The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1872-05-18
=latform of the National Labor Reform
PARTY

~laCIOrm OF the National Labor Reform
Party.
We hold that ''all political power is inhe
rent in the people, and free government
founded on their authority and established
for their benefit" that all citizens are equal in
political rights, and entitled to the largest re-
hgious and political liberty compatible with
the good order Of society, as also the use and
enjoyment of the fruits of their labor and tai
ents, and mo man, or set Of men, are emit
tied TO exclusive separative emoluments.
privileges, or immunities from the Govern
ment but III consideration Of public services !"
and any laws destructive Of these fundamen-
tai principles are without moral binding
force, and should be repealed and, believing
that all evils resulting from unj ust legislation,
now affecting the industrial classes can be re-
moved by the adoption Of the principles con
tanned in the following declarations, therefore
be it
Resolved, That it is the duty of the gov
ernment to establish Just standard Of distri-
button to capital and labor, by providing q
purely national circulating medium, based on
the faith and resources Of the nation, issued
directly to the people, without the interven-
ton OF any system of banking corporations,
which money shall be legal tender in the
payment Of all debts, public and private, and
interchangeable, at the option of the holder,
for government bonds bearing rate of inter
est not to exceed 3 65-l00 per cent, subject
To future legislation 10y Congress.
, That the national debt should be paid in
good faith. according to the original contract,
at the earliest option Of the government with
out mortgaging the property Of the people or
the future earnings Of labor to enrich few
capitalists at home and abroad.
3 That justice demands that the burdens
& a L L
bear equally on all classes and interests, and
that the exemption from taxation Of govern
ment bonds bearing extortionate rates Of in
terest is violation Of all Just principles Of
revenue laws.
T. That the public lands Of the United
states belong to the people, and should not
he sold To individuals or granted to corpora
lions, but should be held as sacred trust for
the benefit Of the people, and should be grant
ell free of cost to landless settlers only, in
amounts not exceeding 100 acres of land
s. That Congress should modify the tariff
so As to admit free such articles of common
use We can neither produce nor grow, and
levy duties for revenue mainly upon articles
Of luxury, and upon such articles Of manu-
facture as 1--WE having the raw material in
abundance) will assist in further developing
the resources of the country
nese laborers, imported by capitalists in large
numbers for servile use is an evil entailing
want and its attendant train Of misery and
crime ON all classes Of the American people,
and should be prohibited by legislation.
!. That we ask for the enactment Of law
by which all mechanics and day laborers EN-
ployed by OF 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 by
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.
s. 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 the money neces-
sary for prosecuting wars should, as it is re-
quired, be assessed and collected from the
wealth Of the country, and not entailed as a
burden of postenty.
9. That it is the duty Of the government to
so exercise its power over railroads and tele-
graph corporations that they shall not III any
case be privileged to exact such rates of
freight, transportation or charges, by whatso-
ever name, as may bear unduly or unequally
upon either producer or consumer
TO- That fitness, and not political or per
sonal considerations, should be the only re-
commendation to public oihee, either appoint
i've or elective, and any or all laws looking to
the establishment Of this principle are heart
lily approved
IL. That, as both history and experience
teach US that power ever seeks to peTpetuate
itself 10y any and by all means at its command,
and that its prolonged possession in the hands
of one person is always dangerous to the lib
critics Of free people; and believing, too,
that the spirit OF our organic laws and the
stability and safety Of our free institutions are
best obeyed on the one hand and secured
On the other by regular constitutional
change in the Chief Executive of the country
at each quadrennial election therefore we are
in favor Of limiting the occupancy Of the
Presidential chair to one term.
IL That the enlightened spirit Of the age
demands the abolition of the system of con
tract laoOr in our prisons and other reforma-
tory Institutions.
l3 That we deem it expedient for Con-
gress to revise the Patent laws 80 as to give
labor more fully the benefit of its own inven-
tions.
IA. That we demand the subsection Of the
military to the civil authority, and the con-
finement of its operation to national purposes
alone.
Is. That We are in favor Of granting gen
eral amnesty, and restoring the Union at once
on the basis of equality of rights and privi
leges TO all, the impartial administration Of
jnstice being the only true bond Of union to
bind the States together and restore the af
fections Of the people to the government.