The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-29
Among Other Things, the Unions Will Not
Tolerate Any Interference with Strikes
by Assemblies of Knights of Labor.
Powderly Given Authority to Recall the
Commissions Of all Organizers.
The Proposed Treaty with the Unions Debated
During the Afternoon, but No Conclusion
Observation-Disclosures Labor News.
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.

The Terms of the Treaty offered by Repre-
sentatives of the Trades-Unions.
CLEVELAND, May 28-The chief subject dis
cussed by the Knights of Labor and the members
of the trades. unions during the past few days
has been the treaty that was prepared at the
Philadelphia conference Of trades-union officers,
last week, for presentation to the general Assem-
bly, of the Knights of Labor. The address and
the terms of the treaty have never before been
made public. At the convention to-day the ex-
ecutive board of the Knights of Labor presented
its report, embodying the address of the trades
unions and the terms on which they wished to
settle existing difficulties The address is as fol-
lows:
'Tne officers of the national and international
trades-unions desire to make the statement that
they have no antagonism towards the Knights
of Labor, and believe that, as order it has a
legitimate mission in the labor movements OF
America. Through the development OF industry
and the aggregation of capital, the tendency Is
to monopolize the business OF the country.
Hence the various trades have been affected by
the introduction of machinery, the subdivision
of labor. the use of women's and children's la.
Dor, and the lack Of an apprentice system. so
that the skilled trades rapidly sinking to the
level of pauper labor. To protect the skilled
j
and to sustain the standard of American work
manshp and skill. the trades unions of America
have been established They are social neces-
city, and their past history proves that not only
have they been benefit In raising the wages OF
workinemen and in reducing the burdens of toll,
but they have fulfilled the fraternal duty OF as
sstng their members when unemployed and in
sickness. when disabled by accident and old age,
aud provided for the widows and orphans Of
their deceased brothers. Consequently, the
| aHas-n hQy
permanent institution in America, not
antagonistic to the welfare OF the coun-
try, but calculated to elevate all branches
of labor to higher degree of citizenship and a
larger share Of social comfort For this princi-
ple the thoughtful and far-seeing men of various
crafts have founded unions of their respective
trades, and to maintain their trades-u unions the
members have sacrificed countless time and
money. and where, at first, many predicted their
plete failure, time has proven not only their
usefulness, but has demonstrated that they are
destined to fulfill higher mission, and their
progress Is in exact proportion to the intel
lectual development OF their members. When
they are founded on such grounds there need be
no fears of their destruction, nor need there be
any antasonism between them and tho Knights
Of Labor
''Of late our greatest fears have not been that
the knights of Labor would destroy 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 con-
fict destroy both. The past year the interna-
rional trades unions have grown with giant
strides. For example, we will cite few in
stances: The International Typographical
Union has gained $3.50 members the Cigar
makers International Union. 7, l0l; Brotherhood
of Carpenters and Joiners, 13, 461; National
Bakers Union. 1864; International Brick
makers and Masons. 9,579; Furniture workers,
G, ,633 Amalgamated Iron and Steel workers,
s, ,23O Iron molders H. 400 Granite cutters, 1922
Custom Tailors. 2, ,54l; Coal-niners, 36. 900. Out
OF the twenty-five national and international
unions represented in the Philadelphia confer
ence, and fourteen additional national and inter-
national unions that indorsed its work, only
nine of the chief officers salaried, and their
salaries range from SIP to $40 per week, the bal
ance of the officers donating their services. The
trades unions are economically managed. AS
the officers pledged by the most sacred obliga-
tions to promote the interests of their respective
unions were those who were delegated to attend
the Philadelphia conference the results of that
conference are such as cannot fail to accrue to
the benefit of the entire American working
class"
The treaty itself, of course, is the most i'm
portant part of the work. and is tine bone of con-
tenton, for if its terms agreed 70 by the
Knights of Labor. it will work radical changes
in the management and organization of the local
assemblies. The treaty is as follows:
"First-Tnat in any branch of labor having a
national or international organization the
knights of Labor shall not initiate any person
or form any assembly of persons following said
organized craft or calling. without the consent
of the nearest national or international union
affected.
"Second-That no person shall be admitted to
the Knights of Labor who works for less than
the regular scale of wages fixed by the union of
his craft, and none shall be admitted to member
ship in the Knights of Labor who have ever
been convicted of scabbing, rafting embezzle-
ment, or any other offense against the union of
his trade or calling, until exonerated by the
same.
'Third-That the charter of any Knights of
Labor assembly of any trade having national
or international union shall be revoked, and the
members OF the same be requested to join a
mixed assembly or form local union under the
jurisdiction of their respective national or inter-
national trades unions
'Fourth-That any organizer of the Knights
of Labor who endeayors to induce trades unions
to disband, or tampers with their growth or
privileges shall have his commission forthwith
revoked.
"Fifth-That when ever strike or lockout
of any trades -unionists is in progress, assem-
bly, or district assembly of the knights of Labor
shall interfere until settled to the satisfaction of
the rrades-union affected.
'Sixth-That the Knights of Labor shall not
establish nor issue any trademark or label in
competition with anv trademark or label now
issued or that may hereafter be issued by any
national or international trades-union."
The General Assembly of the knights of La.
Dor settled down to hard work this morning, and
held two sessions to-day, business being trans
acted on the eighthour plan, from to IL o'clock
in the morning. and to o'clock in the after
noon. After the opening preliminaries, the COM
mittee on laws presented their report, the first
proposition of which was substantially that the
executive board of the Knights of Labor be in
creased from five to eleven members, or that six
assistants be appointed to help the present
board. Under the constitution no
more than Ave members are permitted. and the
scheme of having assistants is for the purpose
merely Of eyading the constitution. After an