The Labor enquirer., 1883-07-14
ANTI-MONOPOLY.
Concluded from first page. j

consultations Of competing lines, thus
protecting the corp0rations in their
legal rights and the people from extor-
tionate charges.
To secure these things we demand that
the next congress, by one of its commit
tees, shall thoroughly investigate the
cost of railways and transportation, so
that it may act intelligently on those
subjects, and enact such laws as the
protection of the people demands.
A postal telegraph system is demanded
by every interest in the country, to be
operated by the postal department.
Under liberal and equitable con-
struction of law states and corporations
have forfeited los, 100000 acres Of land,
a territory as large as the five great states
of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, 1ndi-
ana and Illinois, now supporting a
population of over 100000 of people,
and this land now legally and equitably
belongs to the people of the United
States therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the duty of
congress to declare forfeited all lands
not equitably earned by the construction
of the designated roads within the time
prescribed by law for completion, and
restore the same to the public domain
for the benefit Of actual settlers, and all
public lands shall be reserved for the
use of actual settlers.
We view with alarm the requirement
of land in the United States by non.
resident foreigners, and we favor such
changes in the law as will prevent the
ownership of any part of our soil
except by residents. .s.,
We oppose the issue and control of
the currency by banks of issue, which
now enjoy the special privilege of charg
ing interest upon their own promises to
pay, and we demand a restoration to the
peoples government its full sovereignty
over all money, both metallic and paper.
to be full legal tender. We favor the
coinage of gold and silver upon equal
terms, and demand that the volume of
money be carefully restricted by law.
We demand that the national banking
system be abolished, and that the ma
tional bonds be paid off as speedily as
possible in the lawful money of the
United States. = EfH5|
We demand the establishment of a
graduated income tax +t @ RI
Postal savings banks shall be estab-
llsked, that the people may have a, safe
depository. y
Gambling in the necessaries of life and
combinations which enable monooplists
to control the prices against the natural
laws of trade must be abolished.
The patent laws should be so amended
as to protect inventors, give the people
the benefits to be derived, and prevent
the formation of monopolies which rob
the inventor and the people. 49,. !
All public officials as far as practicable,
including the president and vice-presi-
dent, shall be elcted by direct vote Of!
the people.
Congress has no AUTHORITY to tax the
people except for the porpose of raising
necessary revenue, and in forming tariff
laws that object should be kept con-
stantly in view.
We denounce the present tariff as be-
ing wholly in the interest of monopolies,
and demand that it be speedily and
radically reformed, and free trade estab-
lished as soon as the Transportation
and money monopolies shall be so reg
ulated as to secure reasonable rates for
W
In constituting this Independent DO
lltical party we pledge ourselves not to
enter into any combination or affiliation
with the republican or democratic
parties.
The attention of the convention was
called to the fact that there was
minority report, which should be read.
1t was read at length. 1t contained
nothing of Importance, except the
recommendation that Benjamin F. But
ler be the candidate for the presidency.
The report was laid on the table.
Another minority report indorsing
woman suffrage and incorporating that
principle in the platform, was presented
and hotly debated. A motion to lay
upon the table was defeated by a close
vote. 6
Mrs. Todd, of California, made a
speech in favor of the report. She said
the, party was, dead before it was born
that ignored woman suffrage.
Mr.. Magic, of Illinois, offered the fol-
lowing resolution as substitute for the
minority report: @
Resolved, That while this conference
is prepared to declare that woman should
enjoy every political right accorded to
man, we believe that this is a subject for
state action, and we respectfully relegats
the subject to the citizens of the several
states.
The previous question was then
ordered on the main question, and the
platform was adopted by acclamation.
) Mr.. Kilmer, of New York, who offered
the resolution for the formation of a
national organization at the beginning
of the session, called it up for action.
1t was decided that the vice-presidents
of the several states should elect the
president of the organization.
The officers chosen were:
President-John F. Henry, Brooklyn,