Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-05-24
THE LABOR PARTIES.


The Conventions at Cincinnati sho" no
DisposItIon to Fuse-ResoIutions of the
Uuion Labor wing.
CINCINNATI, May 1.-THE Union LABOR
convention on the resumption OF its session
yesterday afternoon listened to a eommu-
nication from the National Temperance
Society suggesting prohibition plank IN
the platform, and the nomination. OF candl-T
dates favorable to prohibition. II was re-
ferred to the committee on resolutions.
At this point the committee on resolutions
presented its report. The preamble, which
is quite long, asserts the prevalence OF
general discoftent and poverty among the
farmers, refers to the frequency Of strikes,
and the general hopelessness OF the labor
ers; the difficulty in making collections
while millions of dollars are locked up in
the treasury, says the land monopoly Hour
ishes, transportation COMPANIES fatten on
the poor, and tn United States Senate has
become an open scandal by its members
buying their places. Therefore, IT says:
We appeal to the people to come out OF the
old party organizations. whose indifference to-
public welfare is responsible for this DISTRESS
and aid the Union Labor party TO repeal exist
ing class legislation and relieve the distress OF
our industries by establishing the following
principles:
First. Land-While we believe that the
proper solution OF the financial system Will
greatly relieve those now in danger OF losing
bic all industrious persons TO secure home, as
the highest type Of civilization, we oppose land
monopoly in every form, demand the forfeiture
OF unearned grants, the limitation OF land own
ership and such other legislation as will stop
speculation in land. and holding it unused
from those whose necessities require it, We
believe the earth was made fo- the people. and
not TO enable an idle aristocracy 10 subs1st
through rents. upon the toll of the industrious,
and that corners in land are as bad as corners in
food, and that those who are not residents or
citizens should not be allowed 70 own land In the
United States. HomeSteads should be exempt
to a limited extent from execution or tax
alton.
Second-Transportation. AS means OF COM
muncation transportation should be by the
people as is the United States postal system.
Third-Money. The establishment OF a Ma
tfonal monetary system in the interest of pro-
ducers, instead of spectators and usurers, by
which a circulating medium in necessary guam
tity and IL full legal tender should be issued
directly TO the people without the intervention
of the banks or loaned to citizens upon land Sc
curity at a low rate OF interest. To relieve
them from eXtortion of usury and enable them
to control the money supply. postal savings
banks should be established. While we have
free coinage Of gold we should have free coin
age OF silver. We demand immediate applica-
tions OF all idle money in the United States
treasury to the payment of the bonded debt,
and condemn the further issue of interest
bearing bonds. either by the National Govern
ment, or by States, Territories or municipali-
ties.
Labor arbitration should take the place Of
strikes and other injurious methods of settling
labor disputes.
The letting of convict labor to contractors
should be prohibited, and the contract system
should be abolished in public works, and the
hours of labor in industrial establishments
should be reduced commensurate with the in
creased production by the labor saw ng ma
chinery. Employees should be protected from
bod iy injury; equal pay should be given for
equal work for both sexes and labor; agricult-
ural and CO operative associations should be
fostered and encouraged by law. The founda-
ton OF the Republic is in the intelligence of the
citizens and children who are drawn into work
shops, mines and factories deprived OF
education which should be secured to all by
proper legislation.
Pensions-We demand the passing of the Ser
vice Pension bill to every honorably discharged
soldier of the United States.
Income taxa gradual income tax is the most.
equitable system OF taxation. placing the bur
dens OF Government upon those who are best
able TO pay, instead of laying it on farmers and
exempting the millionaire bondholders and cor
porations We demand a Constitutional amend
ment making United States Senators elective
by direct vote of the people. We demand the
strict enforcement OF laws prohibiting the i'm
portation of subjects OF foreign countries under
contracts. We demand the passage and en-
forcement of such legislation as will absolutely
exclude Chinese from the United States.
Seventh-Woman Suffrage. The right to vote
is inherent TO citizenship irrespective of and
is properly within the province OF State legfsla-
tion.
Paramount Issues-Paramount issues to be-
solved in the interests of humanity are the
abolition of usury, monopoly and trusts, and we
denounce the Democratic and Republican
parties for counting and perpetuating these
monstrous evils.
A minority report was made, but reject
ed. The convention took up the planks one
by one and had adopted the first upon land
when a recess was taken until 1880 p. m.
That plank practically excludes the United
Labor party from joining the Union Labor
party.
At the afternoon session of the United
Labor convention nothing was done except
to receive the report of DIR. McGlynn of the
effort to unite the two conventions. He
said the ultimatum OF the United Labor
party had been rejected by the Union La
Dor party commit es on platform, and the
JOINT committee had dissolved.
The Greenbackers, led by George o.
Moore, have definitely abandoned the in
tention OF fusion, and will to-day make
their proclamation to the people, showing
their position in American politics.