The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-10-23
SUNDAY SESSION.

sn@s suo pla1orm was q free 0ne-th6t al
though the question Of politics was not on,
for discussion with them, yet speakers woulC
at hoerty to give their views on any sub
Ject which bore the shghtest relation to th,
remedy OF the present evils of legislation n
Mr. Haywood read letters from Prof. Den.
ton, Rev. Z. II. H. !, and Rev. j. 3. Peck
These gentlemen expressed sympathy with
movement, but Mr.. Peck was opposed to th,
holding Of the convention on The Sabbath
MT. Haywood said, in regard to this. that tht
clergy we're altogether wrong in not consi.
dering this proper business for the Lord,
day-the Bible gave authority for il. aud il
was In accordance with the teachings N
Jesus the Bible especially forbids taking
interest on money, and those members of tb !
clergy who opposed the movement were "a
oe claseed with those who were opposed ID
tne abolition OF slavery in past years. Messrs
Linton, Haywood and OrvIs spoke briefly,
ana an sdjour. snt was announced, % meei
again at Q o'cl X in the afternoon.
The afternoon session was opened bv q
speech from Mr.. Olvis, in which be took
MIR. Manning to task for his remarks Of the
previous evening, in which he constantly al.
laoeo 80 brain labor, without recognizing
tne thinking powers Of the workingmen. He
said mat inventions and improvements all
came from the real, actual mecnanics that
professional men, lawyers, clergymen, &c.,
were parasites, who got their living OF the
working class.
Mr. Orvis vas followed By Mr.. s. s. Fos-
ter, who alluded to the damaging influence
of strikes. He said that the only result Of
raising the wages Of one craft was TO take
money from the pockets Of the Others. lie
proceeded to denounce the monopoly Of
the soil BY the few; said that every man
WAS By right entitled to a share, without
payment for either the land or rent thereon.
In reference to the day, Mr. Foster said that
the convention was the only place in the
city where God was truly worshpoed the
matter was one OF serious consideration. and
toe rights involved were such as the s lviour
strOve TO make known the clergy were fol-
l1wing the false lights to which they had
been educated. He spoke clearly and AZ
considerable length upon the money system
and submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, that the pressing needs OF the coun.
try, moral rs well aa financial, require the i'm
mediate adoption of q uniform currency, which
shall be legal tender in payment Of ali debts,
beth public and private, and which shall be
and remain forever, under the exclusive control
OF the national government.
Resolved, that in every view Of the subject,
the best possible material for such currency is
paper, having the seal OF the government, with
the entire wealth Of the nation pledged for its
redemption.
Resolved, that the use Of gold as money
should be declared Illegal, and all contracts for
payment in it null and void.
Resolved, that the propositions to pay the na.
tonA bonds in gold is a gross and scandalous
injustice, insomuch as it seeks TO present an
enormous gratuity to capital at the cost of a
grindlng tax upon lAbor-a transaction which
20 say the least, is not less derogatory to the
national honor than the entire reputation Of
the public debt
After more discussion on the money ques-
ton, In which several speakers engaged,
the convention adjourned to meet at Z il
sne evening.
ne attendance in the evening was larger,
ana the speaking more animated than in the
AFTERNOON. Mr.. Orvis was the first speaker,
Ioilowed oy Mr.. Haywood, who alluded to
me free public market as the result of simi-
Lar meetings held two or three years ago BY
q lev interested ones he said that the lit
Tie spot bY the city hall occupied by the
market, where people could 20 and obtain
tne necesssries OF life without paying tribute
- s. speculation, was the only honest spot in
worcester. He denounced the views ex-
pressed bv Charles Summer at the republi.
can convention, and said that the republican
party 10 Massachusetts we're on the side
oi the wall street vultures.
Wois Nj. Haywood was speaking, Miss
ennle Collins, OF Boston, came in and took
seat on the platform, amid an enthusiastic
round OF applause.
Miss Collins spoke at consid erabIe length
deploring the present condition and manage.
ment Of things generally, and comparing
the ruling Of capitalists and spectators to
tne reign OF Charles |. 10 England. Like all
the speakers who had preceded her she laid
tne blame 10 the matter of oppression to la
oorers oil both sexes, at the door Of the CAPT
talist; and said the coolies were to be in-
troduced to still further degrade the work
lDgmen; but she assured her hearers that IL
lay 10 their power to prevent this encroach-
rsent, ami was positive that it would be
done.
The following resoutio ns, as submitted BY
Mr.. Haywood, were adopted, and the con-
vention dissolved:
Resolved, that since labor is the source Of
wealth, right to property and value in exchange
are limited oy moral law to the amount Of SER
vice invested
Resolved, that wsging no war on productive
capital, in order to secure tree scope and iull
return to legitimlte enterprise, we aim to des-
troy the speculative power of money and hence
Of all property that interest, rent and profit
are inadmiss,ble except for work done or risk
incurred, and speculative gam in all these forms
We arralgn on its inherent sinfu lness, and shall
enforce the consequent duty of its immediate
abolition.
Resolved, that an exclusive currency, whether
Of specie or paper, enables the privilege few 10
control to make interest and prices high, wages
low, and failures frequent to suit their specula-
tive purposes; that as the only way to protect
slaves vas to destroy mastership, 80 we would
remove the necessity of ursury laws by abolish
ing despotic finance, and hence believe in free
money, the destined mediator between capital
and labor that we demand the immediate with
drawal Of the exclusive national bank notes to
be replaced with treasury certificates Of service
for taxes and bearing no interest and
The provision Of free banking laws whereby
money based on commodities, may be furnished
anywhere at cost.
Resolved, that ia purchasing bonds at pre-
MUM, instead of cancelling them in legal
money, Secretary Boutwell, fatty repudiates the
planest obligations Of law and justice, prolongs
and increases high rates Of tinterest, bankrupts.
business, and, with his official supporters, de-
serves prompt impeachment by an aroused and
defrauded people.
Resolved, that We continue our convention
through Sunday, in no sense to conflict with re-
gulAr religious services peculiar to the day, but
10 enable workingmen and women, doomed to
incessAnt and impoverishing toll week DAYS, to
meet and consider the grave religious duties
involved in labor reform that it is our unplea
SAINT duty TO rebuke preachers for criminal ne
glect Of labor and complicity with its enemies !;
and, ir ignoring the Bible doctrines of the sin.
fulness OF usury, and the moral right Of release
from debt, when the principal Is paid in the
form Of interest, rent or profit, the Protestant
churches especially, have apostasized from the
true faith, and are undeserVing the support Of
Christian women and men.
Resolved, that batting no jot or title Of the
claim Of absolute right to favor any political
hat the mnrpaa