|
Website Paid for and Authorized by Silver Persinger for City Council.
The alarming development and aggressiveness of great capitalists and corporations, unless checked, will inevitably lead to
the pauperization and hopeless degradation of the toiling masses.
It is imperative, if we desire to enjoy the full blessings of life, that a check be placed upon unjust accumulation, and
the power for evil of aggregated wealth.
This much-desired object can be accomplished only by the united efforts of those who obey the divine injunction, "In
the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread."
Therefore we have formed the Order of the Knights of Labor, for the purpose of organizing and directing the power of the
industrial masses, not as a political party, for it is more -- in it are crystalized sentiments and measures for the benefit
of the whole people, but it should be borne in mind, when exercising the right of suffrage, that most of the objects herein
set forth can only be obtained through legislation, and that it is the duty of all to assist in nominating and supporting
with their votes only such candidates as will pledge their support to these measures, regardless of party. But no one shall,
however, be compelled to vote with the majority, and calling upon all who believe in securing the greatest good to the greatest
number, to join and assist us, we declare to the world the our aims are:
1. To make industrial and moral worth, not wealth, the true standard of individual and national greatness.
2. To secure to the worker the full enjoyment of the wealth they create, sufficient leisure in which to develop their
intellectual, moral and social faculties; all of the benefits, recreation and pleasures of association; in a word, to enable
them to share in the gains and honors of advancing civilization.
In order to secure these results we demand of the State:
3. The establishment of bureaus of labor statistics, that we may arrive at a correct knowledge of the educational, moral,
and financial condition of the laboring masses.
4. That the public lands, the heritage of the people, be reserved for actual settlers; not another acre for railroads
or speculators, and that alllands now held for speculative purposes be taxed at their full value.
5. The abrogation of all laws that do not bear equally upon capital and labor, and the removal of unjust technicalities,
delays, and discriminations in the administration of justice.
6. The adoption of measures providing for the health and safety of those engaged in mining, manufacturing, and building
industries, and for indemnification to those engaged therin for injuries received through lack of necessary safeguards.
7. The recognition by incorporation of trades unions, orders, and such other associations as may be organized by the
working masses to improve their condition and protect their rights.
8. The enactment of laws to compel corporations to pay their employees weekly in lawful money for the labor of the preceding
week, and giving mechanics and laborers a first lien upon the product of their labor to the extent of their full wages.
9. The abolition of the contract system on national, state, and municipal works.
10. The enactment of laws providing for arbitration between employers and employed, and to enforce the decision of the
arbitrators.
11. The prohibition by law of the employment of children under fifteen years of age in workshops, mines and factories.
12. To prohibit the hiring out of convict labor.
13. That a graduated income tax be levied.
And so demand at the hands of Congress:
14. The establishment of a national monetary system, inwhich a circulating medium in necessary quantity shall issue direct
to the people, without the intervention of banks; that all the national issue shall be full legal tender in payment of all
debts, public and private; and that the government shall not guarantee or recognize any private banks, or create any banking
corporations.
15. That interest-bearing bonds, bills of credit, or notes shall never be issued by the government, but that, when need
arises, the emergency shall be met by issue of legal tender, non-interest-bearing money.
16. That the importation of foreign labor under contract be prohibited.
17. That, in connection with the post-office, the government shall organize financial exchanges, safe deposits, and facilities
for the deposit of the savings of the people in small sums.
18. That the government shall obtain possession, by purchase, under the right of eminent domain, of all telegraphs, telephones,
and railroads, and that hereafter no charter or license be issued to any corporation for construction or operation of any
menas of transporting intelligence, passengers or freight.
And while making the foregoing demands upon the State and national government, we will endeavor to associate our own labors
to:
19. To establish co-operative institutions, such as will tend to supercede the wage system, by the introduction of a
co-operative industrial system.
20. To secure for both sexes equal pay for equal work.
21. To shorten the hours of labor by a general refusal to work for more than eight hours.
22. To persuade employer to agree to arbitrate all differences which may arise between them and their employees, in order
that the bonds of sympathy between them may be strengthened, and that strikes may be rendered unnecessary.
|
