The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-05-08
PLATFORM
OF THE
National Industrial Congress,

ment and aggression Of aggregated wealth,
which unless checked. will inevitably lead to
the pauperzation aud hopeless degradation Of
the toiing masses, renders II imperative, II
we desire to enjoy the blessings 81 the gov
erment bequeathed us BY the founders IF the
Republic, that a check should be placed upon
It's power and unjust accumulation, and sys-
TEN adopted which Will secure to the laborer
the fruits q hIs toll and
WHEREAS, This much desired object can
only be accomplished BY the thorough until
cation Of labor, aud the united efforts OF those
who obey the Divine injunction that " la
the sweat Of thy face thou shalt eat thy
bread . and
WHEREAS, The great desiderstum of the
hour u the organization and direction, By co.
operative efforts, Of the power Of the prGduc-
ing masses for their substantial elevation,
Yet we recognize in the ballot box the great
agency through which our wrongs can be re-
dressed and
WHEREAs. While we fully recognize the
power and efficiency Of Trade and Labor
| Mons. a. now organized, IN regulating purely
TRADE matters, Vet upon all questions apper
tanning to the welfare Of the masses as a
whole. the influence OF these organizations.
without closer union, must prove compare
lively futile Therefore
Resolved, That we submit to the people OF
the United States the objects sought to be &C
complished by the Industrial Congress
Frst-To bring within the folds Of the Or
ganlzatIon every department OF productive III
iustry. making knowledge standpoint for
action, and industrial, moral and social worth
not wealth. the true standard Of individ.
ual and national greatness
Second To secure to the toilers just
.l., q n. FL ~
the leisure that rightly belong to them
more SECRETARY advantage; more Of the
benefits, privileges and emolumeuts Of the
world III word, all those rights and priv
Iegcs necessary to make them capable Of en-
joying, approaching, defending and perpet-
uating the blessings OF our republican govern.
ment.
Third-TO arrive at the true condition 81
the producing masses il their educational,
moral and financial condition. demand
from the several States and from the ational
Government the establishment OF Bureaus OF
Labor Satisfies
Fourth-The establishment of cooperative
Instlt tions, productive and dIstributive
Fifth-The reserving Of the public lands,
the heritage of the people, for the actual set
Ter not another acre for railroads spec
ulators.
Sixth-The abrogatIon Of all laws that DO
not bear equally upon capital and labor, the
removal of unjust technicalitles, delays and
determinations in the administration of JUS
tice, and the adoption Of mt asures provid-
ing for the health and safety Of those en-
gagged 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 preceding
month, in the lawful money of the country.
EIghth-The enactment Of a law giving
mechanics and laborers first lien on their
work ard also preventing stays OF execution
in case Of labor lien judgments.
Ninth-The enlistment Of the contract
system the national, state and municipal
work.
Tenth-To inaugurate q system Of public
markets to facilitate the exchange Of pro
duets of farmers and mechanics, tending to
do away with mindlemen and spectators.
Eleventh inaugurate a system Of cheap
transportation, to facilitate the exchange OF
commodities.
Twelfth-The substitution OF arbitration
for strikes, whenever and wherever employ
ers and emrloyes are willing to meet on equi-
table grounds.
Thirteenth The prohibition of the impor-
tation Of all servile races and the discontin-
uance Of all subsidies granted to national
vessels bringing them to our shores.
FOurteenth-To advance the standard Of
American mechanics, By the enactment and
enforcement Of equitable apprentice laws
Fifteenth-To abolish the system of letting
by contract the labor of convicts in our pris-
ons and reformatory institutions.
IN eanura f,r Hath aaxaa oonaI
pay for equal work.
Seventeenth-T reduction of the hours of
labor to eight per day, so that the laborers
may have more time for social enjoy ment and
into llectual improvement. and be enabled to
reap the advantages conferred by labor-saving
machinery, which their brains have created
Eighteenth secure legislation provid-
ing for the assessment and collection of mon
Jes required to prosecute wars from the
wealth Of the nation, -0n the principle that
If the government possesses the night to draft
the poor mans body Tor purposes of national
defense, it has an equal right to appropriate
the rich mans accumulations under the same
conditions and in order that srch debts as
that which now Expresses the people. may
never again be entailed upon ourselves and
our posterity
Nineteenth-To prevent, by all lawful
means, the practice now III vogue of invoking
the aid of the military whenever or where
ever the toillng masses refuse to submit to
the arbitrary or unjust demands Of aggregated
wealth or unprincipled employers-by which
the men enlisted as the nations defenders be
come the nations oppressors.
Twentieth The establishing by Govern
ment of just standard of distribution
to labor and capital, by providing a 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 corpor-
atoms, which money shall be legal tender
IN the payment Of all debts, public and pri-
vate, and interchangeable at the option of the
holder for registered Government bonds. bear.
ing rate of interest not to exceed O. 100
Der cent subject Ia futurs Ia.,;.I..: -