The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-04
THE WORK OF THE KNIGHTS.
The Knights of Labor General Assembly
Closes Its Extended Session.
The Quarrel with the Trades Unions Not Set
tled-Address to Workers Urging United
Action Under the Knights Banner.
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.

THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR
Closing the General Assembiy-An Address to
Workers of All Kinds.
CLEVELAND, June 3-The Knights Of Labor
convention is over. The General Assembly, at
o'clock this evening. after ten days session,
adjourned sine die. The convention was called
for the purpose of considering Eve subjects:
The Southwest troubles, the regulation OF
strikes and boycotts, the relations Of the order
with trades-unions the rapidly increasing mem
qershp. and labor legislation. The General AS
sembly has given the world no notice that it has
touched upon the Southwest question. 1t is
said that something has been done to shut off in
discriminate striking and boycotting,
but the methods to do so have
not been divulged. The Assembly has
regulated the reception OF new members by
recalling the commissions of its 600 organizers.
In legislation it has petitioned Congress to give
American labor to American citizens. and to ex-
proprate non resident aliens property. and has
also asked Congress to regulate the banking sys-
tenn by establishing loan agencies in every
county The GROWING act was the reply to the
circular of the trades unions which it was hoped
would restore harmony between the orders
gagged in labor reform. The last session was
veritable lovefeast. and every member who had
said anything against any other member extend
ed the hand of fellowship. The sHome Club"
department of the Knights of Labor were 1t Is
said, triae more liberal to-day, and after
having secured seven members of the enlarged
board allowed two of their opponents to be-
come members. Barry, of the old board, Is OPP
posed to the club, and Powderly's position is re-
ported to be uncertain.
At IL o'clock the convention took It's noon re-
cess, reassembling at 1:3O o'clock. The first
business taken up the report of the COM
mittee on the state of the order, and. with but
little discussion. tho following address was
adopted:
Brothers in the Cause of Labor:
'We, the Knights of Labor, in general assem-
bly, convened, extend our heartieSt greetings to
all the branches of honorable toll, welcoming
them to the most friendly alliance in q common
work. This organization embraces within its
folds ali branches of honorable toll and condi-
tons of men. without respect to trade, occupa-
ton. creed, color nationality. We seek to
raise the level OF wages, shorten hourssto pro-
tect men and women in their occupations, in their
lives and hmbs and in their rights as citizens;
we seek also to secure such legislation as shall
tend to prevent the unjust accumulation Of
wealth, to restrict the power of monopolies and
corporations, and TO enact such wise and ben
efcial legislation as shall promote equity and
justice, looking forward to the day when CO.
operation shall supersede the wage system and
the classes that now divide men shall be forever
abolished
1--WE recognize the service rendered to human
ity and the protection of labor by trades-unions
but believe the time has come is fast ap-
preaching. when all who earn their bread by the
sweat of their brows shall be enrolled
under one general head, as We are
troed by one common iaw-tho law of
our necessities-and will gladly welcome
to our ranks, or to the protection Of our ba~ err
any organization requesting admission. o
such organizations as believe their Graf.
are better protected under their present fcrl
government we pledge ourselves, members of
the great army of labor, to cooperate with them
in every honorable effort to achieve the success
which we are unitedly organized to obtain, and
to this end we have appointed special com
mlttee TO confer with a like committee OF any
national or international traGes-union which
shall desire to confer with as upon the settle
ment Of any difficulty that may occur between
the members of the several orgauiza-
tons We have received q communica-
ton from committee of the national
officers of some of the national and international
trades-unions requesting certain specific legisla-
ton at our hands, but as believe that the oh.
iect sought and stated In the preamble to the
accomplished by conference between COM
mittee OF this association and committee of any
other organization. ami the propositions con-
tanned therein are inconsistent with our duty to
our members. We therefore defer action on such
proposition until conference of committees can
be had. The basis upon which we believe an
ageement can be reached would necessarily in-
cude the adoption of some plan by which
all labor organizations could bo pro-
tected from unfair men. men expelled. under
| ho of
union men or knights of Labor while on strike
or while locked out from work. and that as far
as possible, uniform standard of hours of labor
and wages should be adopted, so that men of any
trade enrolled in one order and members of
trades-nnions may not come in conflict because
OF the difference in wages or hours OF labor. We
also believe that system OF exchanging work
ing cards should be adopted. so that members of
any craft belonging to different organizations
could work in harmony together. the card OF any
member OF this order admitting to work In any
union shop, and the card OF any union
man admitting him to work in any
Knights OF Labor shop. we further
believe that upon demand for increase Of wages
| or shorter hours of labor. made by either organ
ization, conference should be held with the
organized laborers employed In the establish
ment. When demand for increase of wages or
reduction of hours Is contemplated, action upon
a proposed reduction of wages other difficulty
to be agreed upon in like manner, and that in
the settlement of any difficulties between en-
ployers and employees the organizations repre-
scented in the establishment shall be parties to
the terms OF settlement Trusting that the
method proposed herein will meet with your APP
prevail. and that organized labor will move for
ward and onward in harmony OF effort and Of
interest, we are yours fraternaliy."
The trades-unonists tonight declare that the
address is unsatisfactory to them. The General
Assembly, before adjourning. issued an address
denying that tho "Home Club was engaged In
plotting against the welfare OF the order, and
saying that tho very best OF feeling prevailed
among oil the deiegatsa An address was also