The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-10-15

paramount to party, to assist them in puri-
fying the political atmosphere, establishing
economy and jsstice in the conduct Of pub
lie affairs, and securing to every man not
orly the right to vote, but the assurance
that his ballot shall not be overwhelmed by
fraud.
4 The platform, both State and National,
is commended to the consideration Of all
thinking men, as setting forth principles
which, We think, if followed, would materi
ally tend to do away with many incentives
to chicanery and corruption, dispel all dan
ger Of new form Of slavery, encourage
the settlement and improvement Of the
public lands, give the productive interests
Of the country, both agricultural and man.
ufacturing, a sound financial policy, thus
discouraginy speculation and speculative
combinations, prevent any increase of the
public debt, protect the laborer in bis rights,
50 change the manner Of conducting our
penal institutions, that the earnings shall 20
into the pubis treasury, ruinous and de-
grading competition with honest men will
De prevented and the reformation Of the
criminal become possible.
These principles followed will tend to
place all on an equal footing before the law,
TO build up the wealth, and increase the in
telligence of the nation.
In resisting the encroachments of monop-
olies and corporations, we place ourselves
in the only position from which the public
works can be cared for efficiently and hon
estly
Under the control Of the Labor Reform
Party they would be taken from the hands
Of theorists and party hacks, and placed in
those whose practical and economicSl man
ner o. conducting tier daily business would
ensure success
Deeming it as DO, criminal not 10 vote,
| hope if there be any person who adheres
{, the principle as laid down in the platform
Of the Labor Reform Party, who lacks con
tidence in the ability or intentions of any
pc. IN on the ticket, from the head to the
loot. be will not refuse to vote, and will not
hesitate to place for him some better known
exponent of the cause over the Objectionable
name, feeling confident, as do, that nv
associates on the ticket will cordially agree
with this Recommendation, and that their
heartfelt desire, a, well as mine, is that the
people Of the State may free themselves
from the thraldom Of the old parties that
the productive classes, who work, pay and
fight for all, may take from the leaders of
those parties their power, and place ii in
the hands Of men who believe, and have,
and viii act on the / 'ief that men should
weigh a. heavy in til scales Of justice, and
receive as much attention in the considera-
ton Of public affairs as dollars.
The leaders Of those parties, during everv
political canvass, post each other as men
unworthy the confidence of the people, and
charges and counter charges are equally
well sustained proving they are not entitled
to the sutfrages they so boldly claim, not
only by reason Of tn cir past record, but by
tie manner in which their nominations are
secured, presenting to the people nominees
chosen by any or every method except a
free and honest expression of the members
Of their parties, and having secured their
nomination BY dishonorable means their
election becomes a mere mercantile or spec
ulative transaction, the price they are willing
to pay being governed by their ambi-
ton, and the money they expect to make if
the prize is secured.
80 that between them there is at best but
the choice Of two evils, as their election re-
suits simply in the retention Of the ins or
incoming of the 0utS, and not in any radical
Improvement in the administration of their
duties
Such being the state ST our political af-
fairs, to remedy them is the mission Of the
Labor Reform Party.
The members Of that part know that their
ticket, now in the field, was made I'D BY
the Convention at Syracuse, that the people
might vote for men whose faults NAV be
many, but Office seeking is not among
them; who, if elected, viii have but the in
terests Of the people to care for; no party
machinery to control them; no rewards to
make for services rendered Standing on
this ground, under nominations spontaneous
ly given, so radically different from the 9th
CT parties, it Is to be hoped that no friend
Of the party will, for mere success, lower
himself or the cause to the level Of our op-
ponents, by the use Of money or any dis
honorable mems, and that efforts will be
made by every member Of the party to sup
press illegal voting in all its forms evoke,
if necessary, the aid Of the law, and show
our opponents that we know how to prac-
tee better than preach; that the people are
about to resume the reins Of government
and protect their rights and interests against
political chicanery, official corruption, and
the extortionate, unreasonable, and increas-
inc demands Of capitalists and corporations;
and as these evils can only be remedied by
pure ballot, this We are determined to have.
The people need but he awakened, and
the justice Of our cause, our numbers and
position in society, assure US Of victory.
Yours truly,
JAMES s. GRAHAM.
To He. TonP, President, u ". Brotcn-
ing, Secretary, State Labor Reform
CORceRtiOR.