to be largely due to both vicious
legislation and want of legislation by Congress-
that the money OF the United States is of uncertain
value differing widely in different parts of the country
at all times and in every part at various times where
as being the of commercial value it should
this time. in one part OF the country,
money is worth only per cent. inter
est per annum, in another IL per cent,
and in another 20 per cent and ranges from to 20
per cent throughout the country that the uncertainty
in the value of money dstrust and uncertainty
in all commercial transactions nsomuch that capital
is tmid and labor unemployed. and periodical panics
in all business in consequence of which the in
dustral classes financially ruined and the laborers
thrown out of employing nt, and indescribabe want
and suffering brought upon the of people, and
unjust gains are acquired by those who manipulate
the money. That the supply of large portion of the
money of the country is in the control of private
corporations, called national bankers associations,
creatures of congressional legislation. with whom
private gain is the only motive for supplying
money to the people. That it is through
the manipulations of said corporations and
other money lenders that the people suffer many Of
the misfortunes and grievances hereinbefore mem
toned and many others not mentioned that the right
to issue or coin money is high sovereign
prerogatve which ought not to be exercised By any
but the highest power in Nation, and we view with
alarm the exercise of such prsrogatye by private per
corporations and as remedy for the evils of
which complain and for redress of the grievances
we suffer as herein set forth pray that your honor
able body fulfill the duties imposed you by the Con
stitution in Section of Article /, which provides
regulate the value thereof and of foreign COIN and
fix the standard of weights and measures" that you
fix tho of value by establishing just uni
that In order to maintain such rate Of interest as the
normal rate you repeal all laws authorizing private
persons corporations to issue money. and ia their
stead establish public Offices throughout the country
wherever needed, at least ono in every county, with
proper officers TO perform thu duties Of said
oadcss; that the national government lend money