New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-03-22


arid lands and reclamation of swamp
and cut-over lands should be under.
taken upon larger scale under direc-
ton of the Federal government. NUM-
clpallties and States should be empow-
cred to acquire lands for cultivation.
Taxation
Taxation should provide for full
contribution from wealth by a tax
upon profits which will not discourage
industrial or commercial enterprise.
There should be provided pro-
gressive increase in taxes upon in
comes, inheritances and land values of
such nature as to render it unprofit-
able to hold land without putting 1t to
use, to afford transition to greater
economic equality and to supply means
OF liquidating Indebtedness growing
out Of the war.
Public Education
"The government should exercise ad-
visory supervision over public educa-
ton, and where necessary maintain ade-
quate public education through sub
sides without giving to the govern
ment power to hamper or interfere with
the free development Of public educa-
ton by the several states. 1t is essen
tai that our system Of public educa-
ton should offer the Wage earners
children the opportunity for the fullest
possible development. To attain this
end state colleges and universities
should be developed.
10 elevate and advance the interests
OF the teaching profession and to pro-
mote popular and democratic educa.
ZION, the right of the teachers to or
game and to affiliate with the move
meht OF the organized workers must be
recognized.
Credit.
we urge the organization and use
OF credit to serve production needs and
not to increase the incomes and hold
ings of tinanciers Control over credit
capital should be taken from financiers
and should be vested in public agency,
able to administer this power as a
public trust in the interests of all tho
people.
Public Utilities and Railroads.
Public and semi-public utilities
should be owned, operated or regulated
BY the government in the interests of
the public.
Upon the question of the DISPOSE
ton OF the railroads the convention de-
clared: We insist upon the right of
the workers to organize for their COM
mon and mutual protection and in the
full exercise of the normal activities
winch come with organization'
Shipping
"The government should own and
operate all wharves and docks con-
nccted with public harbors which are
used for commerce or transportation.
The American merchant marine
should be encouraged and developed
under governmental control, and so
manned as to insure successful opera
ton and protect in full the beneficent
laws now on the statute books for the
rights and privileges rightfully exer-
seamen must be accorded the same
rights and privileges rightfully ever
cised by the workers in all other en-
Payments, public and private.
Water Power
Legislation should be enacted pro-
viding that the governments, Federal
and state, should own, develop and
operate all water power over which
they have jurisdiction. The power thus
generated should be supplied to all
citizens at rates based upon cost.
The Courts
"An insuperable obstacle to self-gov-
eminent in the United States exists in
the power which has been gradually
assumed by the supreme courts of the
Federal and state governments to de-
clare Legislation null and void upon
the ground that, in the courts opinion,
it is unconstitutional.
"Adequate steps must be taken which
will provide that in the event of a
supreme court declaring an act Of
Congress or of a state Legislature I'M
constitutional and the people, acting di-
rectly or through Congress or state
Legislature, should reenact the meas
out being subject to annulmcnt by the
court.
eve urge that the judges of Federal
courts shall be elected by the people
for terms not exceeding six years
We assert that there cannot be found
in the Constitution of the United
States or in the decisions of the Con-
gress which drafted the Constitution
any authority for the Federal courts
of our country to declare unconstitu-
tional any act passed by Congress.
We call upon the people of our coun-
try to demand that the Congress of
the United States shall take action for
the purpose of preventing the Federal
courts from continuing the usurpation
OF such authority.
Militarism
"Our labor movement distrusts and
protests against militarism, because it
knows that mi]itarism represents
privilege and is the tool of special in
terests, eXploiters and despots. But
while it opposes militarism, it holds
that it is the duty Of nation to de-
fend itself against injustice and in
vasion."