American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-08-09
The WOrkingmen's Platform.
The National Industrial Congress, re-
Gently in session at Cleveland, Ohio, adopt
ed the following platform:

The National Industrial Congress, re-
Gently in session at Cleveland, Ohio, adopt
ed the following platform:
WHEREAS. The recent alarming development
and aggression Of aggregated wealth, which. unless
checked, will inevitably lead to the pauperization
and hopeless degradation of the toilng masses,
ings Of the Government bequeathed by the
founders Of the Republic that a check should be
placed upon the power and unjust accumulation
Of wealth, and system adopted which will secure
to the laborer the fruits Of his toll; and
WHEREAS, This much desired object can only be
accomplished by the thorough unifcation of labor
and the united efforts of those who obey the Divine
injunction that In the sweat of thy face shalt
WHEREAS, While we recognize in the ballot-box
an age.cy by which these wrongs can be redressed
when other means fail. yet the great desideratum
Of the hour is the organization. Consolidation, and
cooperative effort of the producing masses
stepping-st to that education that will in the
future lead to more advanced action, through
which the necessary reforms can be obtained I;
and, WAL, A.
and efficiency Of Trade and Labor Unions, local
and international, as now organized, in regulating
taning to their welfare a whole the influence of
these organizations without closer union must
prove comparatively futile therefore,
Resotred, That we submit to the people of the
United States the objects sought to be accomplish
ed by the Industrial Congress:
FSrs!To bring within the folds Of the organiza-
tion every department Of productive industry.
making knowledge standpoint for action and in
true standard of individual and national greatness.
Second-To secure to the toiler equal share of
the wealth which he helps to create; more of the
leisure that rightly belongs to him; more society
advantages; more Of the benefits, privileges, and
emoluments Of the world; in a word, all those
rights and privileges necessary to make him capa-
Bile Of enjoying, appreciating, defending and per-
petuating the blessings Of Republican institu-
tons.
Ihird-To arrive at sthe true Ycondition of the
producing masses, in their educational, moral and
financial condition, We demand from the several
States and from the National Government the es-
tablishment OF Bureaus OF Labor Statistics
Fourth-The establishment of cooperative insti-
tutions, productive and distributve.
0hLThe reserving Of the public lands, the her.
another acre for railroads or spectators.
SiEf@The abrogation Of all laws that do not
bear equally upon capital and labor, and by the
adoption of measures providing for the health and
ing pursuits.
Seuenth-The substitution Of arbitration for
strikes whenever and wherever employers and EN-
pl0yes are willing to meet on equitable grounds.
servile the discontinuance Of all subsidies
granted to mail vessels bringing them to shores
and the abrogation. or at least the modification,
of the Burlingame Treaty.
Njnth-To advance the standard Of American me-
chanics by the enactment and enforcement of
equitable apprentice laws.
TsnGh-To circumference the system of con-
tracing the labor Of convicts in our prisons and
reformatory institutions.
EIeuenfh-The reduction Of the hours of labor
to eight per day, 20 that labOrers may have more
time for social enjoyment and intellectual i'm
provement, and be enabled to reach the advan-
tage conferred by labor-saving machinery which its
brain has created.
TtreLfth-The providing Of purely National cir
culating medium, based on the faith and resources
Of the Nation, and issued directly to the people,
Of the necessary dexibility and receivable for all
demands, public and private.