The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-07-29
PLATFORM
National Industrial Congress
OF THE

4
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
Republic, that check should be placed upon
its power and unjust accumulation, anda sys-
tenn 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 effol t. Of those
who obey the Divine injunction that =" In
the sweat Of thy face thou shalt eat thy
| bread = and
| WHEREAS, The great desderatum 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 as now organized, III regulating purely
trade matters, yet upon all questions apper-
tanning to the welfare Of the as
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 ac-
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 privi-
leges necessary to make them capable of en-
toying, 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
instit ltions. 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 abrogatlon Of all laws that do
not bear equally upon capital and labor the
removal of unjust technicallties, delays and
determinations in the administration of jus.
ticet 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 a 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
| Efnhth Tho anapfmnnf of a law 81
mechanics and laborers first lien 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
duets Of farmers and mechanics, tending t.
do away with mindlemen and spectators.
EIeventh--To inaugurate a system Of cheaI
transportation, to facilitate the exchange Of
commodities.
Twelfth-The substitution Of ARBITRATION
for strikes, whenever and wherever emplO,
ers and employees are willing to meet on equi
table grounds.
? Thirteenth-The prohibition of the impOr
4 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.
Sixteenth-To secure for both sexes equal
pay for equal work.
Seventeenth. THE reduction of tine hours Of
labor to eight per day, so that the iahorers
may have more time for social enjoyment and
} intellectual improvement, and be enabled t.
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.
les required to prosecute wars from the
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 such 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 in vogue Of invoking
the aid Of the military whenever or where
ever the toiling masses refuse to submit ia
the arbitrary or unjust demands of aggregated
wealth or unprnclpled employers-by which
the men enlisted as the nations defenders be-
} come the nations oppressons.
, Twentieth-The establishing by Govern.
ment of a 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
N 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 g. 100
per cent, subject to future legislation by
| t,on0raaS