Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-02
KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
YESTERDAYS PROCEEDINGS OF THE
CONVENTION AT CLEVELAND.
Petition for Presentation to Congress
Adopted, Recommending the Passage
Of q Law Regulating Money.
Isy .ele~rapn to the Dispsich.l

10y ttlc&T1Ru W tuo Dibt&kohsl
CLEVELAND, o.. June 1.-The Knights
Of Labor Convention was opened
at 0 O'Clock this morning, the fist
business being the adoption OF the
amended report Of the Committee on
Strikes and Boycotts. The Executive
Board must approve all future strikes, and,
except In certain grievous cases where Inn
mediate action Is necessary, strike or
boycott will not be allowed without their
approval.
An address TO the Woman's Christian
Unions was adopted; after which the Com
mittee on Legislation presented the follow
ing report. which was adopted;
"In place Of Document No. III, entitled
'An act fixing the measure Of value and
further regulating the value OF money,
YOUR committee calls attention 10 the petit
t,on passed at the annual session held at
HsmiltOp, Ont, In October last, en-
braclnc the same subject, which pc
titIon was known as Document No.
n. MS printed on pages lis and
lig Of the record Of the proceedings Of
that session, and we urge that the said pc
tition be presented To Congress As there
recemrnen,led. and that it also be given 70
the press for publication, a. we deem this
course necessary before further legislation
by the General Assembly on the SUBJ
jeci."
Document No. II. referred TO by the
committee, is as follows. and was intro
duced by Ropresentauye \. III. Low, oi
Pennsylvania
Resolred. 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 the Gene
raj Assembly, met at The session held at
Hamilton, Ont. commenced october .,
lSS5. and attested 10y their proper officers,
respectfully represent that your petitioners
are mostly citizens Oi the United States
ard members oi the laboring class OF so
ciety; that, while human labor produces
all tie wealth. those who have per.
formed no honest labor have amasSed
most oi the wealth, and those who have
performed labor have the least 10 enjoy;
that We feel this state OF things TO he
largely due TO both yici0us legislation and
want Of proper legislation by Congress;
that the money OF the nited states Is OF
uncertain value, differing widely in differ
ent pats Of the country, at all times. aud in
every part at various times, whereas
being measure OF commercial value 1t
should be fixed and inyariab'e in value;
for example: At this time IN one part
OF the country money Is worth only
l2 per cent. interest per annum, IN
another ~ per cent, and in another 20 per
| cent, ard ranges from . to 20 per Gems
throughout the country; that the uncer-
tainty Of the value Of money causes dis.
trust and uncertainty In all COMMERCIAL
transactions. inasmuch as capital is timtd
and labor unemployed, and periodical pan.
les occur in all business, In consequence o'
which the industrial classes are financially
ruined and laborerS thrown OWt OF employ
| mont, and indescribable want and sun +.
irV brought upon the masses oi the people,
and unjust gains are acquired by those who
manipulate the money; that the supply OF
a large portion OF the money OF the country
Is in the control of private corporations
called national banking aSsOciaiions-crea-
tures Of congressional logislltiOn-wiih
whom private gain il the only motive for
supplying money to the people; that it is
through the manipuationS of said corpora
tions and o.her mOney.enders that the
people suffer many 0f the misfOriuues and
grievances hercinbefore mentioned and
uany others not mentioned; that the right
10 issue or coin money i 4 high soYe-
reign prerogatiye which ought not to be eX-
9, cised by any but the highest power 10
the nation; and we view with alarm the
exercise Of such prcrogatiye by private
persons or corporations, aud dS remedy
for the evils q which We complain, and
for The redress Of the grievances We suifer.
as herein set forth, We pray that yOur
honorable body Will fuidl the duties i'm
posed on you by the Constitution IN see
lion S Of Article (which provides who
shall have power 10 issue money and
regulate the value thereof and OF foreign
coin. and fix the standard OF weights aud
mcasures-that yOu fix the measure OF
value by establishing just, uniform, and
inyariablc rate for money loaned; that In
order % maintain such q rlte o! interest a.
nominal rate, you repeal al laws au-
tbOriZiug private persons or corporations
10 issue money. and in their stead establish
public loan Offices throughout the country
wherever needed-at least one In every
couniy-with proper officers In perform
tie duties of said offires; that tue Nati )nh
Government lend money 10 the p opie at said
offices on good and sufficient security, and
at said fixed rate Of interest on demand,
and that the profits ari~iag from the bush
ness Of lending said money be covered into
the public Treasury for public uses; and
that said loan Offices be also made depOSito-
ries for the savings Of the people. And your
petitioners will ever pray. &c.
HesOiUod, That the general master work
man shall certify duplicate copies Of the
foregoing petition TO Congress; and that
be is requested to select the most suitable
member Of Congress and United states
Senator avsillble, and request that they
present said petition to their respective
branches Of Congress.
Representative Low, Of Pennsylvania,
introduced a bill for recommendation to
Congress entitled "An act fixing the mea.
suIc oi value and further regulating the
vaiu, Of money" The bill provides for
correction Of abuses set forth in Document
No. II, and provides for the lOaning OF
morey by the Government at per cent.
per annum. The bill contains sixteen lcng
sections.
After the adoption of the above report
the Committee on the state oi the order
read it, report, and the General Assembly
took a recess.