Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-02-25
The Declaration of Principles Of the
Knights Of Labor.


Knights Of Labor,
( The Knights OF Labor are creating quite
stir in the United States and every one i.
interested 10 know what they are. so We
give below their declaration of principles
To the PsLljc.
The alarming development and agrees.
iveness Of great capitalists and corporations
unless r.buked, will inevitably lead to the
pauperizaiion and hopeless degradation Of
the toling masses.
1t Is imperative, if we desire 10 enjoy the
blessings of life. that check be placed up.
on unjust accumulation. and the power for
/ evil Of aggregated wealth.
This much-desired object can be accom-.
7 pished only by the united efforts Of those
who obey the divine injunction. In the
sweat Of th, face shat thou eat bread"
Therefore We have formed the Order OF
be Knights Of Labor. for the purpose OF
organizing and directing the power Of the
Industrial masses, not a. a political party
FOR II il more--in it are crvstallized sen,i.
menis and measures for the benefit Of the
! whole people. and 1t should he borne in
mind, when exercising the right Of suffrage
4 that most Of the objects herein set forth can
I only be obtained through legislation. and
( that 1t i, the duty Of ali to assist IN uomi-
/ mating and supporting with their votes OIL,
/ such candidates vii pledge their support
( Ia those measures regardless Of party But
+ no one shall, however, be compel cl to vote
with the majority. and calling upon al. who
/ believe ia securing "lhe greatest good To
( the greatest number" 70 aid and assist US.
We declare to the world tina, our claims
are
!. 10 make industrial and moral worth
not wealth. the true standard q individual
and National greatness.
ii. To secure TO the workers the fall Ell
/ Ja,men, OF the wealth they create; suificien,
/ leisure IN shich to develop their iateil-c;uai.
moral and social faculties al Of tn, benefits.
recreation and pleasures of association; in q
word. to ensbe them To share in the gains
and hoHors of advancing civilization
In order to secure these results W. d.
maud al the hand, of the Sia'e:
III. The establishment uf Bureaus II
( Labor Statistics that We NAV arrive 4, a
correct know ledge IF the educational. ,no5 4
and financial condition Of The !aborias
masses.
". That the public lands. the heritage
of TIE people. be reserved fr actual settlers.
/ 40, another acre for ral.raa !, ~ ,pecuia,ars.
ana that a,l lind, nov he'd far ,pccu.a'l,r
purpose, be taxed 20 their fall value
Y. The atrnEa'ioa of al laas that 10
not bear equally upon capital and labor. al. Il
/ the removal q unjust 'cctnicsli,i,.. a,l.,,.
ami Determinations m the stminjsjra'.a4 -
justice.
VI. The adoption Of measures pgoy....a,
fog ,Ae hraIh and safe', ~ those Gagged
In Mining and manufacturing. hgli.rs ~
. dustrie>. aui 'rr Naturalization 20 ihr,t
engaged therein iar iaJgrle. f~rt,,c..
through ltCk e necessary safeguards
VII The recognition b, iueutpsr,, o.
Y % traders unions. orders, ami s4cA o'hcs a,-
/ sociatIons a NAV be organized b, The d.
Y my ma>>e, - lmFfa'c their condition d. j
protect their nights.
VIII. The enactment Of Avs 20 can"e.
/ corporations II pay ,h-.r emylp,e- aceA!,,
in lawful money. for TIE labor Il: tie nty-
c"tiHk week. and glsrs meehau.1, an! Ia
boftr> tr>t cia,> lien upon The prjiue' q
lhsir labor 10 the ful extent Of their y ,se>
IN The abolition Of lh, contract - $. ~
On Naji5r al. State and Nuu.c.pa vurAs
y. The enactment of lsws proud ~. 1T
arbitration between employers AMI en-
pio,ed. and 10 enforce The deci,iou OF TIE
arbitrator
NJ, The Prohibition hy law Of the EN-.
ploymrnt Of children under Is wear, Of az,
in workshops mines and factories.
MI. l. prohibit The hiring ont Of caa
wet labor.
Nil. That graduated income 'a> 3,
levied.
And we demand al the hand, Of Con.
gress
NV The establishment Of Nauon.
MONETARY system. "a WHICH 4 circulating
medium 10 necessary quantity Shall Issue
I directly 20 the people WITHOUT the luier,ca-
ton Of bank; tina, all the national Issue
shall be full legal tender IN payment Of ii
dehts, pubic and private; and that the GOV
eminent stall not guarantee ar recosn.zs
any private banks or create any banking
/ corporations.
Ky. That interr>tbearing bond. bill,
Of credit or notes. shall never be issued b,
the government, bat that, when need arises
the emergency shat! be met by issue q legs
tender, nor-interest bearing money.
NJ. That the importation Of foreign
labor under contract be prohibited.
XVII. That, in connection with the post
Office the Government shall organize fnan.
cial exchanges. safe deposits. and facilitie,
for deposit Of the savings Of the people IN
emai. sums.
XVIII That the Government shall ob-
tain possession. hy purchase. under the right
OF eminent domain. Of all ,elegraphs ;ele-
phones and railroads, and that hereafter No
charter or license be issued TO any corpora
/ ton for construction or operation Of any
means Of Transporting intelligence, passeH-
gers or freight.
And while making the foregoing dem and.
upon the State and National Government
we will endeavor to associate our own Ia.
bors.
XIX. To establish cooperative institu-
tons such as will tend 10 supersede the
wage-system BY the introduction Of a coop
erative industrial system.
XX. To secure for both sexes equal pa,
for equal work.
XXI. TO shorten the hours Of labor b,
a general refusal to work for more thar
eight hours.
XIII. To persuade employers TO agre,
TO arbitrate all differences which NAV aust
between them and their employees, in order
that the bonds OF sympathy between then
NAV be streng thened and tnat strikes ma,
be rendered unnecessary.