Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-09-10
THE LABOR PLANK OF 1882.

Labor is organized in the State of New
York. Its highest body is the State
Trades Assembly. Is is not organized
for political purposes, but has for its sole
object the advancement of the condition
of the workingmen in all things II has
for years applied to the great political
organizations for the assistance and con
sheraton. Ii has received these only
from the Democratic party. Organ
iZation in this has had its effect,
as 1t does everywhere; so it came
about that in 1882, as result of organ
ization, and for the first time, it presented
well defined demands, with which it
appeared before the two great parties of
the State-the Democratic and Republ-
can. The Republican party gave no heed
whatever to its requests. The Demo.
cratic party listened, and believing in
them embraced them in their platform of
that year. Upon this platform GROVER
CLEVELAND was placed by the Democra-
cy of the State, and upon il he was ell
ected to be Governor. His faithful
adherence to the pledges and promises OF
that platform is known of all men, and Sc
faithful as to be regarded the beginning
of new era in politics. when candida
ties would regard the obligations of for
INFLATED party utterances.
The plank relating to labor was tn,
twelfth and read as follows:
Twelfth. We reaffirm the polcv al1Uav,
maintained by the Democratic party that IL /,
of the first Importance that labor should b,
made free, healthfu and secure Of ali ius
renumera ton. That convict labor should no
come into competition with the industry of law
abiding citizens. That the labor Of children
should be surrounded with such safeguards as n
their health. their rights of education and thei
future, as use ul members of the commit,
demand. That work shops whether large O.
small. should be under such sanitary control a.
will insure the health and comfort Of the EN-
ployed and will protect all against unwholesom
labor and surroundings. That labor shall hav
the same rights as capital to combine for IL
own protection, and that all legislation whicl
cramps industry. or which enables the powerful
TO Cypress the weak, should be repealed; and
to promote the interest of labor, we RECOMMEND
the collection of statistics and information r,
specting the improvements, needs and abuse
of the various branches of industry"
This plank GROVER CLEVELAND a,
cepted in It's entirety not only in II
letter but in the spirit as the subsequel
letter will show, in the following word
which are taken from his letter of accep
ance to the gubernatorial nomination
dated at Buffalo, October z, 1882:
THE platform of principles adopted by Il
convention meets with my hearty approvi
The doctrines therin enunciated are 80 distinct
and explicitly stated that their amplificatiS
seems scarcely necesstated. IL elected to d
Office for which have been nominated I shi
endeavor to i'm ress them upon my administr
tion and make them the policy Of the State. I"
And again further on he accepts Il
labor plank unreservedly:
1.-THE labor classes constitute the nam pa
Of our population. They should be protected
their efforts to assert their rights when Q
dangered by aggregated capital, and all stat
ties on this subject should recognize the care
the State for honest toll, and be framed with
view Of improving the condition of the workin
man"
1t is now a matter Of history that tn
pledge has been most faithfully futile
And here are some of the labor measur
he signed.
BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS