Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-02-11

vereixste the cause 81 their condition
and {ound that they were opposed y
cnp1tnl. a small BODY of men IA khd-
adelphiA orxanlz<d thenselves into IN
orxanxntson, but their coudit,on wae
nos bottereo. They began - ope that
thar orkanszation did them 20 good.
Ihsy then began 70 look around for
measuRes 70 broaden their organixA-
ton Tor the purpoeo az protoct-
ing thsmselves which resulted IN
IA organixation being oHoeted known
q the Knignts Of Labor. Theyoaw that
the banufu powered wealth must b COM
bAtted. They stood before this peWeT
with @ much fear as did the dave b.
fore h,o masteT. In Hennsylvauia the
col minsrs stood in rrester dancer
and in more fear than She black slAve.
He vas IN : worse condition, for the
black slave had = physician furnished
BY his master II be was Ill. Not % the
poor laborer, because he had no money
q pay for the earvlces Of phyaclan.
BY h1s sickneoa he Was unable "a pay
his rent and be Was thrown from his
home. The Knights OF Labor oraanisa-
ton vos then Organized on succewful
principles-
H. BusAnmsnsal Prtnetpzsa.
Here are come OF the principles which
have been adopted: A sh0rter day for
laborers. This 10 declared on the theory
that labor eaying machinery makes .
shorter day imperative. Today the boy
or man does ~ much work IN one day
IN tbs eastern factories as could be done
by 100 men few years ago. He said
tho organization did not rail against the
introduction OF laoor saving machinery,
but on the contrary il u hailed with de-
light They want labor saving ma
chinery aud wealth saving institution.
An iron nOider is introduced which
will do the work OF three men. The
three men are discharged and they be-
come tramps. The iron molder psys no
taxes, il raises no children, il buys
no homes. The three men deprived of
work become inmates OF jails and
prlsons. There they ars supported by
taxation. The organisation rails
machinery. The speaker sid the wag Q
question could not be settled until the
wealth and labor saving machinery y
question il adjusted. He visited the
Toledo Bee office . few days ago and
aaw come printers 1T work. This
printer was not built like most printers.
He was full OF lead-the ordinary
printer does not got full that way-and
tbis lead was formed into letters and
in = few minutes the newsboys had the
news in print. This printer il not per-
feet, but it will be made 90 before
many years. We shall soon zee ma
chine for cleaning tho streets, and pos
sibly woman may be seen sitting on
top Of II.
We Have Women Mining Coal.
They arc employed because their
work Is cheaper. We find women max
ing shoes, although it requires SIXTY
eight Of then, to mako one shoe. We
shall soon have to admit women into
the order of the knights of Labor. The
employment Of women takes them
away from their homes. The speaker
drew . word picture of the future man
standing before the barred window OF .
factory with his elbows peerIng from
his coAtsleeye and his clothing in Z dls-
hevcied cond ton Watching his wife at
work inside. This scenc will be pro-
duced owing TO the labor Of woman be-
ing cheaper than thas OF man. The
oTrohna1iou favors Fa;sinr The lAbos+ of
woman to the same standard a. that
of man. He said they had been
called cranks for that principle. but
they had been gwen that name so often
that they paid no heed to 1t. They ar.
support . woman as IL does . man, and
that they do not require 10 large wages.
But goods made by = woman sell for
tile same price as those made by . man.
The sooner we can place wages on
equal basls the sooner both will have
their condition bettered.,
object To Child Labor.
We object to the employment of
child labor. The children should at.
tend school . certain number oi
months in each year. We believe in
free schoOis and free text books. II we
give child free school.ng wo should
give him free books. Child labor 10 op.
posed because they were found u be
taking the places of their fathers al
cheaper wages. They were taken from
the school room and showed into the
mines aud factorIes. They were de.
prived OF the opportunity 10 prepare
themselves for the duties of manhood
and wolbanhood. Ike Knights OF La.
bof raise their voices saying that these
children shall be fitted TO solve the
problems that shall confront them when
tney become men and women.
No Convics Contract.
The organization asks that convict
labor shall not be hired out on . con.
tract. If il il hired out il should be fol
the same price ~ other labor and
under these conditions the honest man
should be gwen the preference. A
father il put in jail and he leaves q
wife and five children at home. His
/ wages should 90 for the support Of hi,
family. They would then be kept out
Of tie poor house and they would not
require the taxes Of their neighbors
Convlcts should bs required tC pay the
expense Of their triais. Importation oi
foreign labor under contract should b
prohibited. A few pears aga We formed
8 Law and sent il 10 congress- for the pro.
hibation of Chinese immigration for ell
eternity and We were fsvored With {
ten years prohibition. The people tell
us that II an lrishmau or an English.
man has the right 20 come here why
not give the ChinAmau the same privi
icgcS The answer ~ sh2t the former
are n1en and the latter - not A Chi
nAman can never become . congress.
man, mayor. . banker, or . railroad
manager. lie corrupts the virtues oI
the old aud young with whom he comes
in contact. He menaces wages
aud anything that does this should
BE- prohibited. The Knights Of Laboi
have taught their memlers TO keep
away from saIoons. No knight of La.
Dor . saloon keeper for 50 soon ~ be
roos INTO the busaness. he ~ told 10 gel
ous OF the organization. The
organization holds that occupying
aud use IS The cwuership ol
land and taxcs should b. levied on she
improved lard only. The single tai