The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-01-03
ADDITIONAL LOCAL.
LABOR REFORM.
The Meeting at the Court House Las,
Might.


The Meeting nj the Court House Last
r Night.
Quite little crowd assembled at the
Court House at 1880 last night to hear an
address on Labor Reform announced to be
delivered by P. J. Mcclure, Of st. Louis,
Mo. Mcclure was a little late, but got
started about eight o'clock and talked
about an hour and quarter to very at.
tentive audience. He is middle.aged
lrishman, with a good face and pleasant
address, and while some Of his illusions
and appeals smack OF demagoguery, his
remarks in the main were fair and appar.
emily sincere.
He began by alluding to the fact that he
was laboring under fatigue and exhaustion,
having just gotten in from Pittsburgh,
where he bad been In attendance upon the
Socialistic Convention, which had Just
closed its sessions. Referring to the work
in which lie was engaged, he said that II
had been considerably misrepresented by
the press, and that there were many who
supposed that the wage-laborers OF the
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wrongs to be righted and no real griev-
ances TO redress. As one who had given
all the time after bis days work was fin
ished TO the study Of the labor problem,
he thought differently. The condition OF
the labor OF the country recalled
10 him the times before The war. Then
capital owned the slaves, now it owns the
labor. And this notwithstanding the fact
that labor was the only means OF produc-
ing wealth and capital Of itself could pro-
duce nothing. What he wanted was that
labor should reap its share Of the wealth
it created. Statistics showed that OF the
gross earnings OF the country labor got u
sixth and capital five sixths. He desired
that the working men should have larger
proportion OF their earnings, not division
Of property, which would result in no per-
manent benefit even il ii were practicable.
There were two classes OF tramps, one Of
poor men, made so by the exactions Of
capital, and another OF rich ilers like
Gcn. Grant, who, without any Of fdisparage.
ment OF his past service, was now simply
a lounger, contributing nothing by labor
or exertion. II they asked him what he
proposed TO do TO relieve the present dis.
iress OF labor he would tell them, not
as fully, however, tonight as in
his meeting Tomorrow evening. The
speaker then went oil 10 discuss at consid- |
cradle length the eight hour movement,
the expressions OF the contract system OF
convict labor, the evils OF labor.saying
machinery and the causes OF the panic,
closing by announcing that it was pro.
posed TO form Il Workingmens' Presiden.
tn1 al
political organizations, and OF which the |
following would be the platform in part:
FirSt-Entiro revision OF the United
States constitution so as 10 institute direct |
popular legislation and enable the people |
to propose or reject any law at their will,
and thus secure solf.g0vernment.
Second-The right OF suffrage shall in |
no wise DO abridged.
Thirl-Politcal equality before the law
Of all citizens without regard TO creed,
race orsGX.
Fourth-All conspiracy laws operating
against the rights OF wOrkingmen must be
repealed.
Fiftll-Congress shall proyide for the i'm.
mediate creation OF \ national bureau OF
labor statistics.
Sixth-We demand the rigid enforce.
mcnt Of the eight hour law in all national
public works.
Seventh-Ail uncultivated lands shall
be taxed equally with cultivated lands in
the same locality.
Eighth Tile Government alone should |
issue all money, aud such right should |
not be delegated to any banking or private
corporation.
Ninth-All election days shall be legal
holidays. All ballots 10 bG printed by
town and city governments. Ballots COLI
tanning the names OF all candidates for
public oIlco to be sent TO all voters two
days before each election.
Tenth property, whether religious
or secular, to bear its just proportion Of
taxation.
The Socialistic Labor pnrty struggles TO
carry out the following measures in those
States where they are not now tue law:
First-Statu bureau of labor statistics.
Second-Eisht hours as legal working
day, anu strict punishment Of all viola.
ton.
Third-Abolition Of tho system Of hir.
ing out by contract convict labor in
prisons and reformatory institutions.
Fourth-StriCt laws making employers
llnDIe LOT Ill ACCluentS resulting IRON tnelr |
negligence, to tho injury Of their en-
ployecs.
Fifth-Entire legal restriction Of the
labor Of children under fourteen years OF
age.
Sixth-Uniyersal compulsory education
all schooling material 10 be furnished at
public expense.
Seventli-Factory, mine and workshop
inspectors, and sanitary supervision oil all
food and dwellings.
Eighth-All wages shall be paid in the
legal tender Of the land, and violations OF
this law must be punished.
After the conclusion OF his address Mr.. |
Mcclure informed The reporter that he
was q Commissioner OF. Labor Statistics OF
Missouri, and had devoted considerable
time To gathering figures In that State
touching the labor question. licexpec.ed
10 speak at the Court House again this
evening and hoped for a bigger crowd
than turned out last night.
PoRx PAcxlNd.-The pork packing busi-
nesslhas been rather larger this season than
It was last, although the weather has not
ham ao favnrahlp A large nnmhar nj |