Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-23
THE WORKINGMEN,
Their Platform and Nominations
The Bank Monopoly Denounced
Judge Davis, Of Ill, for President
The NatlOnaI Lahorers.

The National Leb0rers.
COLUMBUS, o., Feb. 29-The Ma
! tional Labor Reform Convention reassem-
bled at 10 this morning, and spent much
time in discussing the question of admit
ting as delegat Jas. Kilgore as represen-
| tatiye of International Section 26 of Penn
! sylvania. BE was finally admitted as part
of the Pennsylvania delegation. The COM
mittee On platform made their report, the
financial plank of which was discussed un-
til noon. Recess.
The Platform.
The Convention reassembled at 2 o'clock.
The Committee on Platform reported
for adoption; resolutions were taken up by
section and adopted. The Preamble declares
as follows @
awe hold that all political power is inher-
ent in the people, and free government is
founded on their authority and established
for their benefit. All citizens are equal in
in political rights and entitled TO
the largest religious 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 men or
set of men are entitled to exclusive separate
emoluments and privileges from government
but in consideration of public services, and
any laws destructive Of these fundamental
principles are without moral, binding force
and should be repealed, and believing that
all the evils resulting from unjust legislation
now affecting the industrial classes can be
removed by the adoption of the principles
contained in the following declaration"
The resolutions declare,
L. That it is the duty of the Government
to establish just standard of the distribu-
ton 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 without the
Intervention of any system of banking cor
porations, which money shall be a legal
tender in payments of all debts, public and
private, and interchangeable at the option
of the holder for government bonds bearing
a rate of interest not to exceed 3.65 per
cent, and is subject for future legislation
by Congress.
2. That the National debt should be paid
In good faith, according to the original con-
tract, at the earliest option of the Govern
ment without mOrtgaging the property Of
the people and the future earning of labor
to enrich a few capitalists at home and
abroad.
S. That Justice demands that the burdens
of 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 a violation of all lust
principles of revenue laws.
4. That the public lands Of the United |
States belong TO the people and should not !
be sold to individuals or to corporations, |
Ho 6al for fl,o bano6t Of IoOdloee
tiers in amounts net exceeding one hun |
dred and sixty acres.
). That Congress should modify the tar
iff so as to admit free such articles of COM
mon use as we can neither produce nor
grow, and lay duties for revenue mainly on |
articles Of luxury, and upon such articles
of manufacture as we, having the raw ma
erial in abundance, will assist in further de-
velOping the resources Of the country.
8. That the importation of Chinese a
labOrers is an evil, and should be prohibites
by legislation.
I. Asks for the enactment Of law by
which mechanics and labOrers employed by
contractors and municipali-
ties shall not be compelled TO perform more
than eight hours labor per day.
S. Demands the abolition of contract
labor in prisons.
0. Declares in favor of assessing and col
lecting war taxes during the progress of the
war instead Of levying debt on posterity.
10. Calls for Congressional legislation to
prevent exorbitant charges by railroads
and telegraphs.
II. Declares in favor of the one term
principle,
u. Favors general amnesty and equality
Of rights and privileges to all.
COmmunistic workshops Wanted.
After the report of the Committee on
Platform was disposed of, Mr.. Elliott, of
New York, offered the following resolution:
"Whereas, The capitalists and the mon
Opolizers of the products of industry can by
of action withdraw their
patronage 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 choose
70 dictate, therefore
"Resolved, That our system of govern
nent be amended so as to empower the
to institute boards of indus
.ry, and furnish employment to all idle peo-
pie in the country, at equitable terms of |
lime and compensation, and to prevent our
0llu ALCSioidbOtO lAOul d. | 4
,uming the characters of masters instead
If servants Of the people, we establish the
principle of a Referendum, by which peo-
Die may retain sovereign power and con-
-ened semi-annually to ratify or reject the
lcts of their public servants"
J. T. Elliot, Secretary of the Information
j Society of America, spoke in favor of the
esolution.
IT II r., of Oo,,- Vo-l, IL o. ,,,,,,orto1 |
he resolution. He said the people de-
handed this action.
Alexander Traufe, of Connecticut, spoke
n favor of the Referendum portion of the
esolution. He argued that the veto power
hOuld be in the hands of the people.
This resolution was then referred to the
Committee on Platform, who soon reported
t back, with report that they considered
t inexpedient TO endorse the spirit Of the
esolution. The report Of the Committee
vas agreed tO-5S to Ii.
The platform as whole agreed to
The Everlasting NiggeEs
Horace II. Day, of New York, offered
he following resolution.
Resolved, That the true labor reformer
o-day knows no difference between race or
olor, sex or nation, and we believe in equal
lights and equal suffrage for all.
The resolution was laid on the table by
leayy vote.
Mr.. Schel, of Pennsylvania, offered re-
olution recommending that the several
tate Conventions appoint State committees
With authority to confer with other political
,arties that may adopt the nominees Of this
and arrange a fair apportion-
nent of elections among all said organiza-
ions. This resolution was also laid on the
able,
Hillary UsurpatiOn and Civil BefOrm
The Committee on Platform reported the
additional planks for the plat