Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-10-31
TuE = CONGRESS-.
Platform Adopted at the Recent N"tionsl
Convention in Chicago.

fla form Adopted at the Recent Nationsl
Convention in Chicago.
ru,c.co oct. 1.-THE Federated Trade
and Labor Convention closed its session IN
tbis city Yesterday. The preamble to the
declaration of principles adopted reads as
follows:
A str,pplc is going on in the Nations of the
civilized world between the oppressors ana
the oppressed OF all countries@a Struggle pc
tween the capitalist ana .me ia ~ rea, "i ana
will work disastrous results to the toiling
millions Of all nations IL not comoihen
for mutua! protection anu n ~, si co,in+r ms
is but the history of constant struggle ana
misery cnecndered by ignorance ana ~dlsunlonl:
and the history of the non.prqamcers %. an
riniZcd. may work wonders for good or evil.
il, therefore, bchoovcs the representatives or
the workers of North America, IN con5ress
assembled, to adopt such measures and dis
seminate such principles among the people of
the country as will unite them, for all time to
come, TO secure the recognition OF the rights
to which they are justly entitled. Conform
ing to the old adagc: I'm union there is
~steength,'' the formation of a federation en-
bracing every trade and labor organization III
North America is hoped for.
The following platform was adopted:
]. The National Eight-hour law is one in.
tended to benefit labor. and even to relieve 1t
partly of its heavy burdens, and the evasion
of its true spirit and intent is contrary to the
best interests of the Nation. We therefore
demand the enforcement OF said law In the
spirit of Its designers.
2. We demand the passage of law in State
Legislatures ana in Congress for the incor-
poration 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.
j. We demand the passage of such legisla-
tive cnactments as will enforce, by conpul-
sion, the education of children: for if the
State has q 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.
several STATES forbidding the employment OF
children under the age of fourteen years, in
any capacity, under penalty of fine and inn
prl$Onment.
5. We demand the enactment of uniform
apprentice laws throughout the country; that
the apprentice to a mechanical trade may he
made to serve Il sufficient term OF apprentice
Ship, and DC provided by his employer. in his
progress to maturity, with proper and suf-
ticient facilities TO finish him as a competent
workman.
Congress that convict OR prison labor, as ap-
piled to the contract system in several of the
States. is a species of slavery in its worst
form; it paupcrizcs labor, demoralizes the
honest manufactures, and degrades the very
criminal whom it employs; and, as many rti-
Giles of use and consumption made i'll our
pIISolS ulucE LuC cOItEuGU sNslCul COluc Ill
rectly and detrimentally in competition with
the products of honest ;abor, we emand that
the aws providing for labor under the con-
tract systems herein complained of be re-
pealed.
z. What is known as the "order' or truck"
system of payment, instead of lawful cur
lency rs value for labor performed, is one
not only OF gross iinpoSition, but of downright
swtndlc to the honest laborer and mechan-
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.
S. We demand the passage of such laws as
the first lien upon property. the product of
his labor, sufficient in all cases TO Justify his
legal and Just claims.
8. We demand the repeal andlerasurc from
the statute books of all acts known as Con-
spiracy laws, us applied to organizations of
labor in the regulation of wages.
10. We recognize the wholesome effects Of
Il Bureau Of Labor Statistics, as created IN
several States: and we demand the passage of
an act establishing Il National Bureau of La
Dor Statistics, and recommend FORTS manage
inent the appointment OF a p oper person
identified with the lubOriny classes OF the
country.
II. We demand the passage of a law by the
United States Congress to prevent the impor.
titiOn of all foreign !ahOrcrs under contract.
T.: We declare that the system oflletting out
National, State and municipal work by con-
tract tends to intensity the competition be-
tween workmcn,, and we demand the speedy
adjustment of the same.
Is. 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.
IA. We recommend all trades and laoor
organizations to secure proper representation
in all law-making bodies by means of the bal
lot. and to use all honorable measures by
which this result can be ACCOMPLISHED.