circular issued by the General Master Workman. The latter, at the annual
convention at Toledo, in November, 1891, recommended that the Referendum
form a part of the government machinery throughout the United States.
The Knights being in some respects a secret organization, data as to
referendary votings are not always made public.

For the past decade or longer several of the national and international
trades-unions of America have had the Initiative and Referendum in
operation. Within the past five years the institution in various forms
has been taken up by other unions, and at present it is in more or less
practice in the following bodies, all associated with the American
Federation of Labor:

No. of No. of Members,
National or International Union. Local Unions. December, 1891.

Journeymen Bakers 81 17,500
Brewery Workmen 61 9,500
United Broth'h'd of Carpenters and Joiners 740 65,000
Amalgamated Carpenters and Joiners 40 2,800
Cigar-Makers 310 27,000
Carriage and Wagon Makers 11 2,000
Garment Workers 24 4,000
Granite Cutters 75 20,000
Tailors 170 17,000
Typographical Union 290 28,000
-------
Total 192,800

Direct legislation has long been familiar to the members of the