The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-07-03
PLATFORM
OF THE
National Industrial Congress,
AdePGesl April ~. Hsis.


ment and aggression of aggregated wealth,
which, unless checked, will Inevitably lead to
the pauperization aud hopeless degradation Of
the toiling masses, renders it imperative, if
we desire to enjoy the blessings Of the gov
erment bequeathed us by the founders of the
RepaDhc, that q check should be placed upon
its power and unjust accumulation, and sys-
TEN adopted which will secure to the laborer
the fruits of his toll and
WHEREAS, This much desired object can
only be accomplished by the thorough unfit
cation Of labor, and the united efforts Of those
who obey the Divine injunction that +" In
the sweat Of thy face thou shalt eat thy
bread Il and
WHEREAS. The great desideratum Of the
hour is 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 box the great
agency through which our wrongs can De- re-
dressed and
WHEREAS, While we fully recognize the
power and efficiency of Trade and Labor
Unions, as now organ led, in regulating purely
trade matters, yet 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
First-To bring within the folds of the or.
ganizatIon every department of productive in.
dustry, making knowledge a 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 a Just
share of the wealth they create more Of
the leisure that rightly belong to them
more SECRETARY advantage; more of the
benefits, privileges and emoluments Of the
world in a word, all those rights and priv
leges 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 OF
the producing masses IN their educational
moral and financial condition. we demand
from the several States and from the ational
Government the-establishment Of Bureaus o.
Labor Statistics
Fourth-The establishment of cooperative
institutions, productive and distributive
Fifth The reserying ~ the public lands,
the heritage of the people, for the actual set
Ter not another acre for railroads or spec.
ulators.
Sixth-The abrogation Of all laws that do
not bear equally upon capital and labor, the
removal Of unjust technicalities, delays and
determinations in the administration of JUS
tice and the adoption of measures provid
ing for the health and safety Of those en-
| gagged III mining, manufacturing and building
pursuits.
Seventh-The enactment of a law to com
| pei ch red corporations to pay their EN-
ployes n. 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 law givin.
mechanics and labOrers first lien on thei
work and also preventing STAYS OF execution
in case Of labor lien judgments.
Ninth-The adjustment of the contrac
system on the national, state and municipa
| work
| Tenth-To inaugurate 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, 70 facilitate the exchange D
commodities.
Twelfth substitution of arbitration
| for strikes, whenevepand wherever employ
ers ana employees 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 nationa
vessels bringing them to our shores
Fourteenth-To advance the standard D
| American mechanics, BY the enactment an,
enforcement of equitable apprentice laws.
| Fifteenth-To abolish the system Of lettn.
by contract the labor OF convicts in our prs
ons and reformatory Institutions.
| Sixteenth--To secure for both sexes esua
pay for equal work
Seventeenth The reduction of the hours o
labor to eight per day, 50 that the laborer
may have more time for social enjoy ment anC
intellectual Improvement, and be enabled t,
reap the advantages conferred by labor-savin.
machinery, which their brains have created
Eighteenth-To secure legislation provId
ing for the assessment and collection Of mon
les required to prosecute wars from tn,
wealth OF the nation, on the principle that
If the government possesses the right to draft
the poor mans body for 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 We entailed upon ourselves and
our postenty.
Nineteenth To prevent, by all lawful
means, the practice now in vogue Of invoking
the aid of the military whenever or where
ever the toiling masses refuse to submit to
the arbitrary or unjust demands Of aggregated
wealth OF unprlncipled employer which
the men enlisted as the nation defenders be
come the nations oppressofs.
Twentieth The establishing by Govern
ment of a Just standard of distribution
to labor and capital, 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 corpor-
ations, which money shall be legal tender
IN the payment Of all debts, public and prl-
vate, and interchangeable at the option Of the
holder for registered Government bonds, bear
ing a rate Of interest not to exceed 3 65 100
per cent, subject to future legislation by
Congress