The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-30
WORK FOR THE UNEMPLOYED
The Plan Proposed by Mr.. Dubois for
Curing the Evils Of Oyerproduction.
Indications that the Knights of Labor Are
Not Disposed to Grant ALI Demands
Made by the Trades Union People.


assemblies, from Lansing, Mich, but whose dis
trict has already increased to thirty assemblies
Soon after his ARRIVAL it was whispered among
the delegates that he had plan for the reorgan-
ization of the Knights of Labor. He said: ''The
Knights of Labor now have. as you know. a
General Assembly and some State assemblies.
notably in Iowa, Illinois, Michigan and Massa-
chusetts rs well az district and local assemblies
propose to retain all the different divisions in
the plan of reorganization, but will somewhat
change the methods and manners of establishing
and conducting them"
The legislative committee of the General AS
sembly has been one of the Understanding
committees appointed, the members having de-
voted their evenings to the duty before them.
The committee consists of John H. Shay, OF Hi
nois, chairman; D. j. ODonohue, of Canada; A
Ell. Low, of Pennsylvania; L. S. Patterson, of
Washington, D. c.: James R. Sovereign, of Iowa;
John O'Keefe, of Rhode Island, and Charles Fl.
Litchfield, of Massachusetts, The committee
will report on Monday morning, and will propose
important legislation on railroads, public lands,
education, alien landlords and money A reor-
ganiEation plan that has been fayorably dis
cussed, aud which will be brought before the ex-
ecutive board, is outlined by William b. Dubois,
of New York, who takes as a basis OF argument
that the right of employment must be estao-
lshed to cure the evils of overproduction. m r.
Carroll D. Wright, of the Labor Commission.
says the writer, states in round numbers that
one million men in this country are out or en-
ployment who would not be idle if work could be
had. That number is about 10 per cent. OF the
actual voting population Of the country.
l think, to meet this emergency, the
Knights of Labor should urge the estab-
lishment, by constitutional amendments
or otherwise, in every city or town of 5000
more inhabitants of department OF labor,
governed by commissioners elected by the peo-
pie. The duty of these commissioners would be
to devise means in their respective towns to give
employment to as many as III per cent. or the
voting population. There should be an annual
appropriation by everv city and town of over
FIVE Thousand inhabitants sufficient to pay wages
at the rate of 81 day for three hundred days In
the year to as many as 10 per cent OF the voters,
such percentage to be calculated from the regis
try of the previous election. An additional ap-
preparation should be made to pay salaries to
commissioners and forenien, and to purchase
necessary supplies. Any able-bodied person
who registered at the last annual election pre-
cediDg the year for which the appropriations are
made, out of employment by reason of q strike,
lockout, depression in business, or from any
good cause and unable to find other work, may
make application for employment at the depart
ment of labor, and shall be given some useful
work to do at the rate of ST. per day of eight
hours as long as he may chose to remain and
work for that rate of wages"
Copies of this plan are in the hands OF several
delegates, and will be brought before the con-
vention as soon possible.
The four hours session of the General Assem-
bly, this morning was passed in the discussion or
the motion, made on Friday to refer the report
of the executive board the relations of the or
der to the trades unions to the committee on
the state of the order. Speeches were made by a
number of leading members, and from their
tenor it is certain that the trades unions will not
get all they ask 1t is more than preeble that
the affair will remain unsettled. After a short
discussion this afternoon the whole matter was
referred the committee, and few min ties later
Mrs. Sarah NJ. Perkins. of this city, appeared at
the door of the ante room to the convention hall
and sent note to Mr. Powderly stating that she
han been delegated by the Ohio Womans Suf-
frage Association to present an address to the
General Assembly. a recess was taken to admit
the lady, and Mrs. Perkins was escorted to the
platform and introduced to the convention.
The second proposition of the committee on
laws was recommendation that, where prac
ticable unattached local assemblies should be-
come parts of district assemblies, and transact
business with the General Assembly through
them. After short discussion the proposition
was adopted
The secretary read letter from Galveston,
Tex. relating to the hardship of strikers who
were confined in the Jail of that city for ICON
structive contempt" and asking the General
Assembly to do something to obtain for them
the privileges given persons similarly charged in
other courts of the United States. The follow
ing resolution was presented and unanimously
adopted
Whereas The jails at Galveston, Dallas and else
where in Texas are filled with brother Knights suffer
ing for contempt of court issued by Judge Par
dee be it
Resolved, by this General Assembly, that we peti
&c
to exercise clemency in their behalf. the United
States Judges have ordered release of all prisoners
sentenced during the strikes on the Southwest system
and thus be the means of causing better feelings be
tween employers and employees
A committee of two was appointed to drafi
suitable documents to be forwarded to the Presi
dent asking him to exercise clemency toward
the imprisoned members of the order.
The committee appointed on Friday t. re-
spond to the telegram received from the Toledo
convention presented the following address
which was unanimously adopted and ordered
sent to the secretary:
ITO the Ohio womans Suffrage Association.
s"The General Assembly of the knights OF
Labor accents the greeting and recognition OF
the Ohio Woman's Suffrage Association, and
returns its thanks, with fraternal greetings and
congratulations. The order of the Knights oil
Labor guarantees to woman and man equal
rights protection and opportunities to the full
extent of its rightful authority Its real mission
is tho complete emancipation and enfranchise-
ment of all those who labor. II
is imbued with the lofty spirit OF
the Declaration of American Independence,
which includes the whole American family In
the rights claimed by its authors for themselves.
1t would not keep the noble lines aud sentences
of the fathers out of the sight of the disinfran
chised, out of the sight of more than oue.half OF
all OF the most useful and deserving of indus
trious people whom fashions Internal have mis-
led, and whom a false pride has intimidated 1t
reminds woman that she must cease looking to
partisans and courtiers for justice and revival
of that vital spirit which alone can noursh and
sustain the Republic; that she must turn to her
SELF must respond in the proper spirit to the
rightful tender of protection and equality; must
earnestly co operate with the progressive mem
bers of the Knights of Labor who insist upon
the guarantee of perfect equality in the full and
free exercise and enjoyment of all membership
rights; of eqnal participation in the admnistra-
ton, and that the management of all the govern
mental affairs of the order shall he practically