Knights of Labor
a national mile (as it is also called) is 6,080 feet. labor organization in the United States, founded in Philadelphia in 1869. It is to be distinguished from trades-unions as embracing all classes and kinds of labor, and extending, through its local assemblies, over the whole country. The first general assembly was held in 1878.
In 1886 there were 730,000; in 1886 and 1887, however, the system of "boycotting" having been introduced, the business of the country was greatly disturbed, and since then the strength of the organization declined. At the convention of 1888 the total was admitted to have fallen below 500,000; and dissensions have since further weakened the body. It is estimated that the membership now (1920) is less than 100,000.