The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1867-08-24

,rnment has withstood the blIgl.inR infiu-
nee Of land monopoly for o generation
,ever can, nor viii. Carthage, Greece, Rome,
Venice, Russia, Turkey, Austria, Germany,
France, England, Switzerland, and unfortu-
lately, our own country, have furnished Us
with abundant proof Of this position. In
the ownership OF the soil lies the true prin-
;iples OF manhood independence, liberty and
civilization, and the Government which
denies the peoples right to that ownership
soon loses its vitality-if = republic-and
enters upon the throes OF dissolution which
is but the work Of time The peoples ap-
parent indifference 10 the monOpoIist's op-
and availing themselves or this
they have corrupted our legislative halls by
subsidies, and literally stolen thousands Of
priacely domains, the broad acres Of which
were only held 10 trust BY the Government
for the people.
The course Of our legislation recently, has
tended to she building up Of greater monop-
olics, and the creation OF more powerful
moneyed and landed aristocracies 10 the
United States that any that now overshAd-
Ows the destines Of Europe. Eight hundred
Millions of acres Of the peoples lands have
been legislAted into the hands Of q few hun
dred individuals, who already assume 4
naughty ard insolent tone and bearing
towards the people and Government, az dad
the patriclans Of ancient ROM. These lands
are held unimProved, and manly for specu-
latIye purposes. In tnat condition they
yield neither produce nor revenue. but VI
they were open to settlement they wouii
soon swarm with a busy population, by
whose thrift, industry and intelligence the
wilderness woHld then be made % blossom
AZ The rose
Our course in regard to the public d.
main il permitting mere spectators to To-
cate with warrants and scrip vast bodies W
the choicest lands, leaving only occasional
strips OF inferior land t0 be taken uy Nv the
actual settler and tiet Of the soil, acts like
an embargo laid on the productive energies
~ the people. THIS course has deferred
s.any fro.1 becoming pioneers in claarirz
our vast pr mitive forests, AMI cuti,aring
the almost boundless prairies Of tie West
: The gigantic and expensive var through
which we have recently passed could ana
would have been avoided hnl the Govern
ment, y. an carly day, adopted lie policy or
; giving the public domain, IL small parcels,
10 actual settlers only.
g In view u the foreg0iu, r..ml9es, We NV
clare ourselves opposed to making any fur
ther special grants ~ the public DOMAIN 10
y corporate bodies OF any kind wsatsOever.
E and we further declare ourselves opposed a.
I, The building up DC xs5anded aristogrAcy M
u this nation, believing that il will eventual y
x tend 10 the Subversicn OF the liberty or The
masses.
e Resolved, That the policy Of the GOVERN ent
:, should be % give, and not 70 sell, the public
le lands e actual settlers. and none others.
d Resolved, That All uacultvatei lands held f1-
u purposes Of speculation should ae subjected u
taxation the same as other lands " the same 10
"A cAlity that may have been improved
h. Resolved, That the soil, like air, water an.
N light IS the free gift Of hene6eent God 70 mar
4 a1d We hold that the traffic IL any W th-s,
=, clements 20 be saerligous and il direct con
III trayeation of the designs II the Creator.
II Signed by W. II. Syvis, John HincHclIt
&c and W. Il Stewart.
Tue report vas adopted.
0' TIE Chair stated tie ConyeHiisi woa!,
ie now proceed 70 consider the report Of thr
= committee ID National Labor Organization.
u The reading Of the platform Of principle
vas on motion dispensed with.
a. M. Cameron read the preamble 70 the rc
port, ami stated the reasons Of the commit
70 tee FOR their report.
a. Mr. Elacett spoke in favor Of, and nov.
T. that the report be adopted; (Mr Scnlagv
% In the chair.)
r. A motion was made that it be cousidere
DC ara adopted section by section.
&c On the question being called, and also
- division w the house, the vote stood NJ
% ayes sr' - avs decided lost.
!" N lHn "a attention. TO rerta4
sect.a Ne read, and moved III
ort chan )rds National Bank aot,
mi u l. notes.
&C. a also offered " Mr. El,
colt M exclusive be stricken 0l
his MI spoke at length On tu
ct mos .ysls .n I'D IN favor Of greeGback
instr . 80 ari silver.
Oh NJ TT s2g allowed to speak a seeou
g simA Mi tN m4iart.
len 81 Feauas - ia favor or gold auI VI
yer basis.
al- NJ 3 to speak, but gave wny
ties NJ. Dgt- ho did not Ike 10 occur
40 the nuN af s convention, and could MD u
~ Just lgect in the short spac.
IN. tim aiie -e1
uS Ths rrsv -f g1estlon was called for aa
IS CARR.
D. IL .AkeI, On tn motion offer,
Of by NV gt, hsg the word exclusive \
=, sIricsa- oa Ta carried.
M. .tts sd TIE words s1-called Y
Of also s,rl dut, and it was so ordered, a.
~ tie raglrt EAs then adopted as whole
IRE NJ Nha..y essumed the chair.
ri akraar ON APPRENTICES.
III The committee TO whCs;c h>d been REFER,
tie the question Of apprentice labor reported 3
.ns follc Sing:
in WHEREAS, A great difbeul.y exists ia mar
HnechaDic-l branches Of business, from the
: !. being oversIocked with apprentices, and
n wHEREAs, The time has come when the a
= = prentice system il being more extensively Use
ID 70 the detriment Of those who have spent yea
in making themselves proficient in their difs
ent trad.s Therefore,
Resolved, That the National Labor Cougre
si- recommend 10 the different branches of mechai
Of les to guard with ere any eneroAohnent On N
I'd part Of capital in the ntroluction VI the 81
prentice svsteu
h. Resolved. That where apprentices are inlr,
n, ,luced into trades we would recommend thu
:. those ~ho have served their time snd have y,
LII come skilled wOrkmen, should impress upon ID
- minds Of such apprentices the prOprety and w
cessitv Of an intellectual well mechanics
m culture.
nm Resolved, That 10 the opinion OF this body,
N is highly important that the Legislatures Of Sac
nd Stale do pass law regulating the relations b
be tween employers and apprentices and 90 carr
estly cal upon yhe woI kingmen Of each State
M use All their influence TO secure such laws
,a- will project employers apprentices and journe
men.
d Signed BY the committee, James Michel
r,r r. Cross6eld and j. W. Richie.
vi The Report was adopted
"A A motion was made to take a recess
have their-picture taken.
Il. Amended that the recess b. I'LL "
on o'clock. Members Of the press present wer
~ invited 70 seats In the picture g.oup.
re AFTERNOON SESSION.