Show PLANS OF THE KNIGHT tue THE holding of the recent convention of knights of labor in Richmond Va was one of the most events that have occurred upon the Aner ioan contil continent lent since the close of the vur that followed the agitation ot ol the great slavery question it was a stride in inthe the direction ot oi ing the vast mass ot bone and muscle ia a toe the nation preparatory to a war with capital a war which may be only defensive ati first but which is almost certain to become within a short time aggress aggressive ve also that convan convention tion was a jeanw means of greatly aiding the work ork of effecting a thorough national organization which when perfected will render the knights of labor a mighty force in the natio nand it is nob easy to see from whence will ecim the power that will be able to cope with it should it adopt adept a determined and aad belligerent li policy Capita capitalists lift and the better class of pa politicians itic ians have hitherto hoped that the knights of labor whose ranks embrace men en of every shade of political belief would not as a body take a course in political matters and the official disclaimers that have come from the organization from time to time have afforded grounds for the belief that the knights would refrain from voting as a party or body at elections but if the philadelphia inquirer is correct in ia its interpretation of 01 the purposes of the order the capitalists and statesmen of the nation are destined to be disappointed that paper says the knights of labor propose to set national capital a congress similar to that vf of the united states composed however of only thirty eight members this congress is intended to instruct the abo federal congress what bills it shall pass and what w h a t it shall a refuse to pass the T proposed plan shall 0 of f it its s op operation er a t io n is that as b toon 0 0 n as s a b bill ll 11 1 h has as b been e e n p presented res to either house of the federal congress it shall be taken up and considered b by the knights of labor congress 9 if that body approve it the bill will be passed if not rejected and thereupon tle the decision of the knights legislature will be messaged to the federal legislature by this s means the congress of the united states will be prevented approving adv bill disapproved by the knights of labor or ot of disapproving ais approving of any bill approved of by them la in short the federal congress is to be subjected to the rigorous supervision of the congress of a trades union and held contin continually bally under the espionage and threats of a secret social organization at first view it seems wonderful wondern al that the american people should witness with such apathy as they manifest the development of movements so menacing to the perpetuity of their favorite institutions as are some now afoot in the nation including the plans of the knights of labor but on f further consideration it will plainly appear that the people of the nation can do little or nothing to stay the progress of such movements the knights of of labor have the right to establish a congress ton gress of their representatives in washington if they wish to so go star jar as the law is concerned that congress if established will have a perfect legal lega right to express to members of the national legislatures legislature i its approval or disapproval ap kovalof ot bills pending in that body and it will have the right to urge and influence members of the order which it represents to vote for or against the men whom it may designate t as friendly 0 or r hostile to its interests under the constitution no baw law can be framed to prevent preveat the knights from carrying out the plan tor for a national congress to be located at the nations cap capital tal and to exercise the influence upon legislation indicated by the inquirer with the knights of labor so organized that the stevedores of ef new york will contribute money to feed the families of striking pork pa packers ackers in chicago chic ago while t the he typographical unions of the pacific slope are extending pecuniary aiato aid to the striking street car drivers of st louis and with a working mens parliament sitting in ia the shadow of the capitol at the seat of government dictas dictating b by the power ot of the ballot what bill bills 8 ake the president of the united states shall or shall not sign scenes of interest and moment are likely likely to ensue that such a condition of organization and power is aimed at and will be attained by the knights of labor seems pro probable able at the present time |