Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1886-06-03
KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
what tho General Assembly Demands
in tho Way or Liquidation.

At the special session of the general assem-
bly, OF the Knights OF Labor held In Cieve.
laud the committee on legislation presented
the following propositions in the nature of tho
mands on congress, which the convention
rat I'D:
Frst That patents for public lands be CIV
en- to actual settlers only.
Second. That all lands owned by an lndlvld-
ual or corporation In excess OF 100 acres,
whether improved or unlmproved, shall DO
| taxed to the full value of improved land.
Third Calling for tho immediate forfciturcs
of all lands where tn, issue of the grant has
not been complied with to be issued forthwith
so that the taxation may take affect at once.
Fifth. Calling for a removal OF fences from
the INbllc domain.
Sixth. That after 1890 the government snail
bv purchase and the right OF eminent domain
obtain possession OF all lands held by aliens
Seventh, That after 1883 aliens shall be pro
hibited from acquiring title to lands,
Eighth. Asking the abolition OF all laws re-
qulring property qualifications for voters.
Ninth, Requesting passage OF law levy
ing graduated income tax.
Tenth. Protesting against the cutting down
of the appropriation for the labor bureau,
Eleventh. Asking for tho passage Of bills
approved by the congressional labor commit
tee.
Twelfth. Asking for the passage OF law
prohibiting the employment In mines, shops,
factories, ETC., OF all minors for more than
eight hours per day.
In this connection the following resolution
was adopted:
.,.I hat ,,.in hnlI al at
the ballot box all members OF congress who
neglect or refrain from voting In compliance
with these demands
The committees on strikes and boycotts
presented their report recommending that all
authority 10 order strikes and boycotts DO vest
ed in the executive committee. As che
hour for the noon recess had arrived the re-
port was laid over untIl the afternoon session
for discussion aud action, At l o clock the
convention took u recess until 2p, IN.
The resolution In regard to election holi
days Is as follows;
Resolved, That IL Is tho sense OF this Gen
eral Assemb y that the occupation Of bride
givers and bride takers should he destroyed.
To do this II will be necessary 10 educate those
who suffer most through bribery and corrup-
ton that II Is hurtful to the welfare Of the
nation 10 receive a bride or give Que. In
order 10 deal with this question more effect
ually aud more intcllgently, wo should use
every means within our power 10 secure for
| the toiler the right TO protect himself upon
that day which, OF all days, Is important TO
the American citizen, election day. That no
may have an opportunity 10 protect his In
| tercst on that occasion we should ask that
election day be made natIonol holiday, on
which no employer shall have the right to de-
mand service at the hands Of his cmploye.
We furthermore recommend that the work
ingmcn Of the nation declare their intention
10 make election day 'labor's legal holiday"
and that they devote their entire time on that
day to looking after their own interests; that
they shall on that dav keep watch and ward
over the destlnes Of the nation by guarding
the polls from the influence of the bride
taker and the brlbe giver, aud, while we rccog-
nze the right OF every man TO indulge In the
use OF liquor to such extent as he may deem
necessary for his health and comfort, yet we
do recommend that on that day each workman
refrain from the use Of liquor OF al kinds, so
that he may exercise with clear head his pre-
rogatIve as citizen In selecting the proper
men TO represent the people.
During the afternoon session or May 3lst
the Legislative committee reported the demand
that minors be prohibited from working over
clg't hours per day in mines, manufactures,
&c. The following In the same report wac
also adopted Resolved, that we hold respon-
sible at the ballot box all members OF congress-
who neglect or refuse 10 vote in compliance
with these demands. The rest OF the after
noon was devoted TO discussion Of the repor /
of the committee on strikes aud boycotts
recommending that the executive board should
have absolute control OF all such business
The convention took q recess until tomorrow
morning with the motion TO adopt the report
still peDdlng