Workmen's advocate., 1889-11-30
PLATFORM OF THE s. L. P.
As Adopted by the Chicago Conven.
 tiOn, October 12, 1889.

The Socialist Labor Party of the reasserts the inalienable right of all men to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
 With the founders of the Ameri- can republic we hold that the pur- pose of government is to secure ev- cry citizen ill the enjoyment of this right; but in the light of our social con- ditionS we hold, furthermore, that no such right can be exercised under a sys- tenn of economic inequality, essentially destructive of life, of liberty, and of happiness.
 With the founders of this repub- lie we hold that the true theory of politics is that the machinery of gov ernment must be owned and controlled by the whole people; but in the light of our industrial development we hold, furthermore, that the true theory of economics Is that the machinery of production must likewise belong to the people in common.
 To the obvious fact that our despotic system of economics is the direct oppo- site of our democratic system of poll tics, can plainly be traced the existence of a privileged class, the corruption of government by that class, the alienation ot public property, public franchises and public functions to that class, and the abject dependence of the mightiest of nations upon that class.
 Again, through the perversion of de- mocracy to the ends of plutocracy, labor i, pI,hnI ,,f inl, fl produces, is denied the means of self employment, and, by compulsory idle ness in wage-savery, is even deprived of the necessarles of life.
 Human power and natural forces are thus wasted that the plutocracy may rule
 Ignorance and misery with all their concomitant evils are perpetuated, that the people may be kept in bondage.
 Science and invention are diverted from their humane purpose to the en- Slavement of women and children.
 Against such system the $. l.. P once more enters its protest. Once more it re- iterates its fundamental declaration that private property in the natural sources of production and in the instruments of ldDUI lS I1lc oDNluuS thtlSt OI dll tCO- homie servitude and political depend enCe; and
 Whereas, the time is fast coming when, in the natural course of social ev0lu- tion, this system, through the destruc- tive action of its failures and crises on the one hand, and the constructive ten dencies of it's trusts and other capital lStlc combinations on the other hand, shall have worked out it's own down fall: therefore, be it
 ResOiUed, that we call upon the peo pie to organize with view to the sub stitution of the cooperative common wealth for the present state of plan less production, industrial war and so- cial disorder; a commonwealth in which every worker shall have the free exer- else and full benefit of his faculties, multiplied by all the modern factors of civilization.
 We call upon them to unite with us in mighty effort to gain by all prac- ticable means the political power
 In the meantime, and with view to immediate improvement in the condi, ton of Labor, we present the following ''Demands":
 SOCIAL DEMANDS.
 1. Reduction of the hours of labor in proportion to the progress of production.
 ?. The United States shall obtain pos session of the railroads, canals, tele- graphs, telephones, and all other means of public transportation and communi- cation.
 5. The municipalities to obtain posses sion Of the local railroads, ferries, water works, gas works, electric plants, ana all industries requiring municipal fran chises.
 4. The public lands to be declared in alienable. Revocation of all land grants to corporations or individuals, the con. ditions of which have not been com piled with.
 ,, Legal incorporation by the States of local Trade Unions which have no national organization. 6. Furthering of wOrkmen's co opera. tive productive associations by public credit; such associations to be preferred in the placing of contracts for public works.
 :. The United States tD have the ex elusive right to issue money. $. Congressional legi-lation providing for the scientific management of forests and waterways, and prohibiting the waste of the natural resources of the country.
 9 Inventions to be free to all; the inventors to be remunerated by the nation.
 10. Progressive income tax and tax on