The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1900-09-29

which money shall be a lega tend III
payment Of, all debts pub and prt-
vate,'' and that & here shall 4 be a y Il e-s
duction Of hours Of IA Dor, SO il that the.
laborers should have more time for
social enjoyment and intellectual inn
Iprovement;1 and Section 2. Article rs,
Which reads Local 81 Assembl lies may
properly use their political poWer4in all
legislative elections, and it is (left to
the discretion Of each local assembly to
act with that party in it's vicinity
through which it can gain the most,
but in no case shall an assembly take:
political action in a campaign, unless
at least three fourths of the attending
members are united in supporting such
action. No member shall, however, be
compelled to vote with the majority.
Section 5 same article reads 'The Orr
der of the Knights of Labor is not a
| political party. 1t is more and higher,
and must be kept So. 1t Is the parent
of principles. In it are born and cryst-
allied sentiments and measures for
the benefit of the whole people, and it
allows legitimate consequences to fall
where and when and upon whom they
will. Z!
| 1t is expected Of members of the or
der, when exercising the right of suf-
ferage, especially at the election of
members Of state legislatures and con-
gress, that they will beal, in mind those
objects and ends set forth in the pre-
amble to this constitution, which can
only be obtained through legislation,
and that it is the duty of every mem
Der to assist in nominating and sup
porting, with his vote, only such candi-
dates as will pledge their support to
| those measures, regardless of party.
Again, Section /, Article -, reads, 1T
| is the duty of every member of the or.
der to assist in every honorable way,
| by voice, pen, petition and vote, every
honest effort looking towards the bet
| terment of the Wage-worker, and the
| establishment Of the wage system, by
a reduction of the hours of labor; by
opposition to child labor, by co-opera-
ton; by demanding the respect of UNI
just laws, by adjustment Of the con-
Wet contract system, by opposition to
land transportation and currency mo-
!
systems Of government that deprive
labor of that just proportion of the
profit of the thing produced that labor
bears to the cost of production and by
a hearty support Of all the planks Of
the preamble of the constitution. This
is a part of the mission Of the order,
and the first duty is thorough organi-
cation of the order Then it read that
1.-The rapid concentration of the wealth
of the country into the hands of the
few: controlling legislation and sap
ping the very foundation of free govern
nent should direct especial effort
=, against every species of monopoly, es-
pecially that parent of all monOplies,
at which the, last clause. of the pre-
amble is aimed, the National Banking
system, under which the control of the
volume of currency is in the hands of
private corporations, instead Of with
the people where it belongs. =H&
Having quoted the above to, show its
|adaptability to the issues of today; al
] though it was adopted and circulated
4 years ago and thai the evils the pubs
5llic was therein warned against has
nearly mat erialized, Il would as ksNNhat
Iis4more prop ha ID III lat the cham pion
StEof he comm oIl pie
II the above sl bjeets when Labor Day
q was created sSby over 4, O0O, 900 Ilnights
sIof Labor III 1883, for to discuss and
talk politics by all people Instead #of
only by Mr.. w. J. Bryan in 1900.
/ las well as directing the News
Tribune, I would ask Mr.. w. l. Win
dom to try and keep up-to-datei by
reading the above especially after his
advice to organized labor not to dab
BILE in politics., but to- leave it to him
The above quotations also show most
plainly that S. v. Poverty, in speaking
of politics Gas quoted by G. A. Shilling
in the Chicago American of Sept. 10
was not obliged to smother his con-
victions while a member of the order
for in his own decisions, approved al
St. Louis January and Chicago Sept
l1S79 He says, in decision No. %, page
Ii. political economy in a fraterna
and candid spirit may and should be
freely and exhaustively discussed II
. local assembly so that they can realize
exactly where they stand and Wher'
they consistently belong And as tt
Powderly's non-acquaintance with thu
mining situation in the east, 1 must sa!
;; that I have received appeals for thei
support in 1925 through MIR. Henry
hands as post office official in Duluth
and from Mr.. Powderly's own hands
i. and have RENTED moneys to him a
1 Scranton, Pa. for their relief in m.
l capacity as financial secretary of 1885
: X. of L.
f r., H. w.
no ruH nEAE, -