The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-11-18
DEMANDS A CHANGE
PRESIDENT REIrLER MOVES TO
AMEND TIE CONSTITUTION.

vision OF the State Revenue Laws, Also
Making Recommendations Regarding
Convict Labor ard Convict-Made Goods
knights of Labor Committees Report
-Eoinrs of O her Conventions, Fra
ternal, Religious AID Otherwise.
ST Louis, Mo-, Nov. 17.-The State Fed
Grafton of Labor Of Illinois met in ses-
sion in East St. Louis today with deie-
gates from all sections Of the state. Pres
ident c. P Refer. in his annual address,
earnestly recommended a vigorous agita-
ton in favor OF a revision Of the present
revenue laws OF the state. which he critl-
cized as being unfair to the laboring
classes, and said:
81 would urge upon the Federation the
expediency OF again petitioning the legls-
lature TO submit to the people of the state
at the next ensuing election, the follow
ing constitutional amendments:
The general assembly shall provide
such revenue as may be needful by levy
ing tax by valuation so that every
person and corporation shall pay tax
in proportion to the value of mis-, hers or
its property, subject to taxation, sucn
values to be ascertained by some person
or persons to be elected or appointed in
such manner as the general assembly
shall direct, and not otherwise; provided,
/, shall be optional with each county OF
the state, or less political division. the
class, or classes OF property upon which
taxes for public, power TO tax persons.
or corporations owning or using fran
chises and privileges in such manner as
it shall from time to time direct by gem
eral law, uniform as to the class upon
which 1t operates"
He recommended that the Federation
urge the general assembly to introduce a
plan by which the labor of convicts shall
be utilized in the various state charitable
and educational institutions and upon
such public works as would not other
wise be ventured upon unless this labor
were available, and further that all con-
vict-made goods brought into the state
shall be branded as such.
KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
Rochester,N. Y, Nov. 17.-At today's
session of the general assembly Of the
knights of Labor the principal business
was the report Of the committee on APP
peals and grievances on the case of the
Washington Times and its editor, c. G.
Cohn, ex-congreSsman from the Thir-
teenth Indiana district. He was expell-
ed from the order and placed on the un-
fair list.
The committee on co-opera ton plan
submitted by District Assembly 70, for
the distribution of cooperation, was
recommended to such assemblies as
would consider il applicable.
The committee on the state Of the Or
der reported plan for extending the Or
ganization which will not be given to the
public. 1t is expected that the election
of officers viii come up some time tomor-
row.
FARMERS TO STUDY FARMING.
Springfield, ILL.,. Nov. 17.-Articles of
Incorporation have been issued by the
secretary of state to the Farmers Nation
al Chautauqua association. The object
of the association is for the advance
ment OF the study of all matters relating
to farm life and the establishment AMI
maintenance of the necessary buildings
and grounds for the accommodation ot
said association. The headquarters wiz
be Springfield, and the leaders of public
instruction, Peter Verdenburg, Charles
F. Mills and T. ]. Crowder, all Of Spring
field.
SOVEREIGN REFLECTED.
The principal business this afternoon
was the election OF officers. James r.
Sovereign, the present general master
workman, was reelected without oppo-
sition.
For general worthy foreman there were
but two candidates. Philip L. Anon,
master workman of District 1877, Jersey
City, and Thomas B. MCGUIRE of Amster
dam. n. Y. the latter being elected
General Secretary-Treasurer j. W.
Hayes of New Jersey was reelected
without opposition.
For the general executive board, con-
sisting of three members, there were
eight nomina tons, two OF which declined.
Henry B. Martin of Minneapolis. at pres
ent member of the board; Andrew T.
Best of Brooklyn and Daniel Brown OF
Butte City, Mont, were elected.
1t was voted by the general assembly
to refuse to recognize or sustain organize
tions of men who have taken the places
OF men on strikes.
1t is probable that the gener. assem-
bly, vii conclude its labors by tomorrow
night.
Daniel Brown of Montana. member OF
the new executive board and presiden-
tial elector from Montana on the Bryan
Watson ticket. tonight. in speaking OF
the election oof Mr.. Sovereign, said:
II think by the reelection of Mr.. Sow
ereign at the present time. the Knights
OF Labor will increase its membership in
the west. south and east fully 60 per
cent in the coming year, due to the ac-
tive part Mr.. Sovereign has taken in the
past campaign on the side OF free silver,
and he is certainly one of the ablest Ia bor
leaders We have in the United States"
Mr. Brown also stated that the people
OF the west were determined to do an
they could to protect their own interests
and that negotiations had been started
between southern and northwestern III
terests for the purpose of constructing
railroad line from Montana 10 New Or
leans, through the agricultural belt, with
the view of diverting the large shipments
OF wheat and other products from its
present channels TO New Orleans.
BEET SUGAR ASSOCIATION.
Omaha. Neb., Nov. IA special 10
the Bee from Grand Island. Neb., says:
The third annual convention OF the Ne
braska Beet Sugar association convened
today. A large number OF beet produc-
ers and others interested in the culture
Of the vegetable were present. Vice
President Atkinson opened the conven-
ton and Mayor Thompson delivered the
address OF welcome Hon. Ed Rosewa-
Ter delivered tllc Principal AoN4 80 "a t-i-
day on The Sugar Beet Industry at
Home and Abroad" comparing the ef-
forts of the product in the United States
with those made by other governments.
FRATERNAL CONGRESS.
LoriEille. KY. Nox. 1.-THE tenth
annual session OF the National Fraternal
congress began here at Music hail az 10
o'clock today. Representatives are pres
ent from a constituency OF nearly 2,0co,-
600 members The present congress win