Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 August 1887 — A New Labor Organization. [ARTICLE]

A New Labor Organization.

a special from Boston says: “A new secret organization of labor, known as the “Brotherhood” and in many respects similar to the Knights of Labor, has been formed and lias already grown to considerable proportions. The Brotherhood has been in existence now over a year. It was formed in May, 1886, and has gradually extened until it has established local councils in many of the cities and towns of this and other New England States. Its organization is kept a profound secret, and when spoken of it is never alluded to by its name.- As a consequence, it is impossible to say who are its officers, where its headquarters are, or whether it has extended into the West or South. Tuesday night it was ascertained that a local council of the Brotherhood was organized on Monday evening in one of the Western towns of Massachusetts, presumably Pittsfield, with several heretofore prominent members of the Knights of Labor as charter members. The * principles of this new secret organization are contained in e printed circular. This circular begins with the announcement that the organization does not beile’ve in strikes, but uses the ballot and co-operative institutions as weapons of warfare. Then follows the novel and striking demand for the abolition of all laws that tend to create an aristocracy of officeholders, and the demand for the paisage of laws compelling corporations to adopt such measures as will protect the lives and health of their employes. It would also provide for the enactment of laws compelling employers and employes to arbitrate all differences and to enforce the decision of arbitrators. The last plank in the plaiform provides that the government shall obtain possession, by purchase, under right of eminent domain, of all telegraphs, telephones and railroads, and hereafter the government shall issue no charter or license to any corporation for the construction or operation of any means of transporting intelligence, passengers or freight. ■