The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1916-07-01

Platform Committee of the Democratic
Convention and presented planks in the
interest of the men and women of toll
identical to those presented to the Re-
publican Committee the week previous.
These included:
Pledge to maintain the Federal Clay
ton law, which assures workers the legal
right OF voluntary association and guar
antees the right of trial by jury in al
legged contempt cases committed outside
the presence of courts.
Vigorous enforcement of the Seamen's s
Act and the most liberal interpretations
of its provisions. Opposition to weaken
ing any section intended to protect sea-
men and travelling public. 1t is declared
that american seamcn will constitute
a trained reserve force in time of ma
tional peril" and that conditions should
be such as to Induce resourceful, capa-
bic, libertyloving Americans to follow
that vocation"
Demand that the immigration and con-
tract labor laws be enforced and so ex-
tended as to debar from the United
States all persons who can not read
some language.
Industrial education and vocational
ton, on the theory that national indus
trial efficiency is not a haphazard occur
renee, but is the result of carefully con-
sidered methods and policies"
The enactment and rigid enforcement
of = Federal child labor law.
The faithful observance and enforce
ment of all Federal eight hour laws and
their extension to all departments of
Government.
The enactment of Federal work
mems compensation law.
Laws excluding from interstate com
merce the products of convict labor.
Legislation to abolish preventable loss
OF life and injury to workers in industry
and transportation. The creation of a
bureau of safety under the Department
of Labor to collect data relative to in
dustrial hazards and devise methods to
decrease deaths and injuries in industry.
Opposition to scientific management"
and other speeding-up systems in indus
try.
Extension of the powers and functions
of the Federal Bureau of Mines.
Full rights of American citizenship to
the people of Porto Rico.
Adequate compensation for all civil
service employees and a reasonable mini
mum wage for all such employees.
a tribunal to which all employees in
the competitive civil service may appeal
for redress of grievances.
a Federal compensation law to apply
to all civil service employees.
An equitable retirement law providing
tor the retirement of superannuatcd and
disabled employees of the civil service.
Employment in the civil service must
not impair the employees right of peti-
ton.
Government ownership of telegraphs
and telephones.
Equal suffrage.
Labor PlankS Secured.
The Platform Committee agreed to
the following, which was adopted by
the convention:
We have lifted human labor from the
category of commodities, and have Sc
cured to the workingman the right to
voluntary association for his protection
and welfare We have protected the
rights of the laborer against the unwar-
ranted issuance of writs of Injunction,
and have guaranteed to him the right of
trial by jury in cases of alleged con-
tempt proceedings committed outside the
presence of the court.
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT.
We hold that the life, health and
strength OF the men, women and chill
dren OF the nation are its greatest asset,
and that IN the conservation of these the
Federal Government, wherever it acts as
the employer of labor, should both on its
own account and as an example, put into
effect the following principles of just
employment:
IA living wage for all employees.
"A working day not to exceed eight
hours, with one day OF rest in seven.
3-The adoption OF safety appliances
and the establishment of thoroughly san
itary conditions of labor.
adequate compensation for indus
trial accidents.
5-The standards of the uniform la
Dor law" wherever minors are employed
6-Such provisions for decency, com
fort and health in the employment of
women as should be accorded the moth
erS of the race,
An equitable retirement law provid
ing for the retirement of superannuated
and disabled employees of the civil serv-
ice to the end that higher standard of
efficiency may be maintained.
We believe also that the adoption of
similar principles should be urged and