The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-12-30
Meeting OF Workingmen's Congress.

NEWARK, N. D.. Dec. 2a,-Ine WOTklngmen 8
Congress. which has been In secret session sew
eral days this week. held public meeting to-
day, when the Committee on Platform and
Principles reported IA declaration Of principles
and a platform, the features of which ire as fol-
lows. The declaration begins with this propo-
sition:
Labor being the source of all wealth and cul-
ture and useful labor being possible in and
through society. the proceeds Of labor should,
on the principle of equity and justice belong
to those who actually create them, The recon-
mendation, therefore. naturally follows that the
present system under which human society is
organized Is erroneous, because the ,possiblli-
bilities of the accumulation OF wealth are In
favor OF q small minority only, who are thereby
empowered to hold the masses Of the people in
poverty and misery: and as the present essd
absolutely in the interest OF the privileged or
wealthy class, to uphold their unjust privileges.
therefore, the duty Of the working classes to or
ganize themselves into q general Nottingham s
party for the acquisition Of political power. to
obtain economic Independence.
In accordance with these declarations. the
committee submit 1t q platform the main points
OF which are embraced in the following:
We favor the organization OF trade and labor
unions on sociallstic labor basis.
We favor the aboishment of the present
wages sys.em and t., substitute the system OF
We demand that the resources Of life and the
means OF production. land, machinery, rail-
roads, telesraphs, canals. etc., become
the whole people; eight hours for the
present as legal working day. and
inspection Of all provisions and habitatons
| ana the establishment Of labor statistic bureaus
in all the States by the national government.
the officers OF such bureaus to be elected by
the people; prohibition OF the use OF prison
labor ly and for private enterprises; prohibi-
tion Of the labor Of children under fourteen
years Of age; compulsory education of all chill
dren to the age Of fourteen, the educational
| material to be provided gratuitously; strict
laws making al employers Liable :. for +,
gratuitous administration of justice in ali
courts of law; the abolition of all conspiracy
laws tending against the right to strike or OF
| of all indirect taxation and the establishing OF
a progressive income tax; the repeal of ali laws
having tendency to restrict the suffrage OF the
people; the right to propose or reject Al laws by
| OF such woman's work as has tendency to inn
morality Or is injurious to their health; the
| equalization of wages fol. men and women.
The platform was unanimously adopted, after
| a protracted discussion.
On motion it was resolved that the importation
| of Coolie labor to this country for the purpose
| of enriching capitalists is double wrong. both
| to the American working classes in forcing
| them into com petition with Coolies and at the
| same time compelling the poor and despiSed
Coolies to submit to contracts which enslave
| them, and that all laws and treaties made and
| subsidies granted by our government to favor
| their introduction be repeated.
| Part of the plan OF organization was adopted
| and an adjournment wa, effected at 6:15 y. IN.
Upon reassembling, the plan of organization
was discussed and exceptions taken to many
! points The evening was spent In IFS discus
| sion, attended at times by considerable confu.
| sion, and at 80 D. m. the Cong ess adjourned
/ TO meet { morrow at I .. m Wten the STATE
officers will be elected.