Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-27
LABOR LAWS WANTED
Plenty of Work for the Coming Leg
lature of Pennsylvania,
In THE INTEREST OF WORKINGMEN
Chairman Dewey Issues Call for Con-
yention Next Month.
ITEMS FADAY FROM LABOR CIRCLES

A special meeting of the Executive Board
of District Assembly No. 8, knights of
Labor, was held last night for the purpose
of winding up the business before the board
and preparing final report to make to the
annual meeting Of the district next month.
A letter was read from A. N. Dewey,
chairman of the legislative convention of
the organization, calling meeting of the
convention, to be held in K. of Il. Hall,
Harrisburg, on Thursday, January 8, at 10
o'clock A. NJ. Iu his call, Mr.. Dewey said:
For many years the tendency Of legislation
in Pennsylvania has been in the interest of cor
porations and against the great majority of the
people. The efforts put forth by the last legis-
lative convention were productive of much
good. 1t now remains for the next convention
to follow up the advantage we have already Sc
cured and the result must be a victory for
labor at the coming session of the Legislature
| in the Keystone State.
DEMAND FOR BALLOT REFORM.
We want ballot reform and constitutional
convention to secure ii; we want better factory
and mine inspection laws. and deputies enough
! to enforce them: we want "pluck-rne' stores
prohibited, and payment in cash weekly for all
labor done; VIC want to save the children of to-
OHy anu Tue men ana women OF LDe future Oy
prohibiting the employment of children in
factories; mines and workshops before
they have attained their 18th year;
we want the employment of private
armed forces by corporations or individuals
prohibited by law;we want better tax laws,
which will relieve the burdens of the small
! property owners, and place the same upon
those who are best able to bear them.
All this we want and more, and we believe
that these reforms can be secured at the COM
ing session of the Legislature If proper
eo1f eso1e is of put forth st,t by The iR nd
it is desired that every assembly entitled to
representation under this call shall be present
with with al i1i, III deleGaeon n when the cSnrention %
best men-men who can be depended upon to
labor for the best interests of the working peo-
pie, in season and ont of season. If this be
done the legislative convention of 1891 will pass
into history as the place where was laid the
foundation for the work which gave to the
toilers of pennsylvania better laws and greater
consideration than they have ever received
before.
AN ELECTION DEFERRED.
1t was expected that delegates to the legis-
lative convention would be elected by the
board, as the matter cannot be deferred
until the meeting OF the District Assembly,
which does not occur for two weeks after
the meeting of the Assembly. It was post
poned, however. owing to there not being a
full attendance of the board. Another
meeting will be held soon to determine
whether the district shall send representa-
tlves and how many.
According to the basis of representation
prescribed, the District Assembly would be
allowed eight delegates, but as it has been
satisfied with one heretofore. the precedent
will not likely be broken. All district as
semblies and division district assemblies of
n. 7. A. 125 having 500 members or less
la1 % II
tional one for each additional 500 members.
District Assembly No. 8 will not be the
only local organization represented. how
ever. The miners will have delegates pres
ent, as will also other organizations attached
to the General Assembly or district assem-
blies. 1t is thought H. F. Dempsey, Worthy
Foreman of D. A. g. will be its representa-
tive, although the chances OF Master w ork-
man Evans are by no means slim, owing to
his having been at the late meeting of the
General Assembly and is thoroughly posted
on what the organization wants.
A member Of the Board was seen last
night in regard to the points covered by
Chairman Dewey's cali. He said nothing
could be added. Mr.. Dewey seemed to
know Just what was wanted by the knights,
and he was confident the Legislative COM
mittee would stand firm for everything
mentioned.
SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER.
The Central Trades Council will also
have something to say on the legislative
question during the coming year. Among
matters to be considered are:
A new ballot law, and Constitutional Con-
vention for that purpose.
The abolition of the conspiracy laws, includ-
ing the prohibition of corporations hiring
armed detectives" to shoot down our citizens.
A new mechanics lien lava matter Of great
Importance to every workingman.
Amending the alien contract labor law, and
all other matters of kindred national labor leg
islation.
gressive subjects.
The advisability of having labor commits
sion to settle labor troubles.
The relation OF labor-saving machinery to
skilled workmen, and the propriety of having
laws framed for their Introduction.
The new Council will meet for organiza-
tion on Saturday evening, January TO-