The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-01-31
KEEP THE BALL ROLLING
Decisive action Of 1000 Workingmen OF
Minneapolis.
an Example for others.

The following petlIlOH " CoHS coo
was presented by the committee OF the
Minneapolis Workingmen's Union to
whom such matter was referred at
the last meeting, and unanimously
adopted and signed by upwards OF
1000 members:
ITO the Congress of the United
States.
The undersigned, citizens of Mime
apolis. Minnesota, by occupation
working men, would respectfully pc
tition YOUR honorable body to pass a
law to establish tax upon incomes,
because:
This country is in theory. intended
primarily for the benefit of those who
earn their living by physical toll,
these constituting the great bulk and
mass of the population; but instead OF
our laws conserving ''the greatest
good for the greatest number. they
all tend to make the rich man richer
and the Door man poorer. In England,
which is a monarchical country, goy-
erned by an aristocracy, the laws i'm
pose few or no burdens on the laboring
man: while wealth is compelled to pay
it's pro rata share OF the expenses OF
government.
But in Republican America the rich
can escape all taxation by putting
their means into government bonds;
or can Shift it upon those below them;
while the laboring man is taxed upon
his clothing, his tools, his house, etc.;
the wood, paint, putty and nails, IN
his baby's cradle and in own coffin are
alike taxed; and thus from the cradle
to the grave he bears nearly all the
burdens Of government.
In his increased rent he pays his
landlord S taxes; in his decreased wa
ges he pays his employers taxes in
the price of the goods he purchases he
pays the BRIDESMAIDS taxes.
Tins he is rapidly being forced
down into pauperism, and already his
condition is SO desperate that the
goods he manufactures are sold in for
eign markets at lower prices than tn e
better paid wOrkmen of those cOun-
tries can afford to produce them for.
We therefore ask that you will pass
an income tax law, so that wealth and
not labor will support the government.
For it seems to us. only reasonable
that those who derive most advan-
tages from society, should pay most
TO protect it.
This is the principle which applies
to state and county taxation and there
is no reason whyit should not apply to
national taxation.
And we further pray that your hon
orablc body will take immediate action
in relation to finance, and enact laws
in accordance with the views present
ed by the Hon. D. W. Voorhees,, of
Indiana. in a speech delivered by him
in the United States Senate on Jan. 10.
And. as workingmen endorsing the
views set forth by that honorable gen
tleman. we beg leave to present this
petition in his language: We ask
lst. The restoration Of the silver
dollar exactly rs it stood before 1T was
touched by the act of February, 1873.
We desire that it shall have unlimited
coinage, not fearing that it will be-
come too abundant for our wants, and
that it be made a full legal tender,
believing that it is rs good now with
which to pay all debts, public and pri-
vate, rs it was during the elghtyone
years of American history.
I'd. The repeal Internationally of
the act of January ii, 1873, compelling
the resumption of specie payments on
January II, 1879. holding that the
question Of return to specie basis
for our currency should be controlled
entirely by the business interests of
the country We do not believe that
the country should be dragged through
the depths of ruin. wretchedness and
TO vn1I
standard for the benefit alone of the
income classes.
Sd. That the national banking sys-
tenn be removed and II circulating me-
dunn provided by the government
for the people without taxing them
for the privilege of obtaining it; and
we ask that the amount thus placed in
circulation shall bear II reasonable and
iudicious proportion to the business
transactions and the population of the
United States.
4th. That the currency authorized
and circulated on the authority of the
government shall be made legal tender
in PAYMENT of all debts. public and
private. Including all dues to the gov
eminent. well knowing that it will
then be at par with gold. or more like
IN ut premium over it.
5th. That hereafter the financial
policy of the country shall he framed
permanently in our interest; that we
shall not be disseminated against in
our future legislation as in the past.
and thar our prosperity. and not the
mere growth of the income to be re-
turned IN capitalists shall be the study
Of the government.
Sincerely trusting that the repre-
senta,ives of the people. whom we
have addressed. will take some action
that will NJ least partially lift this ter
rible cloud of stagnation and financial
depression which now overshadows
the land like funeral pail. and give
usa glimpse of the silver lining which
we hope ii may have for the many
millions of our fellow workingmen
throughout the country. whom we
partially represent. and thus bring
about brighter dawn to succeed the
long night of our present helplessness
and embarrassments, your petitioners
will ever pray.
F.. A. CRAMsIE.
WN. KRECu.
G. s. BOYD.