The Washington herald., 1920-03-22
GOMPERS GIVES
PLATFORM FOR
1920 CAMPAIGN

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.
nion men and all men. But uniol
nen cannot win these things 70
alone. II they are VOL
hey are won for all people"
The labor platform as drawn u,
n Gompers' article gives, under :
cries of subheadings. the desires o
abor on thirteen issues. Portion
( the platform follow:
High Cost of Living and
Pronteering.
Existing high and excessive
prices are due to the present
imitation of money and credits.
to profiteering by those who
manufacture. sell and market
products and to burdens levied
by middlemen and spectators.
We urge:
The deflation of currency;
prevention of boarding and un-
fair price fixing; establishment
of cooperative movements op-
Grated under the Rochdale sys-
tenn: making accessible all in
come tax returns and dividend
declarations as direct and
truthful means of revealing ex-
cessive costs and profits"
Publicity OF Profits.
1T is. essential that legisla-
oh
eral licensing of all corpora
tions organized for profit. Fur
thermore. Federal supervision
and control should include the
increasing of capital stock and
the incurring of bonded indebt-
edness with the provision that
the books OF all corporations
shall be open at all times to
Federal examiners"
Cooperation.
There is an almost limitless
field for the consumers in which
to establish cooperative buy
ing and selling. and in the most
necessary development. the trade
unionist should take an imme-
diate and active part. Partici-
patton in these cooperative
agencies must of necessity pre-
pare the mass of the people to
participate more effectively in
the solution of the industrial,
commercial and political prob
lens which continually arise"
High Cost of Living and
Housing.
THE ownership of homes free
from the grasp-of exploitative
and speculative interests, will
make for more efficient work
ers. more contented families
and better conditions. The gov
ernment should, therefore, in
augurate a plan to build model
houses and establish a system
of credits whereby the workers
may borrow money at a low rate
of interest and under favorable
terms to build their own
homes"
High Cost of Living and Agri-
culture.
Legislation should be adopted
placing a graduated tax upon all
usable lands above the acreage
which is cultivated by the
owner. Municipalities and States
should be empowered to acquire
lands for cultivation"
Taxation.
There should be provided a
on incomes, inheritances and
land values of such a nature
as to render it Improbable to
hold land without putting it to
use, to afford a transition to
greater economic equality and
to supply means of liquidating
Indebtedness growing out of the
war"
Public Education.
ITO elevate and advance the
interests of the teaching pro-
fession and to promote popular
and democratic education, the
right of teachers to organize
and to affiliate with the move
ment of workers must be rec
ognized."
Src0Its
Control over credit capital
should be taken from financiers
and should be vested in a pub
lie agency, able to administer
the power as a public trust in
the interests of all the people"
Railroads. Public Utilities.
Public and semi-public utili-
ties should be owned, operated
or regulated by the government
in the interest of the public"
whnrves and Docks. shipping.
"The government should own
and operate all wharves and
docks connected with public
harbors which are used for
commerce or transportation.
The American merchant marine
should be encouraged and de-
veloped under government con-