The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-05-07
PLATFORM
OF raR
L ABOR REFORM PARTY,

WmzEAs, It Ia mot deemed advisable to
change or modify the existing declaration Of
principles, but TO re-s0Rrm the same. and for
practical use enunciate the sabst ance thereof
In Q more eonsenient and concise form, With
some additional resolutions and,
WnEaxAA All, political power IL inherent
In the people, and free government founded o.
their authority and established for their bens-
&C.; that all free men are equal In political rghta
and entitled to the largest political and reliRi-
Gus liberty compatible with good order OF 90
ciety, as also the use and enjoyment Of the
fruits of their labor and talents, and NO man or
Get Of men are entitled 70 exclusive, separate
smoiumsnts, privileges or immunites from the
government, but 10 confederation Of public
service and any laws destructive of these fun.
damental principles are without moral bind
ing force, and should be repealed. TO do 90,
however, 10 q difficult work, where such laws
OF usages are interviewer with pride, prejudi-
ces and selHshness. 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.
WHKRzAs, We are admonished by the i'm
perilled rights Of labor throughout the United
States to organize and agitate In our own be-
half With the decree, In the sweat Of thy face
shalt thou eat bread, and the adage thas
" The price of liberty ID eternal vigilaaces" en-
throned In the hearts and emblaxonad ~ mot
toes on our banners, assured OF suceesa over
corrupt political schemes. and the spectators
and bankers who are praying like harpies upon
the fruits Of honest labor, and thus restore 70
our political and social system that equilibrium
of rights and justice 90 necessary 10 good
government and domestic tranquility there
fore, be il
Resolved, That laborers In all depart
ments of useful industry are suffering from .
system OF monetary laws which were enacted
during the late var, % measures, IS was as
sumed necessary TO the life Of the nation, and
which is now sought TO be perpstnated In the
interest Of bondholders and bankers 90 means
to subvert the government Of our fathers. and
establish on its ruins IN empire, 10 which al
cal power shall be centralized 90 restrain
and Cypress the rights Of labor, and subordinate
its votarieI to the merciless demands OF aggre-
gated capital and superscillious authority.
Resolved, That the National Banking system,
being inimical to the spirit Of liberty. and mb-
versive to the principles Of justice, and without
warrant In the Constitution Of the United
States, and wrongfsily increasing the burdens
of the alth-producing clssses millions Of dol
lars annually, Justice, the aspirations OF honest
industry, and the spirit Of imperillsd liberty de
msnd it's immediate repeal and the substitu :
ton Of legal tender notes ss the exclusive cur
rency Of the nation.
Resolved. That the National Labor Union"
is opposed to 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
bank to circulate 10 money, except the
" legal tender Treasury notes therein contem-
plated.
Resolved, That the present rate OF interest
10 in excess Of and disproportioaate 70 the in
crease of national wealth, and being the gov
erning power in the distribution of the pro
ducts Of capital and labor, is oppressive to the
producing classes
Resolved, That the revenue laws Of the
United States should be altered % that, instead
of subordinating labor to capital, they may
afford Just protection to labor and the indus
trial interests Of the whole country.
Resolved, That the legal tender money
should be made q legal tender in the payment
Of all debts, public and private, and convertible
at the option Of the holder into Government
bonds, bearing interest at the rate Of three per
cert. per annum, With privilege to the holder
TO reconvert the bonds into money, or the
money into bonds, at pleasure.
Resolved, That the claim Of the bondhOldsrs,
that the bonds which were booght with green
backs, aud the principal Of which 10 BY lac pay
able in currency, should nevertheless, be paid
in gold, IL unjust and extorRonste.
Resolved, That the exemption from tax Of
bonds and securities, is q violation of the just
principal Of revenue laws.
Resolved, That land monopolies are At vari-
snce with the doctrine that " all freemen when
they form . social compact are equal in rights,
and if persisted in, must ultimately result In the
subverson Of free institutions, 40 also the social
and political we'll being of the laboring masseA
To prevent this cal unity. the public lands
adapted to agriculture should be given, IN rea-
soma BILE quantities, to nJne but American citi
Gems, and such as have declared their intention
TO become citizens Individual owners Of ex-
tensive tracts If land should be encouraged 20
dispose Of the same ic small parcels, at reasona-
BILE prices, to actual settlers that they may thus
become identified with the soil, 40 responsible
intelligent citizens.
Resolved, That il is a duty which should be
exercised with pleasure, TO guard With vigilant
care the delicate and sacred rights of the
daughters Of toll who are engaged In various
industrial pursuits, and We solicit their hearty
cooperation In our efforts TO vindieate the
rights Of the laboring cltsses, while We pledge
them, in return, oar individual and undivided
support
Resolved, That religion, morality, and knOwl.
edge, being necessary TO success, schools, and
other means Of education SHOULD be encouraged,
such 10 the formation of labor unioas, me-
chanics' institutes, lyceums. reading 7roOms, and
Whatever additional agencies may hereafter be
deemed conductive 20 the cause Of morality
and intelligence.
Resolved. That as labor is the foundation
and c4use Of national prosperity, II is both the
duty and Interest Of government to foster and
protect Il. lis importance, therefore dema nds
che creation Of an Executive Department. Of
the Government at Washington, TO be de-
dominated the Department Of Labor, which
shall aid in protecting it above all other 10
terests
Resolved, That the protection Of life, liberty,
aad property, are the three cardinal principles
Of government, and the two frst, more sacred
than the later therefore, money necessary for
prosecuting warS should, as it is required, be
assessed and collected from the wealth Of the
country, and not be entailed as q burden on
posterity.
Resolved. That the National Labor Congress
earnestly recommends the adoption Of such
measures amcng oil classes Of workmen, in all
seetious Ct the country, % will secure the adop-
ton Of the Eight Hour system, and calls upon
VIC EeepoSGNO Oe~sS Ac&sSs~e~~S - AS~-~' -
example Of the NatioCal Congress in recog
nizng eight hours 90 legal days work.
Resolved, That voluntary associations Of
wol kingmen and women are entitled, at the
hands Of legislation, State and National, 70 the
same chartered rights and privileges granted TO
associated capital, and We demend their practi
cal recognition and enforcement.
Resolved, That We would urgently call the
attention of the industrial classes TO the subject
of tenant houses and improved dwellings. be
lieving it to be essential 70 the warfare Of the
whole community that . reform should be ef
fected 10 this respect, as the experience Of the
past has proven that vice, paupensm and
crime are the invariable attendants Of the over
crowded, lily ventilated dwellings Of the poor ;
and We urge upon the capitalists Of the coun
try their attention to the blessing TO be de-
rived from investing their means In erecting
such dwellings.
Resolved, That political equality being one
Of the cardinal principles Of this organization,
we there ore urge full restoration Of civil rights
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