Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1872-03-26
Labor Reform Platform.

line following Is copy OF the Platform of
the Labor Reform party, as adopted at the
recent Cincinnati Conventions
"We hold that all political power j. in.
herent in the people, that free government is
founded oD their authority, and established
for their benefit; that all citizens are equal
in political rights, entitled to the largest re-
ligious and political liberty compatible with
the good order of society, as also the use and
enjoyment of the fruits of their labor and
talents, and no man or set of men are entitled
to the exclusive, separate emoluments, privi-
leges or immunities from the Government, but
in consideration of public services; and any
laws destructive of these fundamental prin-
clples are without moral binding force and
should be repealed and we believe that all
the evils resulting from unjust Legislation now
affecting the industrial classes can be removed
by the adoption of the of the principles con.
tanned in the following declarations. There,
fore resolved,
81. That it is the duty of the government
to establish just standard of the distribntion
Of capital and labor, by providing purely
national circulating medium, based on the
faith and resources of the nation issued d;-
rectly to the people without the intervention
of any system of banking corporations. which
money shall be legal tender in the payment
of all debts; public and private and inter
changeable at the option of the holder for
government bonds, bearing rate of interest
not to exceed three and sixty>fve hundredths
per cent, subject to future legislation by Con.
gress.
''2. That the national debt should be maid
in good faith according to the original con-
tract, at the earliest option of the government,
without mortgaging the property of the peo-
pie, and the future earnings of labor, to enrich
few capitalists at home and abroad.
.'3. That justice demands that the burdens
of government should be so adjusted as to bear
equally on all classes and interests, and that
exemption from taxation of government bonds.
bearing extortionate rates of interest. is
violation of all just principles of revenue laws.
"4. That the public lands of the United
States belong to the people, and should not
be sold to individuals nor granted TO corpora
tiops, but should be held as a sacred trust for
the benefit of the people, and should be
granted tree OF cost to landless settlers only,
IN amounts not exceeding 160 acres to each.
as. That Congress should modify the tariff
SO as to admit free such articles of common
use as we can neither produce nor grow, and
lay dut es for revenue mainly upon articles of
luxury and upon such articles of manufacture
az wlll-we having the raw material in abun.
dance-assist in further developing the re.
sources of the country.
so. That the presence in our country of
Chinese laborers, imported by capitalists in
large numbers for servile use, is an evil en-.
failing want and its attendan. train of misery
and crime on all classes of the American peo.
pie, and should be prohibited by legislation.
", That we ask for the enactment of law
by which all mechanics and day laborers en-
ployed by or on behalf of the government.
whether directly or indirectly, through per,
sons, firms or corporations, contracting with
the State, shall conform, to the reduced stand
ard of eight hours day, recently adopted bv
Congress for national employees, and also for
an amendment to the acts of incorporation for
cities and towns by which all laborers and
mechanics employed at their expense shall
conform to the same number of hours.
"o. That the enlightened spirit of the age
demands the abolition of the system of con-
tract labor in our prisons and other reforma>
tory institutions.
SO. That the protection of life, liberty and
property are the three cardinal principles of
government, and the first two are more sacred
than the latter therefore, money needed for
prosecuting wars should, as it is required. be
assessed and collected from the wealth of the
country, and not entailed as burden on DOS
teritv.
40. That it is the duty of the government
to exercise its power over railroads and tele-
graph corporations, that they shall not in any
case be privileged to exact such rates of freight
transportation or charges by whatever name,
! as may bear unduly or inequtably upon the
producer or consumer
I'll. That there should be such reform in
the civil service of the national government
as will remove it beyond all partisan influence
anu place 1t In the charge and under the di-
rectlon OF Intelligent and competent business
men.
"i2. That as both history and experience
teaches US that power ever seeks to peroetuate
itself by every and all means at its command
and that its prolonged possession in the hands
OF one person is always dangerous to the lber.
ties OF free people, and believing that the
spirit OF our organic laws and the stability and
safety of our free institutions are best obeved
on the one hand, and secured on the other bv
! regular constitutional change in the chief of
the country at each quadrennial election );
therefore, we are in favor of limiting the oc,
cupancy of the Presidential chair to one term.
'l3. That We are in favor of granting uni
versal amnesty and restoring the Union at
once on the basis of equality of rights and
privileges to all, the impartial administration
Of justice being the only true bond of union
to bind the States together and restore the
affection of the people to the government.
'l4. That we deem it cxpedient for Com
gress to revise the patent laws so as to give
laborers more fully the benefits of their ideas
and inventions.
"l5. That fitness and not political or per-
sonal considerations should be the only recon-
mendation to public Office, either appointed or
elective, and any or all laws looking to the
establishment of this principle are heartily
approved.
''16. That we demand the subjection of the
military to the civil authorities, and the con-
| finement of its operation to national purposes
alone''