The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-08-19

Aoo'~onS AIeVeIllck, at A. M.
The minutes Of the previous proceed
, lngs were read and approved.
1ne committee on credentials reported
. the following additional delegates entitled
: to seats
VIM. COgswell, Iron MOlders' Union,
+ Ottawa, Ill.
Ed. Aldrich, Agricultural Union, Oak
Ridge, Miss.
w. d. Delaney, Mechanics State
Council and Labor Union No. l, San Fran.
| Disco, Cal.
Report accepted and adopted.
MIR. Sylvis, Of Pa, from the committee
on auditing accounts, reported progress and
asked for more time. Report received and
request granted. n.
The committee on platform reported as
follows:
To the National Labor Union
The committee TO whom was referred
for consideration, the platform of the Ma
tional Labor Union, beg leave, respectfully,
to report.
They recommend the re-adoption of
the platform adopted in Chicago in 1867,
and re-affirmed at New York, Philadel-
phia and Cincinnati, in 1868, 1869, and
1870, with the addition of the following.
viz:
That it be the duty of the government
to so exercise its power over railroads and
telegraph corporations that the actual cap
itsl honestly invested therein, shall in no
case realize exceeding six per cent. upon
the amount 90 invested.
| A. y. CAMERON,
HORACE 81. DAY, Com.
The following is the platform referred to-:
WHKRkAs, 1t is not deemed advisable to
change or modify the existing declaration of
principles, but to resfirm the same and, for
practical use, enunciate the substance thereof
10 more convenient and concise form, with
some additional resolutions; and,
WMREAs, "All political power 10 inherent
in the people, and free government founded on
their authority and established for their bene-
ht; ;" that all freemen are equal in political
rights, and entitled to the largest political and
religious liberty compatible with the good order
Of society, as also the use and the enjoyment of
!
man or set of men are entitled Co exclusive, sep
arste emOlum ents, privileges or immunities
from the government, but 10 consideration of
public services !" and any laws dess ructiYe of
these fundamental principles are without moral
binding force, aud should be repealed. To do
90, however, is a difficult work when such laws
or usages are interviewer with pride, prejudice
and sel6shness. Besides experience shows that
labcri0g people are more than others disposed
to suffer while evils are sufferable" than or
ganixe for their abolition and
wHTREAs, We are admonished by the imper.
iled rights of labor throughout the United
States TO organise and agiIate in our behalf,
with the decree, ''In the sweat of the face shalt
thou eat bread" and the adAge that "The price
| Of liberty In eternal Vigilence," enthrnned in
our hearts and emblsxoued as A1sSttoes on our
banners, assured of success over corrupt politi-
cal schemeTs, and the spectators and bankers
who are preying like harpies upon the fruits of
honest labor, and thus restore to our political
and social system that equilibrium Of rights and
justice SO necessary TO good government and
domestic tranquility, be it
Reso we'd, That the laborers in all department o
useful industry are suffering from a system
of monetary laws, which were enacted curing
the late war, as measures, it was assumed, ''nec
essary to the life Of the nation" which is now
sought to be perpetuated in the interest Of
| bondholders aud bankers a. q means to subvert
the government of our fathers, and establish on
its ruins an empire in which all political power
shall be centralized to restrain and oppress the
rights of labor, and subordinate its votaries to
the mercIless demands Of aggregated capital.
Resolved, That the rate of interest on money
is the governing power in the distribution of
| the products of industry aud enterprise between
capital and labor, and that the present rates are
in excess and disproporTionate to the increase
Of the national wealth, and oppressive to the
producing classes.
Resolved. That the national banking system
being inimicsl to the spirit of liberty, and sub
versive of the principles ofjustice, without war
rant in the constitution Of the United Sta tes,
and wrongfplly increasing the burdens OF the
wealth. producing classes millions of dollars an
nually, Justice demands its repeal.
Resolved, That to provide a true national
currency adapted to the genius of our institu-
tons and the wants Of the business Of the coun-
try, the circulating notes Of the national banks,
and the present greenbacks, which are not full
legal tender, should be Withdrawn from circula
ton and their place supplied with q paper cur
rency based on the wealth OF the nation made
q legal tender in the payment of all debts, pub
lie and private declared the lawful money Of
the United States /; and convertible at the plea
| sure Of the holder into government bonds bear
ing per cent. interest per annum, subject to
future legislation by congress. The bonds like
wise convertible into lawful money, at the op-
ton of the holder.
Resolved, That the claim Of the bondholders
for payment in gold Of that class Of indebted
ness known as 500 bonds, the principal of
which is legally and equitably payable in lawful
MONEYS dishonest and extortionate, and
hence We enter our solemn protest against any
departure from the original contract, BY fund
ing the debt in long bonds, or in any way in
creasing the gold bearing and untaxed obliga-
tions of the government
Resolved, That justice demands that the bur-
dens of the government should be go adjusted as
to bear equally on all classes and interests and
that the exemption from taxation of govern
ment bonds, bearing cxtortionate rates Of in
terest, is violation of all just principles of
/ revenue laws.
Resolved, That congress should modify the
tariff so as to admit free the necessaries Of life
and such articles Of common use as we can
neither produce nor grow also to lay duties
for revenue, mainly upon articles Of luxury and
upon articles OF manufacture ss-we having
the raw material in abundaDce-will develop
the resources OF the country, increase the num-
Der Of factories, give employment to more la
borers, maintain good compensation, cause the
immigration Of skilled labor, the lessening Of
prices to consumers, the creating Of q perma-
nent home market for agricultural products, de-
stroy the necessity for the odious and expen-
sive system of internal taxation, and will soon
enable US to successfully compete with the
manufactures Of Europe in the markets Of the
world.
Resolved, That the National Labor Congress
earnestly recommend the adoption Of such
: measures among all classes of workmen. in all
sections OF the country, as will secure the
adoption Of the eight hour system, and call up
on the respective state legislatures to follow
the example of the National Congress in recog-
mixing eight hours as a legal days work.
Resolved, That the presence in our country
of Chinese laborers in large numbers, is an
evil entaillng want and its consequent train of
misery and crime on all classes Of the Aneri-
can people, and should be prevented BY legis-
lation.