The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-10-17
THE LABOR CONGRESS-.
Platform Adopted at the Recent National
Convention in Chicago.

Platform Adopted at the Recent National
Convention in Chicago.
CHICAGO, Oct 1.-THE Federated Trade
and Labor Convention closed it's session in
this city yesterday. The preamble to the
declaration of principles adopted reads as
follows:
"A struggle is going on in the Nations of the
clVlilzed world between the oppreSSOrS and
the oppressed of all countries-a struggle be-
tween the capitalist and the laborer, which
grows in Intensity from year to year, and
Will work disastrous results to the toiling
millions of all nations if not combined
for mutual protection and benefit. The his
tory of the wage-workers OF all countries
= but the history of constant struggle and
misery engendered by ignorance and diaunion,
and the history of the non-producers of all
ages proves that minority. thoroughly or
canned. may work wonders for good or evil.
L, therefore, behooves the representatives of
the workers of North America, in congress
assembled, 10 adopt such measures and dis
eemlnate such principles among the people of
the country as will unite them, for all time to
come, TO secure the recognition of the rights
70 which they are justly entitled. Conform
Ing to the old adage: IN union there Is
strength, the formation of a federation en-
bracing every trade and labor organization in
North America is hoped for.
The following platform was adopted:
]. The National Eight-hour law is one In
partly of its heavy burdens, and the evasion
OF It's true spirit and intent is contrary to the
pest interests of the Nation. We therefore
demand the enforcement of said law in the
spirit of Its designers.
z We demand the passage of laws in State
Legislatures aud in Congress for the incor-
poratlon OF trades and labor unions, IN order
that the property of the laboring classes may
have the same protection as the property Of
other classes.
8 We demand the passage of such legisla-
will
sion, the education of children; for if the
State has right to exact certain compliance
with its demands, then it is also the duty of
the State to educate its people to the proper
understanding of such demands.
A. We demand the passage of laws in the
several States forbidding the employment of
children under the age of fourteen years, in
any capacity, under penalty of fine and inn
priSonment.
s. We demand the enactment of uniform
apprentice laws throughout the country; that
the apprentice to mechanical trade may be
made to serve a sufficient term of apprentice
ship, and be.provided by his employer, in his
progress to maturity, with proper and srf-
ticient facilities to finish him as a competent
workman.
6. Its hereby declared the sense Of this
Congress that convict or prison labor, as APP
pied to the contract system in several of the
states, is species of slavery in its worst
form; it pauperizes labor demoralizes the
honest manufacturer, and degrades the very
criminal whom it employs; and as many arti-
cles of use and consumption made in our
prisons under the contract system come 6i-
rectly and detrimentally in competition with
the products of honest labor, we demand that
the laws providing for labor under the con-
tract systems herein complained OF be re-
pealed.
Z. What is known as the ''order'' or struck"
system OF payment, instead of lawful cur
rency as value for labor performed, is one
not only of gross imposition, butof downright
sW1ndle to the honest iaborer and meehan-
ic, and we demand its entire abolition. Active
measures should be taken to eradicate the
evil by the passage of laws imposing fine and
imprisonment upon all individuals, firms or
corporations who continue to practice the
same.
5. We demand the passage of such laws as
| will secure to the mechanic and Workingman
the first lien upon property, the product of
his LABOR, sufficient in all cases to justify his
legal and just claims
| 9. We demand the repeal andEerasure from
the statute books of all acts known as Con-
| spiracy laws as applied to organizations of
labor in the reg ulation of wages.
TO- We recognize the wholesome effects of
! q Bureau of Labor Statistics, as created IN
several States; and we demand the passage of
IN act establishing a National Bureau of La
| Dor Statistics, and recommend for it's MANAGE
ment the appointment Of a p oper person
/ identified with the lab0ring classes OF the
| country.
II. We demand the passage of law by the
United States Congress to prevent the impor-
tation of all foreign laborers under contract
! II. We declare that the system ofGletting out
| National, State and municipal work by con-
/ tract tends to intensity the competition be-
| tween workmen, and we demand the speedy
Adjustment of the same.
ID. We demand the passage, by our various
/ legislative bodies of an employers liability
act which shall give employees the same right
/ to damage for personal injuries that all other
/ persons have.
/ a. We recommend all trades and LABOR
organizations to secure proper representation
| in all law-making bodies by means of the bal
| lot. and to use all honorable mea SureS DY
which this result can be Accomplished.