The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1875-04-03
PLATFORM.
or THE
National Industrial Congress,
Adopted april ID. Is7I
DECLARATION Of PRINCIPLES.


men OF the United states. through their duly
authorized and accredited representatlyesia,
National Convention assembled. after full and
careful consideration, presented the follow
ing Declaratlon q -+9nciples, as the Ell bod
s,ert &c their sentimer Is, believing thai their
adoption would secure a more lEsaeral 'rr--
sion OF wealth. assSdt Tie diseutL raliment OF
lah,' ard
WHEREAS. such platform reflects our views
at length. and We Eersu ith present them Tor
/ the endorsement 90 Shis meeting They are
I az follows
mont au.5 aggression Of aggregated wealth
I wbiot, unless checked, will in-y itably lead to
I tho nauperlzation aud hopeless degradation OF
I the toIhng masses, renders 1t imperative, if
4 ye desire To- enjoy the blessings Of the gov
( erment bequeathed as BY the founders Of the
Republic, that a check should he placed upon
I its power an3 uRJust accumulation and svs-
TEN adopted which wifi secure to the iaborer
the fruits Of us toll and
WHFREAs THIS much desired object car
only lie accomplished BY the thorough unit
cation Of labor. and the united efforts of thos.
VII, obe> the Divine Injunction on that '.In
the sweat u thy face thou shalt eat a.
bread " snd so "N
-. '...s n gov seieratum 81 the
- s1sseIon and direction by co
~, - SepNrt~ ~ the power Of the produc-
- masses t"r their substantial elevation.
/ yet NJ rrcognllt IA the ballot box the great
/ agency through which our wrongs can he ~
Z dressed ANA
NHEEEN-. White We fully recognize the
\ power and efn,anc, 0f Trade ana Labor
\ mons local and international, as nov a.
gained, in regulating purely trade matters,
I Yet upon all questions apPertaininl ~ their
wefareui the masses whole, the inai.
encSs -Skgse nrgsnIKst.aHs without closer
union. must prove comparatively futile /;
! Therefore
1 Resolved, That We submit t. the people Of
the United States the objects sought To he ae-
( complished Is the Industrial Congress
First -T" brIug within the folds OF the or
ganization every department Of productive IN.
dustry, making knowledge q standpoint for
action. and industrial merit and social worth
no wealth the true standard Of individ-
ual and national greatness
Second-TO secure to the tnler All equal
share OF the wealth which he helps to create:
more Of the leasnre that rightly belongs to
him more societary advantage 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-
Joylng, approaching, defending and perpet-
uatlng the blessings Of republican institutions
Third-To arrive at the true condition Of
the producing masses IA their educational.
moral and financial condition. we demand
from the several States and from the National
Government the establishment of bureaus of
Labor Satisfies
Fourth The establishment OF cooperative
instit ,tions, productive and distributive.
Fifth The reserving Of the public lands
the heritage Of the people, for the actual .et-
lers, and not another acre for railroads or
spectators.
Sixth The abrogatIon of all laws that do
not bear equally upon capital and labor, and
the adoption of measures providing for the
health and 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 s>a<1 month. in full.
for labor performed dasink the preceding
month. in the lawful money Of the country.
Eighth-The enactment of law giving
mechanics and laborers first lien on their
works
Ninth-The adjustment of the contract
system on the national, state and municipal
work.
Tenth-rO inaugurate system Of public
markets to facilitate the exchange Of pro
do awav with mindlemen and SPECTATORS
Eleventh iuaugurate system Of cheap
traAspo --s.1A, co facilitate the exchange Of
commodities.
Twelfth-fhe substitution of arbitration
for strikes. whenever and wherever employ
ers and employees are willing to meet on euui-
table grounds.
Thirteenth The prohibition Of the impor
tation Of all servile races, the discontinuance
OF all subsidies granted to national vessels
bringing them to our shores and the abropa-
tlOn, or at least, the modification of the Bur
hngame Treaty.
Fourteenth-To advance the standard of
American mechanics, BY the enactment and
enforcement Of equitable apprentice laws.
Ftfteenth-To abolish the system of con-
tracing the labor of convicts in our prisona
and refOrmatory institutions.
Sixteenth.-The reduction Of the hour> NJ
labor to eight per day, SO that the laborer.
may have more time for social emo, ment and
intellectual Improvement, and be enabled 10
reap the advantages conferred hy labor saving |
machinery, which their brAins have created
Seventeenth That it Is the duty ~ the
Government 60 establish q lust standard AZ |
to capital and labor by providing !
a purely national circnlating medium. hased |
on the taith and resources Of the nation "a /
sued directly 20 BE people, without the in
o. aAy system Of banking corpo-
rutionnl which money shah be legal tender
IN &he payment Of al dsb&s, public and pri- |
raan md interchangeable at the option Of the /
hel8sR for Governnent bonds, besring q rate
d Interest not 70 sxcsed 65-1o0 per cent.
iubjsSt 10 fa1nFs legislstien BY Congress.