The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1917-09-28
CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF
THE KENTUCKY TENANTS
AND FARM LABORERS'
UNION.
CONSTITUTION
CONSTITUTION
Purpose of the Union.

| Ioi III idUoIeIS Ol the state OF hen-
lucky; to promote their best in
terests, moral, financial, and intel
lectual, by all lawful means; to pro-
mote and encourage a better feeling
and understanding of conditions be-
tween landlord and tenant to the
economic advantage of both classes;
to remove from the tenant system
now prevailing in Kentucky some of
its Objectionable features, as specified
and set out in this constitution; and
to secure better living conditions for
said tenants and laborers, them
selves, and their children, and by do
ing so to raise the standard and in
crease the efficiency of tenant and
farm laborer's work.
Principles for Which the Union
Stands.
In order to obtain and secure the
| aforesaid objects, and to remove
some of the Objectionable features
now inhearing in the tenant system
of this State, we, the members of
| this Union, hereby agree to the fol-
I, lowing:
(1.) No member of this Union
shall pay or exact house rent. The
house rent referred to is the rent
| charged tenants and farm laborers
| by their landlords while engaged in
the raising of crops upon the farms
of, said landlords. However, nothing
herein shall be construed to apply to
existing contracts. Not to be put
into effect unless at least rs per cent.
| of the tenants of the tobacco dis
trict agree to same.
(2.) That all tenant and farm
! laborer members hereof shall take
good care of all the property, real
or personal, of their landlords, which
| is submitted to their care, or over
which they may have any control.
CO. AS the tenant must live
while engaged in the raising of his
crops and his stock must have the
means Of subsistence, be it resolved
there should be furnished the tenant
, sufficient grass for grazing purposes
necessary stock to be determined, as
also the amount of grass necessary
| for same, by the facts of the particu-
lar case. 1t should be considered
that horses, sufficient in number to
cultivate the crops, milk cows, and
meat hogs, in proportion to the size
of the tenants family, are necessary
stock.
a. It is resolved that where
the tenant furnishes everything to
raise and care for the crops, he shall
have one half of all said crops.
(5.) Where the landlord fur.
nishes the teams and tools for the
crops, then the tenant shall have two
ffths of said crops. But tobacco is
excepted from this provision, and in
any event, is to be governed by Sec
ton (4) herein.
co. On account Of the general
rise in wages in all trades and call
ings due to the more general high
cost of living, it is considered, that
it would be fair to all parties, to
fix the minimum monthly wage at,
thirty-five dollars month, where
the month hand boards himself.
(7.) 1t is resolved that every
tenant raising tobacco upon the
shares should be allowed corn land by
his landlord, also to be cultivated
upon the shares. The amount of corn
land to be allowed should depend
upon the facts in each particular
case; the number of acres of tobacco
in cultivation and the size of the
tenants family being taken into
| consideration in making the esti-
mate.
CO. Every tenant and farm
laborer member of this Union, it is
| to cultivate and care for the crops
| IN, h &c a6ov 10 To hn int
| of all parties concerned, that this
Union will tolerate no loafng, idling,
and inefficiency. The members here
of shall give to their crops their
best care and attention. This Union
does, not propose to carry or to as
sist the man who will not work, nor
will it tolerate the inebriate, the dis
honest member who deals dishonesty
with the Union or with his landlord,
| nor the tough, or rowdy. This or
ganization proposes to obtain its
ends, as stated herein, by lawful
means and any member who attempts
| any other means will be instantly
dropped.
ORGANIZATION.
This constitution shall be the Con-
stitution for both the County Union,
and also of the Local Unions, or
ganized or to be organized, in the
various precincts.
The further details of organiza-
ton and government shall be worked
, out in the bylaws to be adopted.
This constitution shall be subject
to amendment at any time by two
thirds vote of all members present
on any regular meeting night, pro-
vided notice of said proposed change
has been announced for at least two
weeks preceding said voting night.
The articles of Incorporation al
ready filed for record in Bourbon
County, KY, shall govern and con-
troll all questions touching the or
ganization and management of said
! Union, what officers are be elected
and the method of said election, in
; each case where the said articles
! cover said points; otherwise, the by
laws shall provide the manner there
of as the Union may direct.
I NJ Do VIC fhfc