Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-29
BANDING LABOR ORDERS.
THE TREATY SENT BY THE
UNIONS TO THE KNIGHTS.

10 fhieNon.
CLEVELAND, May 2S.-The chief sub
ject discussed by the knights of Labor
and the members of the trades unions in
the hetel Hobbies and on the streets dur
ing the past few DAYS has been the treaty
that was prepared at the Philadelphia
conference of tine trades union officers
last week for presentation to the General
Assembly Of the Knights Of Labor. The
address and terms Of the treaty have never
before been made public. At the conven-
tiOn to-day the Executive Board of the
Knights of Labor presented its report,
embodying the address of the trades un-
ions and the terms on which they wish to
settle the existing troubles. The address
is as follows:
The officers Of the national and interna-
tlonal trades unions desire to make the state
mcnt that they have no antagonism towards
the knights of Labor, and believe that as an
order IL has legitimate m ssion in the labor
movement of America. Through the develop
ment of industry and the aggregation OF capl-
Ial the tendency Is to mOnOpoli2e the bust
ness OF the country. Hence various trades
have been affected by the Introduction of
machinery, subdivision of labor, use OF
woman's and child's labor. and lack of an aD-
prentice system, so that skilled trades were
OBJECT OF THEIR FORMATION.
To protect the skilled labor Of America
from being reduced TO beggary and to sustain
the standard OF American workmanship and
skill the trades unions OF America have been
established. They are social necessity, and
their past history proves shat not only have
they been benefit in raising the wages of
workmen and in reducing the burdens OF toll,
but they have fulfilled the fraternal duty of
visiting their members when unemployed,
when sick disabled bX
old age. and provided for the widows and
orphans of their deceased brethren. COnse-
quently trades unions have become a fixed
ana permanent Institution in America--nOt
antagonistlc TO the welfare of the Coun-
try, but calculated to elevate all branches
of labor to higher degree of citizenship
and larger share OF social comfort. For this
principle thoughtful and farseeing men of
various crafts have founded unions of their
respective trades, and to m aintan their trades
unions members have sacrificed countless
time and money, and where at first many
predicted their complete failure time has not
only proven their usefulness, but has demon
strated that they are destined to fulfill a
higher mission, and their progress is IN exact
proportion TO the intellectual development OF
their members.
NO NEED FOR ANTAGONIST.
When they are founded on such grounds
there need he no fears of their destruction
nor need there be any antagOnism between
them and the knights Of Labor OF late our
greatest fears have not been that the Knights
OF Labor would destroy trades unions, but
that the capitalists OF the country would use
every opportunity to pit one form of organi-
cation against another, and in the conflict de-
stroy both. Within the past year the nd
tional and international trades unions
have grown with giant strides. For example
we will cite few instances: The Information
al Typographical Union has gained 9,642 mem
bers, the Cigarmakers International Union,
7,l0l; the brotherhood of Carpenters and
JOiners. i3,46l; the National Bias ers' Union,
1864: the international Brickmakers and Ma
sons, 9,57S; the Furniture Workers, 633; the
Amalgamated Iron and Steel Workers. s. 230l;
the Iron Moulders. 1900; the Granite
2,54l, and the Coal miners, $1,000
Out of % national and international
unions represented in the Philadelphia con-
ference and fourteen additional national and
international unions that Endorsed its works
only nine Of the chief officers are salaried.
and their salaries range from $l2 to $40 per
week, the balance OF the officers deVoting
salaries. Trades unions are economically
managed, and most rigid accountability is
eXacted from their officers in all financial and
business transactions. As officers pledged ny
most sacred obligations to promote the inter
ests of their respective unions, the chief OFF
GERS felt it was their duty to attend the Phlla-
delphla conference. and the results of that
conference are such that for the future there
are no doubts that the trades unions of Amer
Ica will not only grow, but become a more
fixed institution.
THE TREATY.
The treaty itself, OF course, is the most
important part of the work, and is the
bone Of contention, for if its terms are
agreed to by the Knights of Labor it will
work radical changes in the management
and organization ct the local assemblies.
The treaty is as follows:
J. That in any branch Of labor having ma
tional or international organization, the
knights OF Labor shall not initiate any per-
son or form any assembly of persons follow
ing said orRani2ed craft or calling without
the consent Of the nearest national or inter
national union Affected.
?. That no per ON shall be admitted to the
Knights OF Labor who works for less than the
regular scale OF wages fixed hy the union OF
his craft, and none shall he admitted % mem
befship In UNI ms OF labor who have ever been
conyic Of scabbing, ra ting. embezzlement
or any other Oteuse against the union OF his
trade or calling until eXOnerated by the same.
3. That the charter of any knight OF Labor
assembly OF any trade, having national or
international union shall lie revoked. and the
members Of the same requested TO Join a
M xed assembly, or form a local union under
the jurisdiction OF their respective national
or international trades unions.
4. That any organizer OF the KNIGHTS Of
Labor who endeaYOrs 10 induce trades unions
TO disband, or Hampers with their growth or
privileges, shall have his commission forth
with revoked.
g. That whenever a strike or lockout Of any
trades unionists IL IN progress no assembly or
district assembly of the knights Of Labor
shall interfere until settled To the satisfaction
oil the trades union affected.
g. That the Knights OF Labor shall not es-
tablish nor issHe any trade mark or label in
competition with any trade mark or label now
Issued or that may hereafter be Issued by any
national or International trades union.
THE ASSEMBLY AT WORK.
The General Assembly OF the knights
of Labor settled down TO hard work this
morning and held two sessions to-day,
business being transacted on the eight
hour plan-fr0m 8 to II o'clock in the
morning aud TO 6 O'clock IN the after
noon. After the opening preliminaries
the Committee on Laws presented their
report, the first proposition OF which
was substantially that the Executive
Board Of the knights Of Labor
be increased from I've to IL
members. or that six assistants be APP
pointed 10 help the present board. Under
the constitution no more than five MEM
bers are permitted, and the scheme OF
having assistants Is for the purpose
merely OF eyading the constitution. After
an hours discussion. the proposition was
adopted without change. The six new
members or assistants will be elected by
ballot similarly 10 other officers. and
those elected nc the present convention
viii serve during the uneXpircd year that
ends In OctObeR IL WAS decided 10 estab-
lish permanent Headquarters for the Exc
cutive Board In Philadelphia, and II
deemed necessary the board may cit
q. -