Great Falls weekly tribune., 1896-10-23
KNIGHTS Of LABOR ADJOURN
After One of the Most Harmonious
and Successful Sessions Held
in This State.
They Pass Some Political Resolutions
and Issue Manifesto to
WOrkingmen.

The knights of Labor yesterday fin
ished their labors after three days delib-
GRAFTON. They are greatly pleased with
their reception in Great Falls and passed
complimentary resolutions to the people
and press Of the city. They feel that
the meeting has been one Of the most
successful in the history Of the order in
this state. The press committee gave
out yesterday the following manifesto
relating to the presidential election:
To the Laboring People of the United
States:
District Assembly, No. SO, Of the state
OF Montana, assembled this 22d day of
October, in the city of Great Falls, sends
greeting to fellow laborers OF America
and ventures to suggest the importance
to you OF the present great political
struggl gle and urge upon your considera
ton the vital principles OF right, of truth,
of equity, OF justice, of liberty involved.
We would remind you that the United
States of America has made every citi-
zen his own free political agent. No
prosperity ie guaranteed him. no liberty
assured him, save as he exercises his
franchise, his full political agency for
that purpose. In the present struggle it
will be determined by his attitude at the
polls just how far he is entitled to this
self agency, and self government,
for at this election such questions
are before him as vitally
concern and affect his future moral,
mental and material welfare. 1t will be
determined by his expression al. the polls
whether or no he entertains higher re-
gard for gold than for humanity. Vital
as is the solution OF the money question
now pending, other questions more vital
even demand our immediate attention.
Upon one side the corporations of the
country are all arrayed against the peo-
ple's rights. These corporations, OF late,
have moulded our legislation and In.
fuenced even the decisions OF our courts.
They are now in control OF our govern
ment and of all the machinery Of legis-
lation. Before the jury of the common
people the case OF the corporations We.
the government is on trial and to be de-
cided at this election. The verdict
will determine whether the cor.
porations will remain in control OF
the government or the government
shall assume control of the corporations
According to the Declaration of Inde.
pendence the government has the right
to control the corporations. The Decla.
ration OF Independence asserts that the
primary and inalienable right of man ie
his right to life, liberty, and the pursuit
OF happiness, and that governments have
been instituted among men to protect
every citizen in the enjoyment of these
rights. With the corporations in con-
troll the rights Of property have become
the only rights which the government ie
conceived to consider, and like opportu
mites are now 90 disregsrded that wher
ever the fundamental rights of man arc
enjoyed they are enjoyed as privilege
which the strong corporations conde
scendingly accord to weak and despond
ing American citizens. Government BY
Injunction, the denial of the right o
trial by jury, the advantage taken in ju
risprudence OF the equity proceedin q
before our courts to try for indirect con
tempt and without jury citizen
who merely quit the services o
their employer, or who may endeavor il
times of trouble peaceably to persuad
their w-laborer to quit, or citizen
who may be prominently connected will
labor organizations, as we'll as an opel
violation and disregard Of the laws re
lating to the use of the regular army il
, the respective states, characterize gov
ernment by corporations. The right o
personal liberty, of personal choice, th
most precious and vital Of all huma
rights, the right of every individual t
extend his patronage or offer bis service
, in any direction he may choose, is nov
to be insisted upon.
Crime is an offense committed againe
or menRcing the person, the property O
! the liberty OF another, and we should IL
siet that no crime Is committed by an
lone wAo is guilty Of no aggression i
either of these directions. This muc
8 for the peculiar political aspect of th