The Press., 1886-03-11
Issued Every Thursday Evening.
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
THEIR AIMS AND oBEJBors.

THEIR AIMS AND oBEJEcTs.
 z. In view of the proportions already at-
 tained by the Knights of Labor organiza-
 tion, which IS now attracting attention ip
 all parts of the country and from all class es of people, and an assembly of this order
 having been recently organized here, the
 platform of the order, adopted at Phila
 delphia, September 10, 1884, will be of
 interest Nt
 The alarming development and sggres-
 siveness of great capitalists and corpora.
 tions, unless checked will inevitably lead to the pauperism and hopeless degradation l of the toilln9 masses.
 Itas impera6ve, if we wi-h ts enjoy the full blessings of life, that a check be placed
 upon unjust accumulation and the power
 for evil of aggregated wealth.
 This much desired object can be accom-
 plished only by the unit d efforts of thos
 who obey the divine injunction, "Iu tue sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread. '' Therefore we have formed the order oi
 Knights of Labor for the purpose of a- gapizing and directing the power of th,
 industrial mass, not as a political party f'r
 1t is more in 1t are crystdllz d sentiments and measures for the b.neht If the whole lp-ople, but 1t should be borle m mind
 when exercising tile right of suffrage, thnt most of the objects herein set forth can
 only be obtained through legislation, aud
 that 1t is the duty of all to assist in nom
 hating and supporting with their voie
 only such candidates as wIll pledge their
 support to those measures, regardless oi party. But no one shsll, however, be com 1pelled to vote with the maj ,rity, aud call
 ing upon all who believe In securing "the
 greatest good to the greatest number" to ! 1Oln and aSSiat TIa NayaA Aaalora fp ha Kvnri0
 that our aims are: [ l. To make industrial and moral worth, not wealth, the true standard of iudividual f and national greatness.
 vl ILL. To secure to the workers the full f enjoyment of the wealth they create, sutfi
 cient leisure in which to develop their iu- e tellect, moral and social faculties; all of f the benefits, recreation and pleasures of fl association in word, to enable them to f share in the gains and honors of advancing . civilization .t in order to secure these results we de-
 mand at the hands of the state: a ls. III. The establishment of bureaus of labor statistics, that we may arrive at a a moral and financial condition of the labor. ling classes. N
 " That the public lands, the heritage n Iof people, be reserved for actual settlers na lnot another acre for railroads or speoula 8 tors, and that all lands now held for apecu. if lative purposes be taxed to their full value a V. The abrogation of all laws that dc n not bear equally upon capital and labor
 and the removal of technicalities, delay, a and discriminations in the Administration
 of justice. 1 VI. The adoption of measures proyid .t ing for the health and safety of those en . gagged in mining, manufacturing and build T ing industries, ana for indefnni6eati0a tg i. those engaged therein for injuries received ,r through lack of necessary safeguards. e VII. The recognition, by incorpora :. tion, of trades unions, orders, and such e other associations as may be organized by : the working masses to improve their con ii dition and protect their rights.
 a WILL The enactment of laws to compe 1, corporations to pay their employees week "a ly in lawful money, for the labor of th,
 preceding week, and giving mechanics anc f laborers first lien npon the product O A their labor to the extent of the full wages ,f1 TX. The abolition of the contract sys e tenn on national, state, and municipa ' llworks. @ al K The enactment of laws providing s for arbitration between employers and em l, ployed, and to enforce the decision of thu 7 arbitrators.
 XI. The prohibition by law of the em y ployment of children under fifteen year, e of age in workshops, mines, and factories XII. To prohibit the hiring of convic e labor.
 r. XIII. That graduated income tax bc r. levied.
 e And we commend at the hands of con
 gress:
 XIV. The establishment of a nationa !. monetary system, in which a circulating Is medium in necessary quantity shall issue l. direct to the people, without the Interven g. ton of banks that all the national issue [, shall be full legal tender in payment of al debts, public and private; and that tho g government shall not guarantee or T, ,g n nize any private banks, or create any bank 3. ing corporations. .-. .....r... l. XV. That interest-bearing bonds, bill, ], of credit or notes shall never be issued bN is the government, but that, when neeC IS arises, the emergency shall be met bv tn, l. issue of legal-tender, Ilon-interest brariut y money. N... ..r'rr J XVI That the importation of foreigl le labor under contract be prohibited. 'e XVII That, in c,nnechon with tn, Ii postoffice, the government shall organiz e financial exchanges, safe d,pnsits and fa 'e cilities for deposit of the savings of tn al people in small sums.
 of XVIII That the government shall ob
 tain possession, by purchase, under th' I right of eminent domain, of all t legraphs r. telephones and railroads, and that hereaf of ter nq charter or license shall he issned [, le any Rrporation for thr conAtEuction ar op Id eration of any means of transporting intel y ligence, passengers or freight. o le And, while making the foregoing de
 mands upon the state and national gov IS ernment, we will endeavor to associate ou of own labors
 i'd XIX. To establish cooperative ipstitu 'e tions, such as will supercede the wagerys
 tenn, by the introduction of the co-opera
 tive industrial system.
 3. John B. Cough used to lecture at tn, d old Brooklyn tabernacle, New York, foi h one cent admittance. For some time h,