The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-03-29
UNION LABOR PARTY.
PREAMBLE AND PLATFORM:

UNION LABOR PARTY.
PREAMBLE AND PLATFORM.
The delegates of various industrial |
and reform political organizations have |
assembled from thirty-one States and |
Territories on this anniversary of the |
birth of ''rhe Father of His Country,"I
to view the situation of public affairs !
and advise proper action.
a general discontent prevails on the
part Of the wealt'-producers; farmers
are suffering from poverty which has
estates, aud prices of products are sol
low AS to offer no relief except through
bankruptcy. Laborers are sinking in.
to greater and greater dependence
strikes are restored without bringing
relief, because of inability of employ
ers. in many cases. to pay living wages,
while more and more are driven into
the streets. Business men find collec-
tions almost impossible, meantime
hundreds of millions Of idle public
money, which is needed for relief is
locked up in the United States
Treasury in grim -mockery of the
distress. Land monopoly fourishes
as never before, and more and
more owners OF the soil are daily
becoming tenants. Great transpo ta.
tion corporations still succeed in ex.
torting their profits upon watered stock
through unjust charges.
The United States Senate has be-
come AL open scandal, its seats being
purchased by the rich in open defiance
OF the popular will.
A trifling fisheries dispute is seized
upon as an excuse for squandering
public mohey upon unnecessary military
preparations which are designed to
breed u spirit Of war to ape European
despotism, and to empty the Treasury
without paying the public debt.
Under these and other alarming con-
ditions we appeal to the people of this
whole country to come out of the old or
ganiZations whose indifference to the
public welfare is responsible for this
distress, and help us to organize 4 new
political party not sectional. but nat
ional, which shall be called the Union
Labor party, whose object shall be to
repeal all class laws in favor of the
industries by establishing the follow
ing principles:
LAND.
Every human being possesses a nat
urai inaiienable right to sufficient land
for self support, and we desire to Sc
cure to every industrious citizen a
home, rs is the highest result of free
institutions. To this end we demand
graduated land tax on al unearned
land grants; the immediate opening
of Oklahoma to homestead settlement;
the purchase of all unoccupied Indian
lands, and the settlement OF the vari-
Gus tribes upon lands IN severalty; also
laws preventing corporations from ac-
quiring real estate beyond the require
ment of their business, aud alien own.
ership of land. Tile system Of irriga.
tiOn in States and Territories, where
necessary, shall be under such public
control rs shall secure the free and
equitable use Of the water and fran.
chises to the people.
TRANSFORMATION.
The means of commu,. ication and
transportation should be owned Or con-
troled by the people, as is tho L. $.
POSTAL service, and equitable rates
everywhere established.
MONEY.
The establishment of a national mon
! etlry system in the interest uf the pro-
ducer, instead of the speculatcr and
| usurer, by which a circulating medium
in necessary quantity and full legal ten
der shall be issued directly to the peo-
pie, without the Intervention Of banks,
or loaned to citizens upon ample seou-
! rity at low rate Of interest to relieve
| them from the extortions of usury,
and enable them to control the money
supply. Postal savings banks should be
established. While we have free COIN
age of gold. we should have free COIN
age of silver. We demand the prompt
payment of the national debt, and con-
Gemn the further issue of interest bear.
ing bonds, either by the National Gov
er rment, or by the States, Territories,
counties, or municipalities.
LABOR.
Arbitration should take the place of
strikes and other injurious methods of
settling labor disputes; the letting of
convict labor to contractors be prohibit.
ed, the contract system be abolished in
public works; the hours of labor in in
dustrial establishments be reduced.
commensurate with the increase of
production in labOr-saving machinery;
employees be protected from bodily in
jury; equal: pay beng given for equal
work for both sexes. and labor, agri-
cultural and cooperative associations
b. fostered and Incorporated by law.
The foundation of q Republic is the
intelligence of its citizens. and children
who are driven into workshops, mines
aud factories. are deprived of educa-
ton which should be secured to all
by proper legislation. We desire to
see labor organizations extended
throughout all civilized countries until
it shall be impossible for despots to
array the wOrkingmeD of one country
in war against their brothers of anoth-
or country.
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS.
In appreciation of the services of
United States soldiers and sailors, we
| demand for them justice before charity
The purposely deprecated money
paid them during the war should be
equal in value to the gold paid the
bOndholders. The soldier was prom
Used coin or its equivalent. and paid IT,
deprecated paper. The bOndhOlder
loaned the Government deprecated pa.
per, and contracted to take it back but
was paid in gold.
| INCOME TAX.
A graded income tax is the most
equitable system of taxation, placing
the burdens of Government on those
who can best afford to pay. instead of
laying it Oh the farmers and producers,
and exempting millionaire bondholders
and corporations.
U. s. SENATE.
The capture of the United States
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