The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-01-10
PLATFORM
or THE
National Industrial Congress,
Adopted July 10. 1879

WHEREAS. The recent alarming develop
ment and aggression Of aggregated wealth.
which. unless checked, will inevitably lead to
the pauperization and hopeless degradation Of
th@toiling masses, render it imperative if we
desire to enjoy the blessings Of the govern
ment bequeathed us hy the founders of the
Republic, that check should be placed npon
its power and unjust accumri ation and
system adopted which will secure To- the la
borer the fruits OF his toll, and
WHEREAS, This much desired object can
only ne accomplished by the thorough umhca-
tion Of labor. anl the united \ forts 81 those
who obey the ri, ne injunction that In the
sweat of thy face halt III II cat bread. and
WHEREAS, While we recognize IN the bal
t-boX an agency by which these wrongs can
lie redressed when other means fail, vet the
great desideratuui Of the hour Is the organiza-
ton, consolidation and cooperative effort nj
the producing masses, as a strppng-stone to
that education which viii IN future lead TO
more advanced actiuu. through which the ne
cessary reforms can be ohtaincu: and
WHEREAS, While We fully recognize the
power and efficiency II Trade and Labor
Unions. local ard international. as now or
gained. in regulating purely trade matters.
yet upon All questions aIlicrrJining To their
welfare as a whole the influence Of these or
LlillLdllouS NltuOti Closer union must prove
comparatively futile; Therefore
Resolved That we submit 10 the people of
the United States the objects sought tn he ac-
complished by the Industrial Congress.
First-Tc bring within the folds Of the or.
ganization every department ~ productive IN
dustry, making knowledge q standpoint Tor
action, and industrial. moral and social worth
not wealth-the true standard Of individu-
II and national greatness
SecOnd-Jo secure To the toier an equal
share Of the wealth which he helps ~ create
more Of the leisure that rigidly belongs to
him more societary advantages; more Of the
benefits, privileges and emoluments OF the
world; in a word, all those rights and privi-
leges necessary to make him capable Of en-
joying, approaching, defending and perpetu-
ating the blessings Of Republican institutions
Third-TO arrive at the true condition Of
the producing masses in their educational,
moral and financial condition, we demand
from the several States and from the Nation
al Government the establishment Of Bureaus
Of Labor Statistics.
Fourth The establishment Of cooper ativc
institutions, productive and distributive
Fifth-Tne reservipg of the public lands.
the heritage of the people, for the actual set
lers and not another acre for railroads or spec
ulators
Sixth-The abrogation Of all laws that 10
not bear equally upon capital and labor, and
by the adoption of measures providing for the
health and safety of those engaged in mining.
manufacturing or building pursuits
Seventh-The substitution Of arbitration
for strikes, whenever and wherever employers
and employees are willing to meet on equitable
grounds
Eighth-The prohibition of the importation
of al servile races, the discontinuance Of all
subsidies granted to national vessels bringing
them to our shores, and the abrogation, or al
least, the modification, Of the Burlingame
Treaty.
Nmth-To advance the standard of Ameri-
can mechanics by the enactment and enforce
ment Of equitable apprentice laws.
Tenth-To abolish the system Of contract
ing the labor of convicts in our prisons and
reformatory institutions.
Eleventh-The reduction of the hours OF
labor to eight per day so that the laborers
may have more time for social employment
and intellectual improvement, and be enabled
to reap the advantages conferred by labor
saving machinery, which their brains have
created.
Twelfth The providing Of aspurely Ma
tional circulating medium, based on the faith
and resources Of the Nation, and issued d.
rectly to the people, so instituted as to con
stitute circulating medium of the necessary
1exibibility, and receivable for all demands.
public and private