The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-09-18
PLATFORM
or THE E-
l. A BOR REFORMF PARTY

l. A BOR REFORM PARTY.
Whereas, 1t is not deemed advisable to change
or modify the existing declaration of principles,
but to re-afirm the same, aud for practical use
enunciate the substance thereof in a more con-
venient and concise form, with some additional
resolutions; and, .-rsr
Whereas, All political power is inherent in
the people, and free government founded on
their authority and established for their bene-
1T that all free men are equal in political rights
and entitled to the largest political and regi-
Gus liberty compatible With good order OF So
ciety, as also the use and enjoyment of the fruits
Of their labor, and talents and no man or set of
men are entitled to exclusive, separate emol-
uments, privileges or immuniiies from the
government but in consideration Of public
service and any laws destructive Of these fun
damental principles are without moral bind.
ing force, and should be repealed. To do so,
| however, 10 q difficult work, when such laws
or usages are interviewer with pride, prejudi-
ces and selfishness. Besides, experience shows
that laboring people are, more than Others, dis
posed to suffer while evils are siderable, than
to organize for their abolition, and,
Where's, We are sdmenished by the imper-
Tiled rights of labor throughout the United States
to organize and agitate in our own behalf with
the decree, sin the sweat OF the face shalt thou
eat bread, and the addage that 1.-The price of
liberty ia eternal vigilance" enthrcncd in our
hearts aud emblaxoned a. notices Oh our
banners, assured OF success over corrupt
political sehemeA and the spectators and
banker Who are preying like narpies upon
the fruits Of honest labor. and thus restore
to our political and social system that equl-
ibrium of rights and justice 40 necessary to
good government and domestic Tranquility !;
therefore, be it Ar
Resolved That laborers in all depart
ments Of useful industry are suffering from a
system of monetary laws which were enacted
during the lite war, as measures, n was as
sumed necessary to ths life OF the nation. and
which is now sought to be perpetnsted ia che
\ interest Of bondholders and bankers a means
to subvert the government of our fathers, and
establish on its ruins empire, in which all
political power shall be centralized to restrain
and Cypress the rights Of labor, and subordinate
its votaries TO the merciess demands Of aggre>
gated capital and superscillous authority
! Resolved, That the National Banking system
being inmcal to the spiri' Of liberty, and sub
versive If the principles Of justice. aud without
warrant in the Constitution of the United States,
and wrongfuil' increasing the burdens Of the
wealth producing classes millions Of dollars an
nually, Justice, the aspirations Of honest indus
try, and the spirit Of imperilled liberty demand
its immediate repeal and the substitution of legal
tender notes the exclusive currency OF the
nation.
Resolved, That the National Labor Uuiou'
is opposed 10 the continuation and creation Of
banks BY acts Of incorporation, by either State
or National authority, with the privilege Of
making, issuing, or putting in circulation, any
notes. bills or other paper Of any other bank to
circulate Us money, except the legal tender
Treasury notes" therein contemplated.
| Resolved, That the present rate Of interest is
in excess Of and disproportionate to the increase
Of national wealth, and being the governing
power in the distribution Of the products Of cap
ital and labor, is oppressive to the producing
classes
Resolved. That the revenue laws of the United
States should be altered so that instead Of sub
ordinating labor to capital, they may afford Just
protection to labor and the industrial interests
of the whole country.
Resolved, That the legsl-tender money should
be made legal tender in the payment Of all
debts, public and private, and convertible at
the optioniof the holder into Government bonds,
bearing interest at the rate of three per cent
per annum, with privilege to the holder to re-
convert the bonds into money or the money into
bonds, at pleasure.
Resolved, That the claim Of the bondholders,
that the bonds which we're bought with green
backs, and the principal of which is by law pay
able In curronoy, ehoAId nevertheless he paid In
gold, is unjust and extortionate.
Resolved, That the exemption from tax of
bonds and securities, is a violation Of the just
principle of revenue laws
Resolved, That land mono poles are at vari-
ance with the doctrine that " all freemen when
they form q social compact are equal Ia rights, "
and if persisted in, must ultimately result 10 the
subversion Of free institutions, as also the social
and political well-being of the laboring masses.
To prevent this calamity, the public lands
adapted to agriculture should be given in rea-
sonable quantities, to none bnt American citi-
zeDs, and such as have declared their intention
70 become citizens Individual owners OF ex-
tepsiye tracts of land should be encouraged 10
dispose Of the same in small parcels, at reason
able prices to actual settlers, that may thus be
come identified with the soil, responsible IT,
telligent citizens.
Resolved, That it is a duty which should be
exercised with pleasure, TO guard With vigilant
care the delicate and sacred rights of the daugh-
tiers of toll who engaged in various industri Il
pursuits, and solicit their hearty cooperation in
our efforts to vindicste the rights of the labor
ing classes, while we pledge them, in return,
our individual aud undivided support.
Resolved, That religion, morality and know
ledge, being necessary to success, schools and
other means Of education should be encouraged,
such as the formation of labor unions, mechan-
les institutes, lyceums, readngroOms, and
whatever additional agencies may hereafter be
deemed conducive to the cause of morality and
intelligence.
Resolved, That ss labor is the foundation and
cause Of national prosperity, it is both the duty
and interest Of government 10 foster and pro-
tect it. It's importance, therefore, demands the
creation Of an Executive Department. OF the
government at Washington, to be denominated
Il L
protecting it above all other interests.
Resolved, That the protection of life, liberty.
and property, are the three cardinal principles
or government, and the two first more sacred
than the latter therefore, money necessary for
prosecuting wars should, as it is required, be
assessed and collected from the wealth of the
country, aud not be entailed as burden on
pOsterity.
Resolved, That the National Labor Congress
earnestly recommends the adoption of such
measures among all classes Of workmen, In all
sections of the country, as will secure the adop-
ton Of the Eight Hour system, and calls upon
the respective state legislatures to follow the
example of the National Congress, in recogniz-
ing eight hours legal days work.
Resolved, That voluntary associations of
wOrkiDgmen and women are entitled, at the
hands Of legislation State aud National to the
same chartered rights and privileges granted
to associated capital. and we demand their
practical recognition aud enforcement
Resolved, That political equality being one
Of the cardinal principles Of this organization,
we therefore urge full restoration Of civil rights
TO every American citizen, except such as have
been convicted OF felony.
Resolved, That we are unalterably opposed
TO the importation of a servile race for the sole
and only purpose Of pauperising the labor Of
the American workngmen.
Resolved, That we demand the adjustment
OF the system Of contract labor in our prisons
and penitenIiaries, and that the labor performed
by convicts shall be that which viii least con
6ict with honest industry outside of the prisons
and that the wares manufactured by the con-
victs shall not be put upon the market at less
than current rateA - ..rH
Resolved, That the Labor Congress would
most respectfully recommend to the workingmen
of the country that, in case they are pressed for