The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-06-10
LAsoRs CLOSED.
Close Of the Convention of the Knights OF
L-bor-The Purposes of the Meeting-An

4
! L-bor-The Purposes of the Meeting-An
! Address.
! CLEVELAND, o., June 4.-The Knights
: of Labor convention is over The general
assembly at FIVE o'clock last evening, after
a ten days session, adjourned sire die.
The convention was called for the pur-
, pose of considering FIVE subjects: The
Southwest troubles; the regulation of strikes
and boycotts; the relation of the order to
trades unions; the rapidly increasing MEN,
/ bership, and the labor legislation. The as
sembly has given no token TO the world that
! 1t tas touched upon the Southwest question.
1t Is said that something has been done TO
shut off indiscriminate striking and boycott
! ting but the methods to be used have not been
( divulged. The assembly has regulated its
| reception OF new members by recalling the
commissions of its 600 organizers. In
legislation 1t has petitiOned Congress to
give American land TO American citizens,
and to appropriate nonresident aliens
property, and has also asked Congress to
regulate the banking system by establishing
loan offices in every county. The crown
ing act was the reply to the circular of the
trades unions, which it was hoped would
gagged in labor reform.
David Il. Gibson. of Hamilton, Ont,
Home Club" Joseph T. Buchanan, Anti
Home Climb, and Ira B. AinswOrth, of Bal
timOre, Trade UniOnist, were elected asso-
ciate members of the executive board.
AN ADDRESS
The following address was adopted:
Brothers In the Cause Of Labor:
We, the knights OF Labor, in general as
sembly convened, extend our heart est greet
iugs TO all branches of honorable toll well
coming them to the most friendly alliance in
n common work. This organization embraces
within its folds all branches of honorable
toll and conditions of men without respect to
trace, occupation. creed. color or nationality.
We seek to raise the level of wages and re-
duce the hours of labor. to protect men and
women in their occupations. in their lives
and limbs and in their rights as citizens. We
seek also to secure such legislation us shall
tend to prevent the unjust accumulat on
of wealth, to restrict the power of
moDopolies and corporations. and TO en-
act such wise and beneficial legisla-
ton as shall promote equity and
justice. looking forward TO the dav when CO.
operation shall supersede the wage system
and the classes that now divide men shall he
forever abolished. We recognize the service
rendered to humanity and the cause of labor
by trades union organizations, but believe
the tune has come or g fast approaching
when a.! who earn their bread by the sweat
of the brow shall be enrolled under one gen.
mon law--the law of our necessites-and we
will gladly welcome to our ranks or to the
protection of our banner any organization
requesting ad Omission, and to such organ Ia
tons as believe their craftsmen are better
protected under their present form of gov
erDment- we pledge ourselves as mem
cooperate with them in our mutual
effort TO achieve the success which
we are untedly organized TO OBJ
tain. and to tn end We have appointed
nIal rfraa nfaaKsy n Ill
committee from anv national interna-
tionsl trades union which shall desire to con-
fer with us on the settlement of anv ifFiculty
that may occur between the members of the
several organizations We have received a
cOmmunicnti on from a committee OF the
national officers OF some of the national and
international trades unions requesting GER
tain specific legislation at our hands. but, as
we believe the object sought and stated in
preamble to the communication anove re-
ferred to can best be accomplished by r con-
ference between committee of this associa-
on and committee of any other organ
ZatiOn, and as the propos tons contained
therein are moons stcnt with our duty to
our members, we therefore defer action
on said propositions until conference of
committees can be held. The basis upon
which We believe an agreement can be
reached would necessarily include the adOp-
ton of some plan by which all labor orgHni-
cations could be protected from unfair men,
men expelled. suspended under fine or guilty
OF ing the place of union men or Knights
of Labor while on strike. or while locked
out from work. and that as far as possible u
uniform standard of hours of labor and
wares should he adopted so that men OF any
trade enrolled n one order and members of
trades urionS may not come in conflict be-
cause of the difference in wages or the hours
of labor. We also believe that Il system of
exchanging working cards should he adopt
ed so that members of any craft belong ng
to d ferent organizations could work in
harmony together, the card OF any MEM
Der of this order admitting him to work in
any union shop and the card of anv union
man admit ng him to work in anv Knights
OF Labor shop. We further believe that upon
a demand for increase of wages or shorter
hours of labor made by either organ Eat on
a conference should he held with the organ
iZcd labOrcI- employed in the establ' shmcnt
where the demand for increase of wages or
reduction of hours is contemplated. acton
upon n proposed reduction of wages or other
difficulty to he agreed upon in like manner,
and that with the settlement of any d ficul.
ties between employer and emplove the or
carnations represented in the establishment
shall be parties to the terms of settlement.
Trusting that the method proposed herein
will meet with yonr approval and that or
gnniZed labor will move forward and onward
in harmony, IN effect and in interest, we are
yours fraternally.
The trades unionists declare that the adj
dress Is unsatisfactory til hem.