The Irish standard., 1886-09-18
THE IRISH STANDARD: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER IS. 1896

member of the well known grocery
house Of Lundberg Bros. He is an old
resident and has grown up with the
Zenith City. He will make "a capable
and efficient Auditor. The nominee fooll
Clerk Of the Supreme Court is George
r. Gardner, of Albert Lea. He came te
his present home in 1872, and is mar
in middle life. He is an old soldier,
and has filled the position Of Clerk o1
Freeborn County, with credit to him:
self and the satisfaction of the people o1
that county for the past six years He il
personally popular. 4.
The platform adopted by the conven.
ton is broad and comprehensive one
It endorses the Democratic administra
ton Of President Cleveland and cites the
revival of the business interests Of The
country as evidence of it's success. After
advocating tariff reform, the platform
goes on to affirm that the department OF
agriculture established at Washington
should be elevated to the dignity and
power Of Cabinet position. The fifth
plank is one worthy of more than pass
ing notice. 1t is one that laboring men
will ponder over with feelings OF pro-
found pleasure and admiration. 1t reads
thus:
s'That we view with anxious interest the
great question Of labor now agitating
the public mind. The advance and per-
fection of machinery elevated the Dig
nifty Of labor and urges it to reach out
for more Of the intellectual, moral and
social enjoyments Of life In the term
of hours which now constitutes days
work, we find at the very ground work
a gross lack OF uniformity, the term run
ming all the way from eight to sixteen
hours. 1t would be marvel if in this
age human nature would rest quietly
under such oppressive irregularity. The
eighr-hour term is now q law Of the
United States government for all labor
ers, workmen and mechanics employed
thereby; and it is also the equal one
third part Of our time. In all national,
state or municipal works uniform rule
should be established and vigorously
adhered to. We further demand en-
couragement to the national bureau Of
statistics and the establishment of
labor bureau in our state, better legis-
lation securing the payment Of wages
earned, provision for the health and
safety Of operatives, indemniication for
injuries received, prohibition of the en-
ployment OF immature children in shops
and factories, protection from the raw
ages OF the usurer and the tax-title
shark, arbitration for all differences be-
tween capital and labor, and legislation
against convict labor being brought into
With honest toll. We spec
tally condemn the practice long in vogue
in Minnesota OF the State hiring out it's
convicts. We further oppose in public
works the convict system, and believe
that all such work should be done by
the day and under careful supervision.
Whatever may be necessary to better
guard the rights and ennoble the calling
of the laboring classes should receive
early and earnest attention. Inasmuch
as the relations Of labor to capital OF the
public to corporations are the domineer-
ing questions in both national and state
politics, and inasmuch as ordinary legis-
lation is vacillating and often partisan,
as practical measure we are in favor OF
a constitutional convention for the pur-
pose Of adjusting those relations upon a
sound and equitable basis by engrafting |
The traditional doctrines of the Demo
cratic party upon the fundamental law
Of the State.'
Immigration Of all who are desirous
of building up homes and acquiring
American citizenship is encouraged, but
the Importation Of foreign labor under
contract is opposed on the grounds that
t is degrading to humanity and hostile
q free institutions. In referring to the
Irish question the following occurs:
s.We express our sympathy with Che
patriots of Ireland in their efforts to Sc
,ure Home Rule, pending which we ear
lestly hope that Parliament will pass
Mr.. Parnell's present bill to prevent
urther evictions until equitable land
avs may be enacted"
The platform favors such legislation
" Congress as will insure to every sur
7iving veteran of the Union forces, who
s incapacitated for labor, liberal pen
lion for his honorable support during
lie and for the support Of those who
ire dependant upon him, whether such
occurred during the war or
Jince.
This platform is sound in every plank.
t eyades no leading issue of the day; it