Montana labor news., 1932-06-02
THE NEW SOCIALIST PLATFORM
NEW PLATFORM ADOPTED AT MILWAUKEE CONVENTION; NOR.
MAN THOMAS AND JAMES MAURER TO HEAD TICKET.

Unemployment and Labor Legislation.
/ A federal appropriation Of $4,000 900 for immediate relief for
those n need to supplement state and local appropriations.
2 A federal appropriation of s50OOOOOO0o for public works and roads,
refOrestation, slum clearance and decent homes for the workers, by federal
government, states and cities.
{. Legislation providing for the requirement of land, buildings and equip
ment necessary to put the unemployed to work producing food, fuel and
clothing and for the erection of houses, for their own use and consumption.
a The sixhour day and the fveday week without a reduction of wages.
5 A comprehensive and efficient system Of free public employment
agencies.
6 A compulsory system of unemployment compensation with adequate
benefits, based Of contributions by the government and by employers.
T. Old age pensions for men and women 60 years of age and over
8 Health and maternity insurance.
9. Improved systems of workmens compensation and accident insurance
10. The abolition of child labor
IL. Government aid to farmers and small home-owners to protect them
against foreclosures and sales for nOn-payment of taxes.
H. Minimum wage laws.
Social Ownership.
l. Specialization Of or mines, forests, oil and power resources; our
public utilities dealing with light and power, transportation and communica-
ton, and our basic industries.
Only after the Specialization of these resources will it be possible to have
planned production IN the basis of the full use of our economic and financial
resources for the common good.
2. The operation of these industries by boards of administration on
which the wage Garner, the consumer and the techncian ire adequately
represented; the recognition in each industry of the principle Of collective
bargaining.
Banking.
1 Specialization of our credit and currency system and the establish
acquisition of the Federal Reserve banks and the extension Of the services
Of the Postal Savings banks to cover all departments of the banking bust
ernmentowned banking corporation.
Taxation.
l. Steeply increased inheritance taxes and income taxes on the higher
incomes and estates of both corporations and individuals.
2 A constitutional amendment authorizing the taxation Of all govern
ment securities.
Many of the foregoing demands for socalhng the power banking and
other industries, for raising living standards among the city workers, etc.
would greatly benefit labor.
AS a special measure of agricultural upbundng we propose:
1 The reduction of tax burdens, by a shift from taxes Of farm property
to taxes on incomes, inheritances, excess profits and other forms of tax
}. Increased federal and state subsidies to road building and educational
and social services for rural communities.
8. The creation of a federal marketing agency for the purchase and
marketing of agricultural products.
a. The acquisition by bona-fde cooperative societies and by govern
mental agencies of grain elevators, stOckyards, packing houses and ware
houses and the conduct of these services o a non-proft basis. The en-
rapemen of farmers -Operati societies and of consumers O-Opera-
tes in the cities, with a view of eliminating the middleman.
{. The specialization of federal land banks and the extension by these
banks of long-term credit to farmers at low rates Of interest
s Social insurance against losses due to adverse weather conditions.
for the purpose of discovering the best uses of the farming land of the
country, in view of the joint needs Of agriculture, industry recreation,
water supply, reforestation, etc, and to prepare the way for agricultural
planning on a national and, ultimately 0 n a world scale.
Constitutional Changes.
l. Proportional representation
2 Direct election of the president and vice president.
8 The initiative and referendum.
A. An amendment to the constitution to make constitutional amendment
less cumbersome.
s. Abolition of the power of the Supreme Court to pass upon the con-
sttutionalty of legislation enacted by congress.
G. The passage of the Socialist partys proposed Workers Rights amend
ments to the constitution empowering congress to establish national sys-
TENS of unemployment, health and accident insurance and old age pensions,
to abolish child labor, establish and take over enterprises in manufacture,
commerce, transportation, banking, public utilities and other business and
industries to be owned and operated by the government, and generally for
the social and economic welfare Of the workers of the United States.
Civil Liberties.
/ Federal legislation to enforce the First Amendment to the consttu-
ton so IS to guarantee freedom of speech, press and assembly, and to pen
ahze any official who nterferes with the civil rights Of any citizen.
2 The abolition of injuncions in labor disputes, the outawing OF
yellow dog contracts and the passing of laws enforcing the rights of work
ers to organize into unions.
8. The immediate repeal Of the Espionage Law and other repressive
legislation, and the restoration of civil and political rights to those I'M
justly convicted under wartime laws.
A. Legislation protecting aliens from being excluded from this country
or from citizenship or from being deported on account o their political
social or economic beliefs, Oh on account of activities engaged in by them
which arc not illegal for citizens.
6. Modification of the immigration laws to permit the reunting of
families and to offer refuge to those fleeing from political or religious
persecution.
g. The enforcement of constitutional guarantees of economic, political
and legal equality for the Negro.
T. The enactment and enforcement of drastic antilynching laws
(The plank dealing with the 18th amendment to the constitution Of
the United States has been submitted to a national referendum of the
party membership, as provided for in the party constitution upon the
request of so delegates to the convention)
International Relations.
While the Socialist party is opposed to all war, it believes that there
IAN be n permanent peace until Socialism is established internationally
In the meanwhile, we will support all measures that promise to promote
good will and friendship among the nations Of the world, including:
l. The reduction of ornaments. leading to the goal of total dsaIma-