Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-04-12
OFFICERS ELECTED
AND PLATFORM IS,
ADOPTED DURING DAY
The Platform E1nbodies IA
Points Determined by State
Federation Recently.

Springfield, ILL.,, April Ia
Removal from Office Of PostMas-
ter General Burleson ''because of
his alleged reactiOnary attitude
toward labor, free speech and q
free press" was demanded in reeo.
lutions adopted by the convention
Of the labor party Of Illinois to-
day.
Endorsement was given by the
new party to "a league Of nations
which will protect the peace
which has been won" 49,.
Other resolutions demanded
lifting of the Allied blockade
against the central powers and
that public utilities taken over by
the government shall not be re.
turned to private ownership.
A note OF thanks was ordered
forwarded to the Farmers Nom
partisan league and trades move
nents iIf North Dakota for their
interest in the new Illinois party.
Springfield. Ills. April 1.-THE
adoption of a platform, election of
executive officers and the introduction
of several resolutions was the work
before the convention of the new la
Dor. party of Illinois today, the clos
ing day of the convention.
4AClS dTC ~ OS HlSCCII AlCWOSIS VI
the executive committee chosen.
The platform as drawn contains
twenty-three plans 1t enbodies
fourteen points determined on by the
state federation of labor at it's Bloom
ington convention recently, in addi-
ton to other planks declaring for
woman suffrage and municipal own
ership. gag
The Platform.
Labor is the primary and just
basis of political responsibility and
power. It is not merely the right but
the duty of the workers by hand or
brain to become a political party.
The labor party is destined to ush-
er in the new day of freedom in the
United States-freedom from the
grind of poverty; freedom from the
ownership of government by big busi-
ness; freedom from the slave driving
of workers by profiteers and freedom
of the men and women who buy food
and clothing to pay rent, from ex-
plOitation at the hands of the money
kings of "Kingless' America.
''Organized workers are members Of
it. Unorganized workers are mem
bers, of it. Clerks. housewives news
paper men, farmers. school teachers,
belong to It. Such heads
l ssasldEss coA-
cSfn III - y k Ss6f expl0iteFa ,or
pKoatssae sldhE to it. There is no
place in theaparty for those who are
not workers.
THE labor, party was organized to
assemble into new majority the men
and women who work, but who have
in the old parties under the leadership
0f the C0nf1Honrn 0f hip h11Ri.
ness.
"The confidence men by exploita-
ton rob the workers Of the product
of their activities and use the huge
profits thus gained to. finance the old
political parties, by which they gain
and keep control of the government
They withhold money from the work.
er and use it to make him pay for his
own defeat.
Labor is aware of this and
throughout the world the workers
verse this condition and take control
Of their own lives and their own gov.
ernment.
''In this country this can and mus
be achieved peacefully by the workers
uniting and marching in unbroken
phalanx to the ballot boxes. 1t is the
mission of the labor party to bring
this to pass.
THE day has passed when forward
looking citizens can hope for progress
aid or sincerity at the hands of the
Republican or Democratic party Of
ficeholders.s The time has come 70,
the workers Of Illinois to force a cleal
line of cleavage and disengage them
selves definitely and permanently
from old party ties.
"The first convention of the new
state labor party enunciates the fol
lowing program Of issues to which i
pledges itself, its members and it.
candidates.:
"1--Democratic control Of industry
and commerce for the general good Of
those who work with hand and brair
and the elimination of autocratit
domination Of the forces of produc
ton and distribution either by selfst
private interests or bureaucratic
agents of fagovernrnent.
"2-The unqualified right of work
ers to organize and to deal collectivel,
with employers.
''s-The freedom from economi.
hazard which comes with minimum
wage based on the cost of living ant
the right of the workers to maintain
without the labor of mothers ant
children, himself and his family il
health and comfort, with ample pro
vision for recreation and good citizen
ship.
'.4-Leisure in which to improv.
the mind and body by the instituttcl
OF maximum working day Of eigh
hours.
fC4~tSNvnAIS -