The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-07-19
Platform thsi of asional Labor Union.

Platform the Of Attonaf Labor Union.
We hold that all "politicAl power is inhe-
rent Ia the people, that nee government y
founded on their authority, and establishsdfOr
their benefit !" that all citixens are equal in
political nghta, epfitled 70 the largest relig-
ious and politicsi liberty compatible with the
good order Of society, = alse the use and en-
joyment fthefruits Of thsir labor and talents,
and no man or oct d mon Ore entitled to the
exclusive, separate smdfumeDts, privileges or
immunities from the Government, but in con-
sideration of public servicssA and any laws
destructive Of these fundamental principles
are without moral binding force and should be-
repealed and we believe that the evils re-
sulting from unjust legislation now affecting
| the industrial Glasses can be removed by the
adoption of the principles contained in the
following declarations. Therefore resolved.
1. That it is the duty Of the government
to establish Just standard OF distribution 10
capital and labor, BY providing purely ma
tional circulating medium, based ON the faith
and resources Of the nation, issued directly to
the people without the intervention Of any
system Of banking corporations which money
shall be q legal tender in the payment Of all
debts, public and privsts and interchanRea-
BILE at the option Of ta4e holder for government
bonds, bearing rate Of interest not TO exceed
three and sixty-f hundrsths per cent. sub
| ject to failure 9gislation by Congress.
2 That tn 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
and the future earnings Of labor to enrich Q
few capitalists At home and abroad
s. That justice demands that the burdens
of government should he SO adjusted as 20 bear
equally on all classes and interests, and the
exemption from taxation of government honda,
bearing extortionate rates of interest is q vio-
lation Of all Just principles of revenue laws
4. That the enlightened spirit of the age
demands the abolition Of the system Of con
tract labor in our prisons and other reforma-
tory institutions.
5. That the public landS Of the United
States belong to the people, and should not
be sold to individuals nor granted to cUrpOra-
tions, but should be held as q sacred trust for
the benefit Of the people, and should he grant-
ed free Of cost to landless settlers only in
amounts not exceeding l6O acres each.
6. That Congress should modify tariff s..
As to admit free such articles of common use
as we can neither produce or grow. and lay
duties for revenue mainly upon articles of luz
ury and upon such articles Of manufacture AZ
wIll-we having the raw material in abund-
ance-assist in further developing the resour-
ces of the country.
]. That the presence in our country Of
Chinese laborers, imported by capitalists il
large numbers for servile use, Is an evil entail
ing want and its attendant train Of misery
and crime ON all classes of the American peo-
pie, and should be prohibited by legislation.
8. That we ask for the enactment of Law
by which all MECHANICS and day laborers EN-.
ployed by or 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 per day recently adopted by
Congress, for national employees, and also an
amendment TO the acts Of Incorporation foi
) cities and towns by which all laborers and
mechanics employed at their expenses shall
! conform to the same number OF hours.
9. That the protection OF life, liberty ard
property are the three cardinal principles q
government, and the first two are more sacred
than the latter therefore, money needed fol
prosecuting wars should, as it is required, bt
assessed and collected from che wealth Of the
~ Intry, and not entailed a. a burden on pos
u ritv
: lG That it is the duty of the government
: To ." exercise its power over railroads anC
{ telegraph corporations, that they shall not
: In any case be privileged to exact such rate,
of freight, transportation or charges by what
ever name, as may bear unduly or inequitably
upon the producer or consumer
III. That as both history and experience.
teach us that power ever seeks to perpetual.
itself by every and all means at its command
and that its prolonged possession in the hands
OF one person is always dangerous 70 tn.
liberty OF a free people, and believing thai
the spirit OF our Organic laws aud the stabili
" and safety of our free institutions are bes
/ obeyed on the one hand and secured On ths
| other by regular constitutional chang,
. in the Chief Executive OF the country a
, each quadrennial election therefore We ar,
, In favor of limiting the occupancy Of tn,
presidential chair to one term.
10 That there should he such reform IL
the civil service Of the national government
as will remove it beyond all partizan influence
and place it IN the charge and under the Iii
rection OF Intelligent and competent business
, men.
{ Is. That We are in favor Of granting uni
g versal amnesty, and restoring the Union a
E once ON the basis Of equality Of rights anc
privileges to all, the impartial administration
/ Of justice being the ouly true bond of uniol
to bind the States together and restore tn
affections of the people to the government,
IA. That we deem it expedient for Con
gress to revise the patent laws so as to CIV
laborers more fully the benefits of their owl
ideas and inventions
r Is. That fitness and not political or person
: al considerations should be the only recon
mendation to public office, either appointiv
or elective, and any or all laws looking to tn
establishment Of this principle are hearth,
! approved
|. l6. That we demand the subsection OF tn
military to the civil authorities, and the con
fnement Of its operation to national purpose