New Ulm weekly review., 1886-06-09
Demands of the Knights.

CLEVELAND, Ohio, May 31.-The genera
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 wa
adopted:
Resolved, That it is the sense of the genera
assembly that the occupation Of the bribe-g give
and the bribe-taker shall be destroyed. To dt
this it will be necessary to educate those wht
1t is hurtful to the welfare of the nation to re-
~ceive bril- or give one in order to deal witt
this question more effectually and intelligently,
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
on that occasion, we should ask that election
day De made a national holiday, on which nc
employer shall have the right to demand service
1e at the hand hands Of M his empoye. We Furthermore
nation 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 interests; that they
snail on that day keep watch and ward over the
destlnles of the nation by guarding the polls
S1rom the influence Of the bribe-taker and the
any man to indulge in the use Of liquor such
extent as he 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 a partial report, the follow
ing clauses Of which were unanimously
adopted:
The doctrine that the free and inalienable
sn>sst to life and liberty and happiness includes
Ghe equal and inalienable right to the use of the
elements from which life must be supported,
land 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 appro-
PIRATE as their own exclusive property the stores
OF oil, gas and minerals which the creator has
stored beneath it for common use, and the value
of wfich the growth OF population gives to land
eice. 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.
those who possess only the power of labor OF
: any opportunity of making living for them
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 q 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
and work upon.
second-We demand the reservation of the
public lands for actual settlers only, and that
all lands owned by individuals and corporations
in excess Of 16O acres. not under cultivation,
shall be taxed to the full value Of cultivated
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
ents have lot been issued, and which are not
fOrfetable shall be patented without delay and
taxed to the full value of lands Of like character
under cultivation.
Firth-We demand the immediate removal Of
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
S1Xth-We S,mand that on and after 800 the
government shall obtain possession, bv pur-
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-
rioned 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
Eighth-we believe that the labor bureau is
one OF the most valuable means for the dissem-
anation of needed information, and we demand
1or it the full appropriation asked for that it's
efficiency may not be impaired.
NlnEh-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
Its present session to make known to the men,
bers Of that honorable body the wishes OF the
{ knights of Labor respecting the matters named
s9y this committee, and endorsed by this body