The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-01-31
PLATFORM
OF THE
National Industrial Congress
Adopted JuIy IS, Is1s

WHEREAs, The recent alarming develop
ment and aggression of aggregated wealth
which, unless checked, will inevitably lead TO
the pauperization and hopeless degradation OF
the toillng masses, render it imperative, if We
desire to enjoy the blessings Of the govern
ment bequeathed us by the founders Of the
Republic, that check should be placed npou
its power and unjust accumulation, and
system adopted which will secure to the la
borer the fruits OF his toll, and
WHEREAS, This much desired object car
only be accomplished by the thorough unitica-
ton of labor, and the united efforts of those
who obey the Divine injunction that ''In the
sweat Of thy face shalt thou eat bread. " and
WHEREAS, While we recognize in the bal
lot-box an agency by which these wrongs car
be redressed when other means fail vet the
great desideratum of the hour is the oryaniza-
tion, consolidation and cooperative effort Of
the producing n.asses, as a stepping stone to
that education which will in future lead to
more advanced action. through which the ne
cessary reforms c;lii be obtained; and
WHEREAS, While we fully recognize the
power and efficiency Of Trade and Labor
Unions, local and international, as now or
gained, IN regulating purely trade matters.
yet upon all questions appertaining to their
welfare as whole the influence Of these or
comparatively futile; Therefore
Resolved, That we submit to the DeopIe Of
the United States the objects sought to he &C.
comphshed by the Industrial Congress:
Flrst-To bring within the folds Of the or
ganlzatlon every department of productive in
dustry, making knowledge a standpoint for
action, and industrial, moral and social worth
not wealth-the true standard Of individu-
al and national greatness
Second-JO secure to the toiler an euuaI
share of the wealth which he helps to create:
more of the leisure that Iigidly belongs "a
him more SECRETARY advantages; more Of the
benefits, privileges and emoluments of the
world; in word, all those rights and priv
leges necessary to make him capable Of en-.
joyiDg, approaching, defending and perpetu.
atlng 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 alive
institutions, productive and distributive.
Fifth-Tne reserving 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 do
not bear equally upon capital and labor, and
| by the adoption of measures pro- ding 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 all servlle races, the dscontinuance Of all
subsidies granted to national vessels bringing
them to our shores, and the abrogation, or at
least, the modification, Of the Burlingame
Treaty
Ninth-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 a purely 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
fiexibibility, and receivable for all demands.
public and private.