Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1877-09-15
A LABOR PLATFORM.

The State Labor Convention was
held in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on
Monday last. The resolutions adopt
ed demand the abolition of the ma
tional bank system; repeal of the
Specie Resumption Act and issue of
currency based upon the wealth of
the whole nation; declare eight hours
a days work; demand sanitary In
spection of all conditions of labor !;
a tariff for the protection of American
industry; bureau of labor statis-
tics; equalization of taxes; abolition
Of the contract system for prison la
Dor; legislation making employers
responsible for injuries to employees
through careIessness of employers
that public lands be reserved tor &C.
tual settlers; arbitration for settle
ment of disputes between capital and
labor; compulsory education; OPP
pose the employment of children un-
der fourteen years in the industrial
establishments; call for the abolition
of all conspiracy laws; ask gratuit-
GUS education in educational institu-
tons, and recommend principle OF
cooperation, dIstributlve and pro-
ductive.
Parts of this platform will not be
objected to by any voter Of the
United States; others will receive ia
vor in some localities and opposition
elsewhere, while some portions are
impractical. The equalization of
taxes is part of our theory of gov
eminent, but it may fail of practice
In some instances. 1t is pretty gen.
orally conceded that our public lands
should be reserved for actual settlers,
and Congress could hardly pass a
more popular Act than one ngidly
carrying into effect this general de-
mand; it is common law and just
that carelessness should make en-
ployers responsible for injuries to
employees. And the recommendation
of arbitration for the settlement of
disputes between capital and labor
will meet the appreciation of all.
The repeal If the Specie Resump-
ton Act is question upon which there
is a difference of opinion in every
community, and the issue of curren-
cy by the government in sufficient
volume for all the business of the
country is one upon which people
differ, the majority in only a few To-
calities being in favor of this plan.
A tariff for the protection of Ameri-
can industry is another matter of DIS
pute, the majority in some State be-
ing on one side and in others on the
opposite. Compulsory education is
subject of divided opinion, but it
is gaining in favor every year, and
the time will probably come when
all voters must have certain amount
of learning. And the recommended
ton of cooperation, VIII ''e''
;tillAa suh5s,. xocaTJ -
this country, and opinion III relaV a
thereto is divided.
Now we come to consider the i'm
practical. To declare eight hours
days work is not justly applicable
o all branches of labor. The phys
cal force expended In some kinds of
abor is very slight while it is very
reat in others, and of course this
onsideration should be taken into
ccount when fixing the number of
hours that shall be called days
work. The degree of danger and
discomfort, as we'll as to whether the
work Is continuous or with an hours
intermission, should also be consid-
cred. The abolition OF all conspiracy
laws would hardly be practical un-
der the present condition of organ
lied society. And of course gratuit-
Gus education in all institution is i'm
possible. The free schools are open
to all, but to 60 further than this is
utterly impractical.
The London Daily News gives the
fo1ln~su0 nnurtaoua ,,oIn1,oo a.