Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1886-04-16
KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
FACTS OF INTERESr ABOUTTHIS
POWERFUL ORDER.
How it was Organized-Its Psincl-
ples-An Estimate OF it's strength
Officers of the Organiza,
tions-New Features.

Philadelphia was the birthplace of
''The Noble Order of the Knights of
Labor" and its founder was Uriah S.
Stevens, tailor, who was born in Cape
May county, n. j., on August 3, 1921.
In 1869 he collected together the first
body of laboring men under the above
given title, though the first properly or
ganized local assembly was not created
until 1878. The order spread rapidly,
. for as soon as its general objects were
made known to wage earners their SYM
pathies were inevitably enlisted and they
saw, in the plans contemplated by the
founders, the means of effecting what
probably could not be achieved by sep
arate trade organizations. Well enough
in their way as they were, they were far
behind the scheme of the Knights, which
was to knit in one common brother
hood all bodies of wage earners from the
Atlantic to the Pacific, so that, if neces-
sary, the power of the union could be
brought to bear, through indirect influ-
ence, with its whole weight upon the
capitalist against whom his employees
were struggling even were helm the most
remote corner of the land. From Phila-
delphia the Order of the Knights of
Labor spread to Pittsburg, and then it
seized firm hold on the coal and iron
regions of Pennsylvania. In 1878 a con-
vention was held for the formation of
General Assembly of North America, and
Mr.. Stevens, who had presided over
Local Assembly No. /, was chosen as
General Master Workman, the head of
the order. He served second term.
From this time on the progress made by
the Knights was more rapid probably
than that which has ever attended any
similar association.
The aims of the order are stated in its
declaration of principles to be: "First,
to make industrial and moral worth, not
wealth, the true standard of individual
and national greatness; second, to Sc
cHre to the workers the full enjoyment
of the wealth they create, sufficient leis-
ure in which to develop their intellec-
tual, moral and social faculties; all Of the
benefits, recreation and pleasures of asso-
citation; in a word to enable them to
share in the gains and honors of advanc-
ing civilization" In order to
secure these results the fol-
lowing demands are made "at the
hands of the state:" The establishment
of bureaus of labor statistics the rescrva-
ton of public lands to actual settlers {;
the abrogation of all laws that do not
bear equally upon capital and labor and
the improvement of the administration of
justice; legislation to protect the health
and lives of those engaged in industries,
and for proper Naturalization in case of
injury; the recognition of unions of
laboring men; the compelling of cOrpo-
rations to pay employees weekly in law
full money, for the labor of the preceding
week, and securing to mechanics and
laborers first lien upon the products of
their labor to the extent Of their full
wages" the total abolition of the con-
tract system; the establishment of COM
pulsory arbitration between employers
and the employed; the prohibition of the
hiring out of contract labor, and ''that a
graduated income tax be levied"
Of Congress tie most important mea-
sures demanded are the adoption of the
fiat money system, the wiping out of
National banks, the control Of railroads,
telegraphs and telephones by the gov
ernment and the creation of postal say
ings banks.
1t is impossible to estimote closely the
strength Of the Order of the Knights of
Labor. Though all the trades unions
are not embraced in the order there are
thousands of men belonging to these sep
arate bodies who are members
of the common brotherhood.
Naturally the Knights desire to
keep their strength unknown to out
siders, lest by a knowledge of the full
extent of the powers which would have
to be me-, capital in some cases hight
feel justified in meeting a contest or in
prolonging its resistance to labor's de-
mands. There are said to be about 5000
local assemblies of the order in the coun-
try. and it is believed that a modest esti-
mate would put the average membership
at one hundred to each assembly. OF
course many of the local bodies number
fewer members, but on the other hand
there are many which contain several
hundreds on their rolls. Not less than
500, 900 members may be credited to the
order throughout the country; careful
inquiries lead one to place the present
MAXIMUM membership at not over /. 900,
0O0 The strength of the order, however,
is rapidly increasing
The order embraces many other than
ma Iual laborers. In the membership are
merchants, employers of labor in numer-
Gus trades and manufactures, architects,
clergymen, physicians, newspaper men,
aid, more than might be expected, con-
eiessional and State legislators and mem
lGrs of State and municipal governments
Gre Knights of Labor. The only bust
Resses which are debarrod from admis-
sion are those Of the banker, stockbroker
lawyer and liquor dealer With regard
to the last business the exclusion is 50
wide as to keep out all persons who de
rive any profit or income from the sale
of intoxicating drinks Many women
are members of the organization, and ono
of its fundamental principals is "e1ua'
pay for equal work"
The order is composed Of local assem-
blies which send delegates to the dis
trict assemblies, and the latter are rep.
resented in General Assembly, which
is the supreme legislative body. Tn
local as 'emblies are composed as far 81
possible of members of one particular
trade. Where tn;s is impracticable q
''mlxed" assembly is organized. Tie
local assemblies regulate their own initia.
ton fees and annual dues, but zach
Knight pays twenty-four cents yeal to
the General Assembly. These contrEu
tons form the fund from which are pad
the expense of the officers and org gan
izers, boycotting, maintaining strike,
etc. The General Assembly meet an.
nually. 1t chooses officers and an ex
nnntivo com p,ittno tEa ;e o,,+rue4o1 ,,,;4l