Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-08-02
THE PLATFORM OF FRANK +.
WALSH.

(Here are the recommendations for
national platform submitted to the
national convention by
Walsh. chairman of the famous United
States commission on industrial rela-
tom.
The democratic party, in convention
assembled, declares that the problems
of society and government or this time
are economic and industrial. rather
than political. It recognizes peril IN
the conditions described in the reports
of the commission on Industrial reia-
tiOns, wherein 2 per cent OF the people
own so per cent of the wealth, and DO
per cent of the people own per cent
of the wealth of the nation 1t accepts
as proved the statement that the
causes of industrial unrest are:
/ Unjust distribution of wealth and
income.
9. Unemployment and denial OF an
opportunity to earn a living
g. Denial of justice in the creation,
in the adjudication and in the admin
istration of law.
4 Denial of the right and oppor-
tunity to form effective organizations
We affirm that, whatever our needs
of military defense may be. prepared
ness for any emergency in national lie
must be built upon the prosperity OF
the workers.
TOiIers Resent Mastery.
We recognize the fact that the great
mass of American toilers and pro
ducers rightly resent any sort of mas
terv. either that which assumes to DO
good to them, or that which actually
exploits them
We. therefore, declare that the work
ers should, as a matter of moral ana
legal right, have the fullest Opportu-
nifty to form organizations among
themselves to control their share IN in
dustry, through the power of collective
bargaining.
We demand the fullest encourage
ment, both in administrative law and
in the judicial process of union labor
To make this declaration effective, we
point out that, today and in the past.
the power of courts and other legal
processes has been used against the
rights of the workers to associate
| themselves in labor unions. We con-
denim these practices as being in Vlo-
| lation of the spirit, at least, of the fed
eral law securing to the workers the
| legal right of voluntary association.
DenOunce Imported Guards.
! We denounce particularly in this
| connection the importation from one
state to another of such armed guards
and of machine guns, armored ca2As,
motor cars and the like. And we
pledge the enactment of all possible
| legislation TO prevent such private
usurpation of power.
| We believe the statements Of such
men as Professor Henry r. Seager to
| DO indisputable, that no one can queS-
| ton but what our judges have shown a
decided bias in favor of the employer.
| We affirm that the attitude of gov
| eminent toward industry and those en-
gagged in industry is not manifested
alone in the making of laws, but in the
administration of law, both in the adj
ministrative and executive departments
and in the courts. We, therefore,
pledge the democratic party not only
! to legislate in fairness to those who
produce wealth, but also to adopt in
every defnable and indefnable way
| the position that the workers should
| have the full product of their toll and
that they should have full liberty of
action consistent with that axiom of
Industrial justice.
/ Specifically, we declare for the eight
| hour day in industry. We pledge our
| lawmakers in nation and state to en-
/ act such legislation to this end as mat
be within the domain of Iawmaking !;
]
all administrative officers to every
movement by which the workers seek
to take the eight-hour day by their or
| gained economic power
Abolish Child Labor.
! We demand and pledge the enact
ment of federal law against child
labor.
We pledge the democratic party to
maintain the seamen's act, under which
only can the commerce of this nation
secure a body of competent American
seamen. And we pledge such enforce
ment of the seamen's act by executive
and administering departments as
shall not in any degree invalidate or
weaken its provisions.
We believe that positive action
should be taken both to prevent the
concentration of wealth and power in
the hands of the few, and to remedy
the conditions arising from such con-
centratiOn that already prevail to sc
great degree. AS part of the remedy
we pledge the enactments of such in
heritance tax laws and income tax
laws, not only as measures of revenue
production, but as measures of social
protection to prevent the accumulation
of great fortunes.
The large inheritance taxes and in
come taxes imposed now in the war