The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-05-25
What the Communists Demand.

The numerous meetings held by the
Communists and Socialists of late have
aroused public attention to them, and
even considerable alarm has been ex-
cited from the rumor that bodies of
Communists had been drilling here, as
in Chicago, for a purpose that may
readily be imagined. To probe these
rumors a reporter started out to inter-
view some of the prominent leaders and
to ascertain their views and plans The
first Communist called upon was Mr..
Alexander Longley, editor of the Com
neaniSt, an advocate of the Socalistic
Labor party. He said;
81 am a socialistic liberal Commun-
list. | call myself by that title in con-
tradistinction to religious Communism.
In this country there are some eighty
old communities established fifty years,
and upward to 100, which have organ
lied on some religious basis, embrace
ing some of the tenets of Communism.
We want to show that we can establish
a community without religion. We
take the position that we can do so and
we claim that Communism is simply a
business matter as to property and Ia
Dor. Now we are applying common
property and united labor as a political
measure, making it applicable to all.
In European countries now the Com
munists are organized and we have con-
ferences between different countries.
There will come time that wars be-
tween nations will be put stop to; they
will not get soldiers to fight. Those who
hold the socialistic Communistic princi-
pies are members of common country,
no matter what nation they belong to.
1t is only the pecuniary and ambitious
interests of Kings and Governments as
the result of their private property in
tercst that make the wars. The work.
ing people are finding out through our
teachings that when they fight it is only
for the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of few, who
use them as cattle.'
"What are the doctrines that you ad-
vocate?'
1--WE demand that the resources of
life-the means of production, public
transportation and communication,
land, machinery, railroads, telegraph
lines, canals, etc.-become, as fast as
| practicable, the common property of
the whole people through the Govern
ment; to abolish the wages system and
substitute in its stead cooperative pro-
duction, with a just distribution of its
rewards. Our demands are formulated
as follows:
l. Eight hours for the present as a
legal working day and prompt punish
ment Of all violators.
2. Sanitary inspection of all condi-
tons of labor, means of subsistence
and dwellings included
3. Bureaus of Labor Statistics in all
the States as well as in the National
Government. The officers of the same
to be elected by the people.
4. Prohibition of the use of prison
labor by private employers Or corpora
| tons
3. Prohibition of the employment of
children under fourteen years of ace
in industrial establishments.
6, Compulsory education of all chill
dren under fourteen years of age. All
materials, books, etc, necessary in the
public schools to be free Of charge.
T. Prohibition of the employment of
female labor in occupations detrimeA-
tai to health or morality, and equaliza-
ton of women's wages with those of
men where equal service is performed.
8. Strict laws making employers liza
BILE for all accidents resulting through
their negligence to the injury of their
employees. ....
8. All wages to be paid in the lawful
money of the nation, and at intervals
of time not exceeding one week. Vio-
lations of this rule to be legally pun
ished.
10, All conspiracy laws operating
against the right of workingmen to
strike or induce others to strike shall
be repealed.
IL. Gratuitous administration of JUS
tice in all courts Of law.
u. All indirect taxation to be abol-
ished and a gradual income tax col
lected in its stead.