Western cyclone., 1886-06-10
WHAT THEY WANT.
Laws Which the knights of Labor Ask
Congress to Enact.


In the convention OF the Knights OF La
Dor at Cleveland it was resolved to ap-
point at once and send, to Washington q
special committee Of three to look after la
Dor legislation now pending before congress.
The committee on legislation presented
the following proposition in the nature of
demands OF congress, which the convention
ratified:
l. That patents for public lands be given
to actual settlers only.
2. That all lands owned by individuals
or corporations in excess OF 16O acres,
whether improved or unimproved, shall be
taxed to the full value OF improved land.
3. Calling for the immediate forfeiture Of
all lands where the conditions Of the grant
have not been complied with
4. That the order be issued forthwith SO
that taxation may take effect at once.
5. Calling for the removal Of the fences
from the public domain.
8. That after 1890 the government shall,
obtain possession OF all lands held by
aliens.
z. That after 1886 aliens shall be pro-
hibited from acquiring title to land.
3. Asking the abolition of all laws re-
quiring property qualification for voters.
8. Requesting the passage Of law levy
ing graduated income tax.
10. Protesting against the cutting down
OF the appropriation for the labor bureau.
IL. Asking for the passage of the bills
approved by the congressional labor COM
mittee.
II. Asking for the passage OF law pro-
hibiting the employment in mines, shops,
factories, ETC., of minors for more than
eight hours per day.
The committee on strikes and boycotts
presented their report recommending that
all authority to order strikes and boycotts
be vested in the executive committee.
The resolution in regard to election holi-
days is as follows:
Resolved. That it is the sense OF this gen
eral assembly that the occupation OF bribe-
givers and bribe-takers should be de-
stroyed. To do this it will be necessary to
educate those who suffer most through
bribery and corruption that it is hurtful to
the welfare OF the nation to receive bribe
or give one. In order to deal with this
question mole effectually and intellgently
we should use every means within our
power to 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 he may have the OPP
portunity to protect his interests on 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 workingmen
declare their intention to make election
day "labor's national holiday" and
that they devote their entire time on
that day to looking after their own inter-
ests that they shall on that day keep
watch and ward over the destinies of the
nation by guarding the polls from the in
fuence of the bribe taker and bribe giver,
and while we recognize the right OF every
man to indulge in the use of liquor to such
an extent as he may deem necessary for
his health and comfort, yet we do recon-
mend that on that day each workman re-
frain from the use OF liquor OF all kinds, so
that he may exercise with clear head his
prerogative as citizen in selecting proper
men to represent the people.
During the afternoon session the legisla-
tive committee reported the demand that
minors be prohibited from working over
eight hours per day in mines, manufacto-
ries, etc. The following in the same report
was also adopted:
Resolved, That we hold responsible at
the ballot-box all members ofcongress who
neglect or refuse to vote in compliance with
these demands.