The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-10-06
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TIL; LABOR PLATFORM.

Platform Adopted by the Wo, ,kingmrn OF Ncv
YOrk-Mr. Henry George the Nomincc TO
| Mayor.
(From til, Baltimore Su7)
1t has already been announced in til,
Sun that the labor campaign in New
York city was opened Thursday evening
by the adoption of II platform and tn,
nomination of Mr.. Henry George fol
mayor. Over 100 delegates were present
representing, it is claimed, 5000 organ
lied men. The following is the platform
which was adopted with great unanimi
ty:
THE PLATFORM.
The delegates of the trade and Labor
organizations of the city of New York,
in conference assembled, make this
declarations:
Holding that the corruptions Of this
government and the impovcrishmcnt of
labor result from neglect of the self
evident truths proclaimed by the found
crs OF this republic, that all men are
created equal and are endowed by their
Creator with innlienablc rights, we aim
at the abolition of the system which
compcls men to pay their fellow crca-
lures for the use of Gods gifts to ALL
and permits monopolizcrs to deprive
labor OF natural opportunities for en-
ploymcnt, thus filing the land with
tmmps and paupers and bringing about
an unnatural competition, which tends
to reduce wages to starvation rates and
to make the wealth producer the indus
trial slave of those who grow rich by his
toll.
Holding, moreover, that the advan-
tages arising from social growth and i'm
provement belong to society at large, we
ann mt the abolition Of the system which
makes such bencticcnt inventions rs rail
road and telegraph n means for the op-
preston of the people and the nggran-
dlzcmcnt of an aristocracy of wealth and
power. We declare the true purposes of
government to be the maintenance of
that sacred right of property which gives
to every one opportunity to employ his
labor and security that he shall enjoy its
fruits; to prevent the strong from op-
pressing the weak and the lmScruDulous
from robblng the honest, and to DO, for
the equal benefit Of all, such things as
can be better done by organized society
than by individuals; and We aim mt the
abolition of all laws which give to any
class OF citizens advantages, either Judi
clal, financial, industrial or political, thai
are not equally shared by nll other citi-
Zcns.
We further declare that the people of
New York city should have full control
of their own local affairs; that the prac-
hcc OF drawing grand Jurors from one
class should cease, and the requirement
OF apropcrty qualification for trial Jurors
should be abolished; that the procedure
of our courts Should be so simpliiicd and
reformed that the rich shall have no adj
vantage over the poor; that tie ollicious
lntermcdding Of the police with peace
lul asscmblagcs should be stopped; that
the law for the safety and sanitary in
Spcctlon of buildings should be enforced;
that i'll public work the direct cIuploy-
mcnt of labor should be preferred to the
system which gives contractors an OPP
portunlty to dcfraud the city while
grinding their workmcn, and that in
puDhc employment equal pay should be
accorded for equal work without dis
tinction Of sex.
we declare the crowding Of so many
OF our people into narrow tencmcnts at
enormous rents, while half the area of
the city is yet unbuilt upon, to be
evil, and that to remedy this
state OF things all taxes on buildings and
improvements should be abolished so
that no fine shall be put upon the en-
ploymcnt OF labor i'll increasing living
accommodations, and that taxes should
DC levied ON lands irrespective OF i'm
provements, so those who are now hold
ing land vacant shall be compelled either
to Dulld on 1t themselves or to give up
the land to those who will.
We declare furthermore that the cnor-
nous value which the presence of mil
ilon and a half of people gives to the
land of this city belongs properly to the
whole community; that it should not go
to the enrichment of individuals and
corporations, but should be taken in
taxation and applied to the improvement
and identifying of the city; to the pro-
motion of the health, comfort, education
and recreation of its people, and to the
providing Of means of transit commen-
suratc with the needs of great metropo-
lis. We also declare that existing means
of transit should not be left in the hands
OF corporations which, while gaining
enormous profits from the growth of
population, oppress their employees and
provoke strikes and interrupt travel and
lmpcril the public peace, but should, by
lawful process, be assumed by the city
and operated for public benefit.
To clear the way for such reforms as
are impossible without it, we favor
constitutional convention; and since the
ballot is the only method by which in
our republic the redress of political and
social grievances is to be sought, we cs-
pecially call for such changes in our
elective methods Us shall lessen the need
of money in elections, discourage bribery
and prevent intimidations.
And since in the coming most import
ant municipal election, independent po-
htical action affords tho only hope of
exposing and breaking up the extortion
and speculation by which standing
army OF professional politicians corrupt
the people whom they plumber, we call
upon oil citizens who desire honest gov
ernmont to join us in an effort to secure
it, and to show for once that the will of
the people may prevail even against the
money and organization of banded
spoilsmen.