The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-06-10
PLATFORM
OF THE
National Industrial Congress
Adopted April rs. 1873.
Adopted April Is. 1873.

WHEREAS The recent alarming develop
ment and aggression Of aggregated wealth
which, unless checked, will inevitably lead Il
the pauperzation aud hopeless degradation O.
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 be placed upoI
its power and unjust accumulation, and a sys
TEN adopted which will secure to the laborel
the fruits Of his toll and
WHEREAS, This much desired object car
only be accomplished by the thorough unfit
cation of labor, and the united etfol t. Of those
who obey the Divine injunction that " In
the sweat of thy face thou shalt eat thy
bread !" and
WHEREAS, The great desideratum of tn,
hour is the organization and direction, BY co
operative efforts, of the power Of the produc
my masses for their substantial elevation
vet We recognize in the ballot box the grcat
agency through which our wrongs can be re
dressed and
WHEREAS, While we fully recognize tn,
power and efficiency of Trade and Labor
Unions, as now organized, in regulating purely
trade matters, yet upon ali questions apper
tanning to the welfare Of the masses as
whole, the influence of these organizations
lively 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 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 National
Government the establishment of Bureaus OF
Labor Statistics.
Fourth-The establishment of cooperative
institutions, 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 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 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 on their
work and also preventing stays OF execution
in case Of labor lien judgments.
Ninth-The adjustment of the contract
system on the national, state and municipal
work.
Tenth-To inaugurate system OF public
markets to facilitate the exchange of pro-
ducts Of farmers and mechanics, tending to
do away with mindlemen and spectators.
Eleventh--To inaugurate . system Of cheap
to facilitate the exchange Of
Twelfth-The substitution of arbitration
for strikes, whenever and wherever employ
ers and employees are willing to meet on equi-
table grounds.
Thirteenth-T 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.
FourteeLth-To advance the standard Of
American mechanics, by the enactment and
Of equitable apprentice laws.
Fifteenth-To abolish the system of letting
by contract the labor Of conyicts in our pris-
ons and reformatory institutions.
Sixteenth-To secure for both sexes equal
pay for equal work.
Seventeenth. The reduction Of the hours of
labor to eight per day, so that the laborers
may have more time for social enjoy ment and
nte llectual improvement, and be enabled to
reap the advantages conferred by labor saving
which their brains have created.
Eighteenth-To secure legislation provid-
ng for the assessment and collection Of mou-
es required to prosecute wars from the