The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1918-12-13

political slavery imposed upon it by
Democratic, Republican and Socialist
politicians, has burst it's chains and
started a movement that it aims to
make nationwide.
At the meeting of the Chicago Fed
Grafton of Labor on Sunday, Novem-
ber II the Executive Board recon-
mended the formation of an "Inde-
pendent Labor Party" and requested
all local unions to endorse the call
ing of a convention for the forma-
tion of such party.
A platform was presented which is
to be presented to the conventions of
the Illinois State Federation of La
Dor and American Federation, of La
Dor conventions for their endorse
ment with the end in view Of max
ing the party national one.
1t is the intention to organize
every ward and precinct in Cook
County at once, that Labor may
have some voice in the election next
spring, when Chicago is to elect a
new mayor and members of the City
Council.
1t is further recommended that
Chicago Labor have a daily news
paper of its own in order that the
people may learn the real truth
about what is going on in the world
and get from under the domination
of "kept press"
The Executive Boards report con-
tinues:
Therefore, inasmuch as there will
be an election for mayor and alder
men this coming spring, and an cleo
ton of delegates to the States Con-
stitutional Convention next fall, and
a reconstruction program after the
swar, we recommend the formation
of an 'Independent Labor Party"
aside Of our economic organization,
at once; for the Chicago Federation
of Labor to request all local unions
to indorse the calling of a conven-
ton for the formation of this "In-
dependent Labor Party" to elect Of
ficers, they to proceed to organize
by precinct the County of Cook, and
same to be financed by dues-paying
members joining this "Independent
Labor Party"
We further recommend the in
dorsement of these Labor Fourteen
Points," to be submitted to the Hi
nois State Federation of Labor Con-
vention, to be held in Bloomington
Illinois, December I'd, 1918, and to
the American Federation of Labor
convention in Atlantic City, New
Jersey, June, 1919, as follows:
Lab0r's Fourteen Points
l. The unqualified right of work
ers to organize and to deal collec-
lively with employers through such
representatives of their unions as
they choose.
2. Democratic control of industry
and commerce for the general good
by those who work with hand and
brain, and the elimination of auto
cratic domination of the forces of
production either by selfish private
interests or bureaucratic agents of
the government.
8. An 8-hour day and a 44-hour
week in all branches of industry
with minimum rates of pay which,
without the labor of mothers and
children, will maintain the worker
and his family in health and COM
fort, and provide a competence for
old age, with ample provision for
recreation and good citizenship.
a. Abolition of unemployment by
the creation of opportunity for steady
work at standard wages through the
stabilization of industry and the es-
tablishment, during periods of de-
preston, of government work on
housing, road-building, reforestation,
reclamation of desert and swamp,
and the development of ports and
waterways.
5. Complete equality of men and
women in government and industry,
with the fullest enfranchisement of
women, and equal pay for men and
women doing similar work
6. Reduction of the cost of living
to just level, Immediately and as
a permanent policy, by the develop
ment of cooperation, and the elm
ination of wasteful methods, parasi-
tical middlemen and all profiteering
in the creation and distribution of
the products of industry and agricul-
ture, in order that the actual pro