The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-06-04
Demands of the Knights.

CLEvELA,tn, Ohio, May 31.--The general
assembly. knights OF Labor, to-day for
warded fraternal greetings to the Amalga-
mated Association of Iron and Steel Workers
at Pittsburg The following resolution was
adopted:
Resolved, That it is the sense Of the general
assembly that re occupation OF the bribe- giver
and the bribe-taxer shall be destroyed To do
this IL Will be necessary to educate those who
suffer most through bribery and corruption that
IL is hurttu. 20 the welfare Of the nation 20 re-
csiye b-ihe or give one in order TO deal with
this QGostiLn m0le cffectually and intelli2ently,
we should use every means within our power TO
secure for the toilet the right to protect himself
upon tha5 day, which, Of all days is important
TO the American citiz2p-clection day. That he
may have an opportunity 20 pio.eco his interest
or that occasion, we should ask that election
day be made national holiday. on which no
employer shall have the right To demand service
at the hands OF his employe. We Furthermore
recommend that the workingmen Of the
nation declare tn 'ir Intention TO make
election day "Labor's national holiday" and
thet they devote their entigs time on that day
TO looking after their own Interests: that they
shall on that day keep watch ana ward over the
qestinles OF the nation by guarding the polls
from the influence of the bribe-taker and the
brbe-giyer: and while we recognize the right OF
any man to indulge in the use Of liquor TO such
extent SO be may deem necessary for his health
and comfort, we recommend that on that day
each workman refrain from the use of liquor of
all kinds, so that he may exercise with clear
head his prerogatives as citizen in selecting
proper men TO represent the people
DEMANDS ON CONGRESS.
Chairman Shay, of the committee on legis-
lation, presented partial report. the follow
ing clauses of which were unanimously
adopted:
The doctrine that the free and inalienable
right TO life and liberty and happiness includes
the equal and inalienable rieht to the use of the
clements from which life must be supported,
and a system which compels some citizens to
buy from other citizens, the right TO till the un-
occupied soil of their common country, and that
permits individuals and corporations to aplro-
pirate as their own exclusive property the stores
of oil, gas and minerals which the Greater has
stored beneath IL for common use, and the value
of which the growth OF population gives to land
occupied by cities. is violation of natural JUS
tice, the inevitable result of which is to enable
those who do no work to reach the earnings Of
those who do, to impoverish the farmer,
mechanic and laborer, while enriehing
the forestaller and mouopolist, and by deprivlng
those who possess only the power Of labor ot
any opportunity Of making living for them
selves, to force them into deadly competition
with each other for the wages which some en-
ployer is willing TO pay. AS preparing the way
for the adoption of a better system, we demand
measures which shall restore TO the people GER
tain rights and privileges hereinafter named
First-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
IL.
Second-We demand the reservation of the
public lands for actual settlers only, and that
all laids owned by individuals and corporations
in excess of 160 acres, not under cultivation,
lands of like character
Third-We demand the immediate forfeiture
of all lands now under grant to corporations or
individuals, the conditions of which have not
been complied with.
Fourth--We demand that all lands now held
by individuals or corporations upon which pat
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forfeitable, shall be patented without delay and
taxed TO the full value of lands OF like character
under cultivation.
all fences upon the public domain without au-
thority Of law, and that equal protection be Sc
cured to all citizens of the United States In the
use OF public lands for free commonage.
Sixth--We demand that on and after $50 the
government shall obtain possession, bv pur-
chase at an appraised valuation, OF all lands
legally held by nonresident aliens, and from
and after 1886 aliens shall be prohibited from
acquiring title to or owning lands within the
United States, and that all deeds by citizens OF
the United States to aliens after said last men
toned date shall be null and void, and and so
decided shall revert to the government.
Seventh-We demand The abolition OF all
property qualifications for voting similar to
those now existing in the State of Rhode Island
and the establishment OF graduated income
tax
one of the most valuable means for the dissen-
ination of needed information, and we demand
for it the full appropriation asked for that its
efficiency may not be impaired.
Ninth-We recommend the passage OF the sew
eral bills endorsed by this body and approved
by the committee of labor of the house of rep
resentatives.
Tenth-We recommend that this body appoint
committee OF three TO visit congress during
it's present session to make known to the MEM
bers of that honorable body the wishes OF the
Knights OF Labor respecting the matters named
by this committee and endorsed by this body.