The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-02-23
National Labor Reform Convention
at Columbus.


at Columbus.
CoLuMDus, o., February 99.--The Ma
tional Labor Reform Qong ention rsassem
bled at 10 o'clock this morning, and spen
much time IN discussing the question o
admitting James Kilgore as representa-
tive Of International Section 20, Of Penn
sylvania. He was finally admitted q
part of tho Peunsylvnnla delegation.
|! The Committee on Platform made theil
report, the financial plank OF which wa!
discussed until noon. Recess ...,r
1 AFTERNOON SESSION. 2
The Convention re.assembled at twC
o'clock. The Committee on Platform
reported for adoption the following reso
luiions, which were taken up Scriatlm ant
adopted. -. % WV '''' .'''f'
The preamble declares us follows: W.
hold t.tllAt albpolitieal poweFis inherentif
thepeohle and iFee govcrhment, founded
on their authority established for thcil
benefit; that all citizens are equal in po
litical rights, entitled to the largest re
ligious and political liberty compatible
with the good order Of society, as also the
use and enjoyment Of tho fruits OF Their
hbor and talents, and no man or set Of
men are entitled 10 exclusives separate
emolpments and : privileges, from the
Government, but in consideration Of pub
lie services; and any laws destructive ol
these fundamental principles are without
moral binding or force and should be re-
pealed; and believing tliatall evils result
ing from unjust legislation, now affecting
the industrial classes, caIt he removed BY
the adoption OF the principles contained
In the following declaration. t';.It IN.
The resolutions declare:
|. That it is the duty Of the government
to establish q just standard Of the distri.
button Of capital and labor, by providing
a purely national circulating medium,
based on the faith and RESOURCES Of The
nation, issued directly TO the people, with.
out the intervention Of any system ol
banking corporations; which money shall
be legal tender in payment OF ali debts,
public and private, and interchangeable at
the option Of the holder for government
bonds, bearing rate of interest not to
exceed 3.75 per cent, subject to future
legislation by Congress. Na .ii ! s''Ua II
9. That the national debt should be
paid in good faith according to the origi.
nal contract, at the earliest option Of the
government, without morgagfng the prop.
erty Of the people and future earnings ot
labor, u enrich few capitalists at home
and abroad. IL FslNfBA Sifg2i5
3.tThat justice demands that, the Abur-
dens of the government should be so
adjusted as to bear equally on all classes
and interests, and that the exemption from
taxation of government bonds bearing
extortionate rates OF interest, is in VIOLA.
tion Of oil just principles of revenue laws.
L. That the public lands of the United
States belong 10 the people, and should
not be sold TO individuals or I'd corpora
tions, but should be held for the benefit OF
landless settlers, in amounts not exceed.
ing 100 acres, ..!Jtig IS w. ,iicl >
s. 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 the duties for revenue
mainly on articles Of luxury and upon
such articles of manufacture as we, hav-
ing raw material in abundance, will assist
in further developing the resources Of the
country. .t E.. HH .....
6. That the importation of Chinese as
laborers is an evil, and should be prohib.
tied by legislation. -sr a
Z. For the enactment Of law by which
mechanics and laborers Employed by
Government contractors and municipali-
ties shall not be compelled to perform
more than eight hours labor per day.
s. Demands the abolition of contracts
for labor in prisons.
0. Declares in favor of assessing and
collecting taxes during the progress Of the
war, instead Of levying debt on posteriiy.
10. Calls for Congressional legislation
to prevent exorbitAnt charges by railroads
and telegraphs. ~.
II. Declares in favor of the one term
principle. Ef5
19. Favors general amnesty and the
equality ofrights and privileges to all.
After the report Of the Committee on
Platform was disposed Of, Mr.. Elliott, oil
New York, offered the following.
WHEREAS, Capitalists and monopoIists
Of the products Of industry can, by con-
centration OF action, withdraw their pa.
tronage from any branches of industry,
and thereby subject them TO privation
and want, thus compelling them, from
necessity, 10 accept Just such terms as
they may chance 10 dictate, therefore,
ReSolred, That our system OF govern.
ment be so amended as to empower Gov.
crnment to institute branches of industry
and furnish employment TO all idle people
in the community at equitable terms oI
time and compensation, and to prevent
our representatives and Legislators from
assuming the character Of masters instead
OF servants of the people. We establish
the principle OF the referendum, by which
the people may retain sovereign powers
and may be convened semi.annually tC
ratify or reject any act Of their public
servants. ........,-..
]. T. Elliott, Secretary Of the Interna.
tional Society, spoke in favor of the reso
luton. Fl. H. Day, of New York, also
supports the resolution. He. said the
people demand this action. s
Alex. Troupe, of Connecticut, spoke in
favor of tho referendum. He argued thai
the veto power should be in the hands o
the people.
Tie resolution was then referred to the
Committee on Platform, who s3on report
ed It back with the report that they con
sldered it inexpedient TO endorse the
spirit OF the resolution.
The report otthC, committee was agreed
lto-5S TO ID. ~ Is ii a. q {
The platform asa whole then agreed to-
Horace II. Day, OF New York, offered
the following resolution
RepIled, That true labor reformers TO
day know no difference between race
color, sex or nationality, and we believe
in equal rights and equal suffrage fol
all.
Tic resolution wns laid nm thn tnhlf