The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-02-17

political power shall be centralized, 10 restrain
and Cypress the rights Of labor and subOrdi-
nate 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 and ENTERPRISE be-
tween 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 sys-
TEN, being inimical to the spirit Of liberty and
subversive Of the principles Of justice, without
warrant in the constitution Of the United
States, and wrongfully increasing the bur
dens Of the wealth-producing classes millions
of dollars annually, justice demands its repeal
Resolved, That TO provide true national
currency, adapted to the genius of our institu-
tons and the wants of the business of the
country, the circulating notes of the national
banks and the present greenbacks, which are
not a full legal tender, should be withdrawn
from circulation and their place supplied with
a paper currency based on the wealth of the
nation made legal tender in the payment
Of all debts, public and private declared the
lawful money Of the United States and con-
vertible at the pleasure Of the holder into gov
eminent bonds bearing three per cent inter
by Congress : the bonds likewise convertible
into lawful money at the option Of the holder.
esotped, That the claim Of the bondholders
for payment In gold of that class of indebted
ness known as $40 bonds, the principal of
which is legally and equitably payable in law
full money, is 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-
tons Of the government.
| Resolved, That the public lands Of the
United States JelOng to tke people and should
not ~ SOLD 70 Individuals granted to corpora
tioSs, but should be held As a sacred trust for
the benefit Of the people, and should BE- grant
ed free OF cost to landless settlers only, in
amounts not exceeding l6O acres of land.
| Resolved, That justice demands that the
burdens Of the government should be so adj
justed as to bear equally on all classes and in
terests and that the exemption from taxation
Of government bonds bearing extortionate rates
of interest is a violation of all Just PRINCIPLES
of revenue laws.
Resoired, That Congress should molify the
tariff so as IL admit free the necessaries Of life
and such articles Of common use as we can
neither produce nor grow; also to Law duties
for revenue mainly upon such articles Of lux
a. dAiiu uppi ouNh VI manufacture as
I'VE having the raw material in abundancel
will develop the resources Of the country, in
crease the number of factories, give employ
ment to more labOrers, maintain good compen
sat'On, cause the immigration Of skilled labor.
the lessenIng of prices to consumers, the ere
ating Of permanent home market for agricul-
tural products, destroy the necessity for the
odious and expensive system of internal
taxation, and Will soon enable us to sue
cessfully compete with the manufacturers II
Europe in the markets Of the world.
esoircd, That the National Labor Con.
gress 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 upon the respective state legislatures to
follow the example of the National Congress in
recognizing eight hours as a legal days work
ResOtced, That the presence in our country
Of Chinese laborers in large numbers is an evil
entailing want and its consequent train Of
misery and crime on all classes of the Ameri-
can people, and should be prohibited by legis-
lation.
Resolved, As labor is the foundation and
cause Of national prosperity, it is both the
duty and interest of the government TO foster
and protect it. Its Importance, therefore,
demands the creation of an Executive De-
parbmenJ OF Ine government at W aShlngtOn,
to be denominated the Department Of Labor,
which shall aid in protecting it above all other
interests
Resoiced, That the protection of life, liberty
and property are the three cardinal principles
Of government, and the first two 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, and not be entailed as a burden
on posterity,
Resolred, That it Is the duty Of the govern
ment to so exercise its power over railroads
and telegraph corporations that the actual
capital honestly invested therein shall in no
case realize excee ding six per cent. upon the
amount invested