The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-11-14
F2ATFoRAS /.
oF THE :
Nationaf Industrial Congress.
A4.,..s .,r,f y.


II
WHERsAs. The Mechanics and Workian-
&eeof the United States. throuEh their duly
ix&1hori1sd and accredited repreeuhtatives in
National Convention assembled, after full and
careful considsrstiqp, presented the follow
! ina Deciarrficn q Principlas, - the smbodi.
| meat of their ssnfimsrta, believing that their
adoption would secure . more general diffu-
sion Of wealth, and the disenthEallmsnt Of
whraEAs, such plAtforisl rslascss ON views
at length, and We herewith present them for
the endorsement Of this meeting. They are
~ follows:
WHrnEAa The recent alarming develop
ment and aggression Of aggregated wealth,
| which, unless checked, viii Inevitably lead tn
the paaperisation aud hopeless degradation of
the toiling masses. renders Il imperative. II
| we desire to enjoy the blessings OF the gov.
ermsnt bequeathed us by the founders of the
| Rspn bio, that o check should be placed upon
its power and unjust accumulation, and sys-
TEN adopted which VIII secure to the laborer
the fruits Of his toll and
| WHEREAS, This much desired object can
only be accomplished by the thoronGh unfit
cation Of labor, and the united efforts Of those
who obey the Divine injunction on that I'm
the sweat Of thy face thou shalt eat thy
bread !" and
WHEREAs. The great desideratum of che
hoar In the organization and direction, by CO.
operative efforts, Of the power Of the produc-
ing masses for their substantial elevation,
yet we recognize in the ballot Dor the great
agency through which our wrongs can be re-
DIRE ssed and
| WHEREAS, While we fully recognise the
power and efficiency of Trade aud Labor
Unions, local and international, SIS now or.
| ~~..-~1 In laks d
vet upon all questions appertaining to their
welfare Of the masses a. whole, the inhu-
| ence of these orgar izstions, without closer
4 union, must prove comparatively futile
Therefore
Resolved, That we submit to the people Of
the United States the objects sought to Be &C
complished by the Industrial Congress
First-To briug within the folds Of the or
ganization every Departmental productive in
dustry, making knowledge . standpoint fol
action, and industrial merit and social worth
no wealth the true standard Of individ
ual and national greatness.
Second-To secure to the toiler an equa
share Of the wealth which he helps to create
more of the leasure that rightly belongs I,
him more societary advantage; more of tn,
benefits, privileges and emoluments of the
world in . word, all thOse rights and priv
leges necessary to make him capable of en-
joying approaching, defending and perpet
uating the blessings Of republican institutions
Third-To arrive ct the true condition 0
the producing masses in their educational
moral and financial condition. we demans
from the several States and from the Nationa
Government the establishment of Bureaus o
Labor Stati tics.
Fourth-The establishments of co-operativ
instit ltions, productive and distributive
Fifth-The reserving Of the public lands
the heritage OF rhepeOple, for the actual yet
lers, ard not another acre for railroads o
spectators.
Sixth-The abrogatIon Of all laws that d.
not bear equally up N capital and labor, an,
the adoption Of measures providing for tn
health aud safety of those engaged in mining
manufacturing and building pursuits.
Seventh-The enactment of law to com
pei chartered corporations to pay their EN-
plOyes at least once in every month, in full
for labor performed during the precedin
month, in the lawful money Of the country
Eghth-The enactment of law givin
mechanics and labOrers first lien on thei
works.
Ninth-The adjustment of the contrac
system ON the national, state and municipa
work.
Tenth-To inaugurate q system Of publ
markets to facilitate the exchange Of pro
ducts Of farmers and mechanics, tending t
do away with mindlemen and spectators
Eleventh--TO inAugurate a system Of cheal
transportation, to facilitate the exchange o
commodities.
| Twelfth-The substitution Of arbitratio,
for strikes, whenever and wherever employ
ers and employees are willing to meet on equi
table grounds.
Thirteenth-The prohibition Of the impor
tation Of all servile races, the discontinuanc
Of all subsidies granted to national vessel
bringing them to our shores, and the abroga
ton, or ct least, the modification of the Bur
lingame Treaty.
| FUurteenth-To advance the standard o
American mechanics, BY the enactment an,
enforcement Of equitable apprentice laws.
Fifteenth-To abolish the system Of con
tracing the labor of conviets in our prisons
and reformatory institutions
Sixteenth.-The reduction Of the hours o
labor to eight per day, 50 that the laborer
may have more time for social enjoy ment ant
intellectual improve ment, and be enabled t,
reap the advantages conferred by labor savins
machinery, which their brains have created.
Seventeenth it is the duty Of tn,
Government to establish Just standard o
distribution to capital and labor by providing
purely national circulating medium, based
on the faith and resources Of the nation, is
sued directly TO the people, without the in
Prevention of any system of banking corpo
rations, which money shall be a legal tender
IN the payment Of al debts, public and pri
vste. and interchangeable at the option of the
holder for Government bonds, bearing q rate
If interest not to exceed 65- 100 per cent,
subject to falare legislation by Congress