The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-16
LABOR IN POLITICS.
The New Constitution Under Which the Gen.
trail Labor Union of New York Win Operate.

The New Constitution Under Which the Gen.
trial Labor Union of New York Win Operate.
New York Special.
The great Central Labor Union of this city in
which is concentrated the strength of 1S5 organ
iZationS of mechanics, laborers, clerks, book
keepers and men of many and various vocations,
as we'll as the societies COMPOSED of female
workers, the whole representing over one hun
dred thousand working persons, is about to en-
ter on its work under new constitution A
committee appointed at last Sundays meeting
met last night to classify the sections into which
the affiliated trades and labor societies are to be
divided.
By some OF the chief delegates in the organ
ization it is believed that the new scheme will
not work well, and they even go so far as to pre-
dict the downfall of the Central Labor Union
but the friends OF the plan have great faith in
it, and assert that it will materially strengthen
the organization and enable it TO transact its
business in less time and without so much fric-
ton as under the old order of things.
In the preamble adopted along with the new
constitution there is declaration of principles
in which it is held that the soil is the social and
common inheritance of the people, and hence all
should have free and equal access to it without
tribute TO landlords or monopolists
That labor produces all wealth, and the la
borer is therefore entitled TO full share of the
wealth he labors to produce; that it is self-evi-
dent that az the power of capital combines and
increases, the political freedom of the toiing
masses becomes more and more delusion and
farce; that there can be no harmony between
labor and capital under the present industrial
system, for the simple reason that capital in its
modern character consists largely of rent. inter
est and profits wrongfully extorteG from the
producer, who possesses neither the land nor
the means of production
That the organization of trades AID labor
unions is of the most effective means to
check the evil outgrowths of the prevailing sys.
tenn.
That while trades and labor unions have
hitherto struggled for higher wages or shorter
hours of labor, they have practically pro-
tected themselves as producers. but not as con-
sumers and citizens. The ruling moneyed classes
have mean while obtained legal sanction to wiring
from the workers all the benefits that strikes
and resistance gained. and this they have done
by high rents, costly transportation, gigantic
corners in grain and PROVISIONS, and by monopo-
lizing the issue of money. They have used the
police, the militia and even the federal troops
against the workers whenever they felt their
capitalistic interests in danger.
That we regard it as the sacred duty of every
honorable laboring man to sever his connections
With all political parties of the capitalists and to
devote his energy and attention to the reorgani-
cation of his trade labor union, and the con-
centraton of all unions into one solid body for
the purpose of assisting each other in all strug-
giles, political industrial; to resist every at
tempt of the ruling classes directed against our
liberties, and to extend our fraternal hand TO
the workers of our land and to all nations of
the globe that struggle for the same independ-
ence.
In accordance with the above declaration of
principles the Central Labor Union will demand
that all existing beneficial labor laws shall be
rigidly enforced eight hours shall constitute q
days labor; prohibition of child labor under
fourteen years of age; discoEtinuance of the
tract system on public works; abolition of con-
tract prison labor; payment of wages weekly in
lawful money, and no more truck" pay first
lien for workmens' wages equal pay for equal
work for both sexes: sanitary inspection of
mines factories, dwellings and all conditions of
labor; abolition of conspiracy meetings for every
sections to receive and issue appeals for assist
lance in cases of strikes or loekouts. and have
charge of all publications issued under the an
thority of the Central Union. and also of all la
Dor statistics.
Members of the press are to be excluded from
the meeting of any section of the Central Labor
Union, but Representatives of recognized labor
journals viii be admitted.