Wichita eagle., 1888-08-05
UNION LABOR PLATFORM.

Adopted by tho National Union Labor
Convention, Cincinnati. May L.. 1883.
General discomfort prevails on the part OF
the wealth producer. Farmers are suffering
from a poverty which has forced most Of
prices of products are SO low as to offer no
relief except through bankruptcy. Laborers
are sinking into greater dependence. Strikes
are reported to without bringing relief, be
cause of the inability of employers in many
cases to pay living wages, while more and
more are driven into the street. Business
men find collections almost impossible, and
meantime hundreds of millions of idle
public money which is needed for relief
is locked up in the United States treas
ury or placed without interest in ia
vored banks in grim mockery OF
distress. Land monopoly fourishes
as never before, and more owners Of
the soil are daily becoming tenants. Great
transportation corporations still succeed in
extorting their profits or watered stock
through unjust charges. The United States
senate has become an open scandal, Its mem
bership being purchased by the rich in open
defiance OF the popular will. Various efforts
are made to squander 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 ouT country TO come out OF old
party organizations, whose indifference 30
the public welfare is responsible for this dis
tress, and aid the Union Labor party to re-
peal 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 indus
trious persons to secure home as the highest
result of civilization, we oppose land monop-
oily in every form, demand the forfeiture OF
unearned grants, the limitation of land
ownership, and such other legislation as will
stop speculation In lands and holding it un-
used from those whose necessities require it
We believe the earth was made for the
people. and not to make an idle aristocracy
to subsist through rents upon the tolls Of the
industrious, and that corners in land are a.
bad as corners in food, and that those who
are not residents or citizens should not DO
allowed to own lands in the United States.
A homestead should be exempt to limited
extent from execution or taxation.
The means OF communication and trans
portation shall be owned hY the people - u
the United States postal system.
The establishment of q national monetary
system in the interest OF the producer, instead
of the Spectator and Insurer, BY which the
circulating medium In necessary quantity
and full Legal tender shall b issued directly
to the people without the Intervention Of
banks and loaned 70 citizens upon land secur-
icy at a low rate Of interest 20 as TO relieve
them from the extortion Of usury and enable
them to control tho money supply. Postal
savings banks should be established. and
while We have frss coinage OF gold We
should have free coinage Of silver. We
demand the immediate application OF al tbs
money In the United States Treasury TO the
payment Of the bonded debt, and condemn
the further issue Of Interest bearing bonds,
either by tho national government or by
states, territories a municipalities.
Arbitration should take the place Of strikes
and other injurious methods Of sitting labor
disputes The letting Of convict labor 70 con-
tractors should be prohibited, the contract
system be abolished on p1blic works, The
hours Of labor IN industrial establishments
be reduced cemmensurase With the increased
production BY labor saving machinery, en-
ployss protected from bodily injury. equal
pay for equal vork for both sexss. and LABOR.
agricultural and cocpsranvS sDocations b
fos.sred and encouraged BY Nv. Tbs foun-
dalton Of 8 republic il In the intelligence Of
its citizens, aod children VINO are drivee into
workshops, m.oas and factories are deprived
Of the education which sbO1id Be secured 70
al By proper leg,alasion
We demand tie pasass Of service pen
lon biu TO every honorably discharged sos-
der and aailoq Of tAs United Stats
A graduated income tax b the noA equita-
be system Of taxss,oo, placing ths burden |
Of government ca tho@ who ON heGs a6oFd |
to pay. instssd Of layEg IL On sae fasnsrs |
and Producer, sod exempsinS milso0Airs<,
boudhoidsrs sod corpo.AAOnA
We demand . oonss:frs1onnl aneotuerf /
nakins Cuissi s.as~- senssors elective BY .
direct vote q TIE people
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