The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1896-11-18
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
Report Of the Executive Board-Political
Advantages Gained.

Report OF the Executive Board-POuClcoI
Advantages Gained.
Rochester, N. Y, Nov. 13.-The report
of the executive committee has been
made public. It details the part taken
by the Knights of Labor in the populist
and democratic national convention, in
an attempt to unite the two parties for
the principles urged by the Knights.
and rejoices at the prominence given
the issues there announced.
Continuing. the report says: -.
"This general assembly should give the
most thorough consideration to the ques-
ton of how best to preserve the political
advantages already gained for the masses.
'The lack Of organization among the toll
ers Is q grave menace to the republic. Not
five per cent. Of the working people of
the United States are organized. 1t is i'm
p~rative that something must be done to
organize them more rapidly than they have
been in the past. What shall 1t be?
I'VE would suggest, first. that We must
make clear to the laboring people that
1t is to their interest in every sense of the
word to become good members of the
Knights of Labor. Hasty and ill-advised
strikes should be avoided as much as pos
sible; every strike and lockout is incipient
civil war. The plutocracy is seeking an
excuse to readily increase the standing
| army. The petty violence connected with
strikes and lock-outs is their most plausible
excuse now. Let US not play into their
| hands"
A resolution declaring for the enact
ment of graduated income tax law was
adopted. Failing to procure this at the
hands of the next congress, it is the de-
clared intention of the knights to use
all their influence to have demand for
such tax incorporated into the plat
form of one of the great political par
ties. and. if they fail in that. there will
in all probability be an effort made to
set up new political party.
At the afternoon session the last Of
the annual reports, that of General
Worthy Foreman M. ]. Bishop, was pre-
sented. He is the originator of the or
ganization called the Minute Men of
&c." a political auxiliary of the regular
order, for which he seeks the indorse-
ment of the general assembly. Follow
ing is synopsis of his report:
Mr. Bishop enters at length into the dis
cussion of unrestricted immigration. He
charges that Armenian refugees are al
| lowed to land in violation of law to be-
come competitors with Americans in the
labor market. He favors an educational
| test LOT oil IiUIulSTdUtS, anu pICSCutS
tables showing the large percentage of
illiteracy received from foreign countries.
He also touches upon the dangers of
oriental competition, asserting that Amer
lean capitalists are making large invest
ments in Japanese Industrial enterprises,
and that the skillful japanese are turn
ing out manufactured products which will
undersell American articles. Mr. Bishop
says: mo tariff lower than an actual
prohibitive one will serve to protect us
l.l~ ,tk,I,
energy upon an average compensation OF
ten cents per day."
Government ownership of railways anC
telegraphs is favored by the report. Sym
. pathetic strikes are condemned as proved
of no avail by bitter experience.
The nominal membership OF the knight.
Of Labor is stated to be 1000, but owing tC
failure to keep up the dues and Other
causes there are now but 100000 in good
standing, an increase of about $1,000 over
last wear.