The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-10-04
OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS
or THE
STATE LABOR UNION
MICHIGAN.

In accordance with the call given in Your
paper Of the 18th inst, the workingmen
Of this State met in convention at Work
ingmen's Hall Sept Il, 1873, at o'clock
p. m.
On motion. NJ. W. HOLSTER was called
to the chair aud l.. :. johnson appointed
Secretary. On motion, the cnair appoint
I'd as Committee On Credentials :. c.
Lookinghill, H F. Tondro and J Huston
After a recess Of few minutes the Com
mittee reported the following named As
delegates r. +. Trevellick. Nj. W. Hol-
lister, c. A. Doughty, H. F Tondro. J.
Huston, j. c. Barker, L. s. johnson, n.
Swader, H. Spoil, p f. Deveaux, II. g.
Wells, S. c. Lookinghill, J. Appleton.
On motion of Mr.. Trevellick, it was re-
solved that the Convention resolve itself
into a Committee Of the Whole, and pro-
coed to the adoption Of a platform for the
Unions of Michigan, and the following
Platform Of the State Labor Union was re
ported to the Committee of the Whole
PREAMBLE
Its object shall be to perfect Union OF the
working classes by the organization Of Local
Unions, whereby they may be enabled to
ameliorate and elevate their condition, pro
tect the interest and preserve the dignity Of
labor, against the encroachments Of capital.
We hold the Justice and truth Of the prin-
ciple that merit makes the man that indus
try, sObriety and proper regard for the vel
fare of our fellow man form the basis upon
which the principle rests.
We therefore recognize rule Of action or
principle that will elevate wealth above in
dustry, or one man above another, that is not
based upon worth, usefulness and good order,
and no superiority except that granted by the
Creator therefore,
Resolved, That we will be governed by the
following Platform
WHEREAS, All political power is inherent
in the people, and free government founded
on their authority and established for their
benefit That all freemen are equal in politi-
cal rights, and are entitled to the largest
political and religious 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 exclusive, separate emOluments,
privileges or immunlties from the Govern
ment but in consideration of public services,
and any laws destructive Of these fundamental
principles, are without moral, binding force,
and should be repealed. To do so, however,
is a difficult work when such laws and
usages are interviewer with pride, prejudice,
and selfishness Besides, experience shows
that labOring people are, more than others,
disposed to suffer, while evils are siderable,
than to organize for their abolition and
WHEREAS, We are admonished by the i'm
periled rights of labor throughout the United
States to organize and agitate in our behalf,
with the decree, '1n the sweat of thy face
shalt thou eat bread, and the adage that the
''Price OF liberty is eternal vigilance" en-
throned in our hearts and emblazoned as mot
toes on our banners, assured Of success over
corrupt political schemers, and the spectators
and bankers, who are preying like harpies
upon the fruits Of honest labor, and thus res
tore TO our political and social systems that
equilibrium Of right and justice so necessary
TO good government and domestic tran
quilIty. Therefore, be it
Resolved, That labOrers in all departments
of useful industry are suffering from system
Of monetary laws which were enacted during
the late war az measures which were assumed
to be necessary to the life of the nation, and
are now sought to be perpetuated in the in
terest Of bond holders and bankers as o means
to subvert the government Of our fathers, and
establish on its ruins an empire in which all
political power shall be centralized, to
restrain the rights of labor, and subordinate
its votaries to the merciless demands of aggre-
gated capital and superciliOus authority.
Resolved, That the rate Of interest on
money is the governing power in the distri-
button Of the products Of industry and en-
tsrprise between capital and labor, and that
the present rates are in excess and dispropor-
tionate to the increase of the national wealth
and oppressive TO the producing classes.
Resolved, That the national banking sys-
tenn, being inimical to the spirit Of liberty.
and subversive Of theprinciples Of justice,
without warrant in the Constitution of the
United States, and wrOngfully increasing the
burdens Of the wealth-prOducing classes mil
lions Of dollars annually. justice 10 the Aspir
ations Of honest industry, and the spirit Of
imperiled liberty demand its immediate re-
peal
Resolved, That to provide true national
money, adapted 70 the genius Of our institn-
tions, and the wants Of the business 0f the
country, the circulating notes Of the national
banks, and the present gresnbacks, which
are mot full legal tender, shoald be with
drawn from circulation, and their place sup-
piled with paper money based on the wealth
Of the naticn made fun legal tsnder in the
payment Of Al debts. pablo and privats; de-
clared the lawful money Of the United States.