The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1881-09-15
PLATFORM

Or THE NATIONAL dnEENBAcK-LABoR PARTY OF
THE UNITED STATES, ADOPTED AT CHICAGO,
JUNE 8. 1880.
/. That the right to make and issue money il
sovereign power to be maintained by the pco-
Pile for the common benefit. The delegation
Of this right to corporations IL sure dcr Of
the central attribute OF sovereignty, void OF
constitutional sanction, comforting upon sub
ordinate irresponsible power and absolute do
minion over industry and commerce. AL
money, whether metallic or paper, should be
issued and its volume controlled by the Gov
| ernment. and not by or through banking cor
porations and, when 10 issued should be a
full legal tender for all debts, public and pri-
yate.
2. That tie bonds Of the United States
should not be refunded, but paid az rapidly Oh
practicable, according to contract. To enable
The Government to meet these obligations.
legai-;ender currency should be substituted
tional-banking system abolished, and the nn-
limited coinage Of silver, AZ well as gold, cs-
tab!ishcd by law.
8. That labor should be 30 protected by
national and state authority as to equalize its
burdens. and insure a just distribution OF its
results the eisht-Lour law of Congress should
be enforced the sanitary condition Of indus
trial establishments placed under rigid control ;
the competition Of contract convict labor abol-
ished: bureau Of | Dor statistics established
factories. mines and workshops inspected
the employment Of children under IA years Of
age forbidden. and wages paid iii cash.
4. Slavery being simply cheap labor, and
cheap labor being simply slavery, the importa-
ton aud presence Of Chinese serfs niece sarlly
tends to brutalize and degrade American labor.
therefore immediate STEPS should be taken to
abrogate the Bnrllngame treaty.
5. Railroad land grants forfeited by reason OF
non-fnliillment OF contract should DO immcdi-
ately reclaimed by the Government. and hence
forth the public domain reserved exclusively as
homes tor actual settlers.
8. 1t Is the duty Of Congress to regulate in
ter-State commefce. All lines Of communica-
ton and transportation Should be brought UNI
der such legislative control an shall secure mod
craze, fair and uniform rates for passenger and
fret hit traffic.
Z. We denounce as destructive to prosperity,
an dangerous to lite tv, the actions Of the old
parties III Fostering and sustaining gigantic
lind. railroad and money corporations and mo-
nopolics, invested with and exercising power,
belonging 10 the Government, and not respon-
sible to it for the mann.r Of their exercise.
\. That the constitution. giving Congress the
power to borrow money. to dccl.rc war, to raise
and support rmies. 10 roslde and maintain Q
navy, never intended that the men who loaned
Their money for an int rest consideration should
be preferred to the soldier and sailor who
rerilcd their lives and SIZED their blood on land
and sea in defense of their country, and We
condemn the cruel class legislation Of the Re
publican party which, while processing great
gratitude to the sold. r, has most uniustly dis
cr minated against hun and in favor OF the
bondholder.
.. All property should bear its juat proper
tion of taxation, and We demand graduated
income tax.
TO- We denounce as most dangerous the cf-
forts everywhere manifest to restrict the rights
Of suffrage.
II. We are opposed to an increase OF the
standing army III time Of peace, and the in-
sid,ouS ssheme 10 establish an enormous mil
itary power under the guise Of militia laws.
L. We demand absolute democratic rules
for the government Of Congress, placing all
representatives Of the people upon an equsl
footing. and taking away from committees
a veto power greater than that OF the Presi-
dent.
Is. We demand Government Of the people,
by the people and for the people. instead Of =
Government VI the bondholders. by the bond
hold. rs and for the bondholders, and we de-
nouncc every attempt to str up sectional strife
rs an effort to conceal monstrouS crimes
against the people.
IA. In the iurtnerance of these ends we ask
the cooperation If all fair-minded people.
We have no quarrel with individuals, wage no
war upon classes. bat only against vicious in
sttutions. We are not content to endure fur
thcr discipline from our present actual rulers,
who, having dominion over money, over trans
the press and the machinery OF Government,
tions and over our life and property.