The workingman's advocate., 1875-02-13
PLATFORM.
OF THE
National Industrial Congress,
Adopted April 10, ISiI.
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.

WHEREAS The Mechanics and Working
men OF the United States, through their duly
authorized and accredited representatives in
National Convention assembled after full and
careful consideration, presented the follow
ing Declaration of Principles Ms the embOdi.
meut OF their sentiments, believing that their
adoption would secure q more general ditlu-
sion of wealth, and the disenthrallment ii
labor and
WHEREAS such platform reflects our views
at length, and we herewith present them for
the endorse ement Of this meeting They are
as follows
WHEREAS. The recent alarming develop
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, il
We desire to enjoy the blessings of the gov
erment bequeathed us by the founders of the
Republic, that check should lie placed upon
its power and unjust accumulation, and sys-
TEN adopted which wifi secure to the lahcTer
the fruits Of his toll and
WHEREAS, This much desired object can
only be accomplished BY the thorough unih-
cation of labor, and the united efforts OF those
who obey the Divine Injunction on that "ln
the sweat Of thy face thou shalt eat thy
WHEREAS, The great desidoratum Of the
hour is the organization and direction, by CO.
operative efforts, Of the power Of the produc-
ing masses for their substantial elevation
| Vet 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
| Unions,-local and international, Is now OF.
ganized, in regulating purely trade matters,
yet upon all questions appertaining to then
| welfare of the masses as a whole, the inhu.
ence Of these organizations, without closer
union, must prove comparatively futile
| Therefore
Resolved, That We submit to the people o
the United States the objects sought to be &C
complished by the Industrial Congress
First-To briug within the folds Of the or
ganization every departmentO of productive in
dustry, making knowledge a standpoint fol
action, and industrial merit and social worth
no wealth the true standard Of individ
ual and national greatness.
Second-To secure to the toiler an equa
share Of the wealth which he helps to create
more Of the leasure that rightly belongs t.
HIM more societary advantage more Of til,
benefits, privileges and emoluments of the
world f; in word, all those rights and privi
leges necessary to make him capable Of EN-
joying, appreciatlng defending and perpet
uating the blessings OF republican institutions
Third-To arrive at the true condition o.
the producing masses III their education H.
moral and financial condition. we demand
from the several States and from the ationa
Government the establishments of Bureaus o
Labor Statistics.
Fourth-The establishment Of co-operativ,
|
Fifth-The reserving of the public lands
the heritage Of the people, for the actual set
lers, ard not another acre for railroads oI
spectators.
Sixth-The abrogatIon of all laws that dc
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 every month, in full
for labor performed during the preceding
month, in the lawful money of the country
| Eighth-The enactment of law giving
mechanics and laborers first lien Oh their
works.
| Ninth-The adjustment of the contract
system on the national, state and municipal
work
Tenth-TO inaugurste a system Of public
markets to facilitate the exchange Of pro
duets Of farmers and mechanics, tending to
do away with mindlemen and spectators.
Eleventh--rO 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 employees are willing to meet on equi-
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 abroga-
tlon, or at least, the modification OF the Bur
lingame Treaty.
Fourteenth-To advance the standard of
American mechanics, BY the enactment and
enforcement Of equitable apprentice laws.
Fifteenth-To abolish the system Of con-
tracing the labor Of convicts in our prisons
and reformatory institutions.
Sixteenth reduction Of the hours of
labor to eight per day, so that the laborers
may have more time for social enjoy ment and
intellectual improvement, and be enabled to
reap the advantages conferred by labor saving
machiuery, which their brains have created
Seventeenth That it is the duty If the
Government to establish Just standard of
distribution to capital and labor by providing
purely national circulating medium, based
ON the faith and resources of the nation, is
sued directly to the people, without the in
tervention Of any system Of banking corpo-
rations, 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 Government bonds, bearing q rate
Of interest not to exceed 65-l00 per cent. =,
subject to future legislation by Congress