PREAMBLE
The alarming development and aggression of aggregated wealth , which , unless checked , will - inevitably lead to the pauperization and hopeless degradation of the toiling masses , render it imperative , if we desire to enjoy the blessings of life , that a check should be placed upon its power and upon unjust accumulation , and a system adopted which will secure to the toiler the fruits of his toil ; and as this much- desired object can only be accomplished by the thorough unification of labor , and the united efforts of those who obey the Divine injunction that " in the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat bread we have formed the order of the Knights of Labor with the view of securing the organization and direction by co - operative effort of the power of the industrial effort , and submit to the world the objects sought to be accomplished by our organization , calling upon all who believe in securing the greatest good to the greatest number to aid and assist us :
I. To bring within the folds of organization every department of productive industry , making knowledge a standpoint for action , and industrial , moral worth , not wealth , the true standard of individual and national greatness ;
II . To secure to the toilers a proper share of the wealth that they create ; more of the leisure that rightfully belongs to them ; more society advantages ; more of the benefits , privileges and emoluments of the world ; in a word , all those rights and privileges necessary to make them capable of enjoying , appreciating defending and perpetuating the blessings of good government ;
III . To arrive at the true condition of the producing masses in their educational , moral and financial condition , by demanding from the various governments the establishment of bureaus of labor statistics ;
IV . The establishment of co - operative institutions , productive and distributive ;
V. The reservation of the public lands - the heritage of the people -for the actual settler : not another acre for railroads or speculators ;
VI . The abrogation of all laws that do not bear equally upon capital and labor ; the removal of unjust technicalities , delays and discriminations in the administration of justice , and the adopting of measures providing for the health and safety of those engaged in mining , manufacturing or building pursuits ;
VII . The enactment of laws to compel chartered corporations to pay their employés weekly in full , for labor performed during the preceding week , in the lawful money of the country ;
VIII . The enactment of laws giving mechanics and laborers a first lien on their work for their full wages ;
IX . The abolishment of the contract system on national , state and municipal work ;
X. The substitution of arbitration for strikes , whenever and wherever employers and employés are willing to meet on equitable grounds ;
XI . The prohibition of the employment of children in workshops , mines and factories , before attaining their fourteenth year ;
XII . To abolish the system of letting out by contract the labor of convicts in our prisons and reformatory institutions ;
XIII . To secure for both sexes equal pay for equal work ;
XIV . The reduction of the hours of labor to eight per day , so that the laborers may have more time for social enjoyment and intellectual improvement , and be enabled to reap the advantages conferred by labor - saving machinery which their brains have created ;
XV . To prevail upon governments to establish a purely national circulating medium issued directly to the people , without the intervention of any system of banking corporations , which money shall be a legal tender in payment of all debts , public and private .