The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-08-03
The Platform Of the Labor Party.

we nave pTluVeu hCt0oOVi0 '"S
Platforms of the three parties most
prominently before the country and
this week We publish the Platform OF
the Labor Party" BY comparing
the different proclamations which are
promulgated through these platforms
or party creeds, fair idea may be
gained of the political unrest and
longings of the public, and also
foresight of the questions in political
economy that will force themselves
to the front in the future. There is
one remarkable feature which marks
the difference between the new
pa.ties-which are but embryo parties
in numbers,-and the old parties.
The new parties seize the living is
sues which are part OF every day
life and enter into the business OF
every individual, to make or mar his
fortunes to great or less extent,
while old parties direct their atten-
ton almost exclusively to questions
worn thread bare by time. The two
old parties have absolutely nothing
in their platforms which they deem
worthy of attention except the man.
ner of raising about three hundred
millions of tax to pay the expenses
of the government. To aid in de-
termining this matter the experience
of a century is before US as plain as
an open biok, and the immensely of
talking and printing on this old
theme is more for the purpose OF
darkening counsel than for informa.
ton. Verify the sarcastic remark OF
Tom Corwin is true, "The bigger tie
fool the better the argument on the
tariff question"
Many of the questions which are
brought to the front by these intantile
parties are destined to be the great
controlling questions of the future.
The intelligence OF the American
people will not always permit them
to waste time over worn out or dead
issues to the exclusion of those which
vitality concern the living present.
PLATFORM.
General discomfort prevails on the part OF
the wealth producer. Farmers are suffering
from a poverty which has forced most OF
them to mortgage tn cir estates, ana the
prices Of products are SO low as 10 offer no
relief except through bankruptcy. Labor
ers are sinking into greater dependence.
Strikes are resorted to without bringing re-
lief, because of the inability of employers
in many cases to pay living wages, while
more and more are dliyen into the street.
Business men find collections almost im-
possible. and meantime hundreds of mil
lions of idle public money which is needed
for relief is locked up in the United States
treasury or placed without interest in IA
yored banks in grim mockery of distress.
Land monopoly floarishes as never before,
and more owners of the soil are daily be-
coming tenants. Great transportation cor
porations still succeed in extorting their
profits on watered stock through unjust
charges. The United States Senate has be-
come an open scandal, its membership be-
ing purchased by the rich in open defiance
Of the popular will. Various efforts are
made to squande. the public money, which
are designed to empty the treasury without
paying the public debt. Under these and
other alarming conditions we appeal to the
people of our country to come out of old
party organizations, whose indifference to the
public welfare is responsible for this distress,
and aid the Union Labor party to repeal
existing class legislation and relieve the
distress of our industries by establishing
the following:
While we believe that the proper solution
of the financial distress will greatly relieve
those now in danger of losing their homes
by mortgage foreclosures, and enable all
industrious persons to secure home as the
highest result Of civilization, we oppose land
monopoly in every form, demand the fer
land ownership and such other Legislation
as will stop speculation in lands and hold
ing it UNUSED from those whose necessitle-
REQUIRE it. We believe the earth was made
for the people and not to make an idle ar
istocracy to subsist through rents upon the
tolls of the Industrious, and that corners n
land are as bad as corners in food, and that
those who are not residents or citizens
should not be allowed to own lands in the
United States. A homestead should be ex-
empt to limited extent from execution or
taxation.
The means of communication and trans
por:ation shall be owned by the people as is
the United States postal system.
The establishment of national monetary
system in the interest of the producer, in
stead of the speculator aud usurer, by which
AZ.