Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-06-01
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.

Resolutions Unanimously Adopted De.
mandinE an Equalization of Land
Rights for the PeOple-Reasons for
Making Election Day National
Holiday.
AT the session of the Knights Of Labor in
Cleveland, Ohio, yesterday a letter addressed
to the annual convention of the Amalgamated
Association of Iron and Steel Workers was read,
adopted and ordered to be forwarded to the Sec
Rotary OF that order. The letter was one of fra
ternal greeting, asking cooperation in the
cause of labor. A resolution was adopted ask
ing Congress to pass IA bill making election day
Il national holiday.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LEGISLATION.
Chairman Shay, of the committee on legisla-
tion presented partial report, the following
clauses Of which were unanimously adopted:
''Your committee on legislation being ofopin-
ion that a system which coinpelS some citizens
TO buy from other citizens the right to till the
unoccupied soil of the common country and
that permits individuals and corporations To
appropriate as their own exclusive property he
stores OF oil, gas and NJ neras which he Creator
has stored beneath 1t for common use, and the
value which the growth OF population gives to
land occupied by cities, is violation of natural
justice, we demand measures which shall re-
store to the people certain rights and privileges
hereinafter named:
u. We demand the creation of a system that
shall MAKE future generations more than mere
tenants at WILL so long As there Is land idle that
Is needed by American citizens TO live and work
upon.
'.2. We demand the reservation of the public
lands tor active settlers only, and that All lands
owned by individuals anu corporations in ex-
cess OF 100 acres, hot under cultivation, shall
be taxed to the full value oil cultivated lands oil
like character.
- We demand the immediate forfeiture of
all lands now under grant 10 corporations or in
OiFlduas, the conditions OF which have not
been complied with
81. We demand that all Lands now held by
individuals or corporations upon which patents
l,.h are mol fart 10
shall be patented without delay and taxed To
the lull value OF lands VI like character under
-. We demand the immediate removal of all
fences upon the pubic domain without
thorIty OF law, and that equal protection he
secured 10 All citizens OIL the United STATES in
the use OF public lands Tor Tree comlnoua2e.
~. We demand that on and after A. ID. 1890
the government shall obtain possession by pur-
chase at an appraised valuation of ali lands
legally held by NONRESIDENT aliens, ana from
and after a. ID. 1856 aliens shall be prohibited
rom acquiring Title TO or owning lands within
the United States OF America. and that all deeds
Cy citizens OF the UniIed States 10 aliens after
said last mentioued date Shall he null and vUiu,
and land SO decided shall revert to the govern
Iuent.
-. We demand the abolition OF all property
qualifications for voting similar to those now
existing in The state Oh Rhode Island aud the
establishment OF IA graduated income lax.
80. We believe that the Labor Bureau is one
OF the most valuabie meals for the Glssemiaa-
ton OF needed Information, and We demand for
it the full appropriation asked Tor, that its efii
cheney be Impaired.
80. We recommend the passage Of the several
bills endorsed by this body ana approved 10y
the committee on labor oi the House of Repre-
sen ;lISeS.
10. e recommend that this body appoint
coinmitle OF three 10 visit Congress during its
present session to make known TO the members
OF that honorable body the wishes OF tie
highs OF Labor respecting the matters named
by this conI;uittec and endorsed by this body
I.ABoRs NATIONAL HOLIDAY.
The resolution in regard to election holidays
is as follows:
"Kesoired That it is the sense of this General
Assembly that the occupation of the bribc-giver
and the bribe-taker Should be dsstIoy ed. 10
do this II will be necessary to educate those
wLo suffer most through bribery and corrup-
ton that II Is hurtfui to The welfare OF the
tiUIi to receive bride or give one. In order TO
deal with this question more effectively and ill.,
teiigentiy, We should use every meaus within
our power TO secure Tor the tuiler The rig at to
protect himself upon that day which OF All days
Is important to tie American cit!Zen-eiection
day That he may have n opportunity to protect
his interest un that OCCASION We should ask
that election day be made d national holiday,
On wiilch no employer sEali have the risht 20
demand service AT the hands OF his empIoye.
We furthermore recomm lend that the work. Ia =
men OF the nation declare their intention 10
nalne election day 'iabor's NATIONAL Holiday
and that they devote their entire time OH that
Gay to looking alter their ow:i interests; that
they Shall on that day Aeep watch and ward
over the uealinieS oil tne nation 10y .Garuig
the poIS from TIE influence OF The prIDe-.akeI
ana the Diibc-YiveT; aud while recognize
the right OF every man To indulge in tie use vi
liquor 10 such extent i.e may 'Aeem
lor his health and comfort, yet 90 RECON-
mend that on that day eacn work Ian reiiain
from the use oi liquor of ali KINDS, SO that he
may exercise with clear head ills prerogaiive
as citizen in selecting proper men 10 represent
The people.
EIGHT HOURS FOR MINORS.
During the afternoon session the legislative
committee reported Il demand that minors he
prohibited from working over eis int hours per
dly N mi s.!t haf foil
III the Same report was aso adopted: '.kesotpet,
That We hold Responsible at tie balot-UuX All
members OF Congress vino Neglec refuse 10
vote in conp!ialc with these demands" The
rest OF the afternoon was devoted to "A discus
sion OF the report OF the committee on strikes
and boycotts, recommending that the eXecu-
tive board should have absolute control OF all
such business. The convention took recess
until this morning, with q motion 10 adopt the
| report still pending.
THE TRADE UNION TROUBLE
A New York Herald special from Cleveland
says: 1t is understood that the committee on
the good of the order has report ready on the
| trade union matter. 1t will be presen ted to the
| assembly tomorrow soon as the strike and
boycott questions are out of the way. The
nature of the report cannot be definitely ascer-
tanned, but il Is understood that some OF the
sections OF the treaty proposed by the trade
unions will be approved and Others rejected, i'm
other words, the committee will recommend a
compromise.
PoWDERLY AS A TEMPERANCE NAN.
Mr.. Powde.ly has pronounced views on tenn
perance. He said yesterday to a Phtladelphia
Times reporter: II never tasted intoxicating
liquor OF any kind and have not the remotest
idea OF what II Is like. have seen its effects
however, aud that is enough for me. Twas told
to-day that the brewers are going to boycott
the Knights of Labor on account of their tenn
perance principles. Would to heaven they
would. They can't do il too soon. Nothing
better could happen to our order. would like
to see all the saIoonkeepers boycott the Knights
OF Labor and refuse to sell the members any
thing 10 drink"
The Pope to the Cardinal.
THE FULL TEXT OF THE LETTER FROM ROME
Archbishop Gibbons received q cablerram