Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 October 1883 — LABOR CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

LABOR CONGRESS.

A Declaration of Principles. The Trade and Labor Federation, in session at St. Louis last week, issued a Declaration of Principles, the salient points of which are: 1. That those who labor and create wealth are the most important in society, and hence should enjoy the full benefit of their toil; that a just and equitable distribution of the fruits of labor is not possible under the present system of society; that the present tendency toward corporations is dangerous to the people’s liberty; and that the emancipation of the working people must be achieved by themselves. 2. A demand that railroad land-grants forfeited shall be reclaimed by the Government. 3. That election-days shall be legal holidays, and all wage-workers should have half of Saturday as a holiday. 4. Equal pay for equal work to both sexes, and the abolition of the convict contractlabor system. 5. Compulsory education, and the State to furnish books and other school material free. 6. Eight hours to constitute a legal day’s work, and penalties for its violation. 7. Prohibiting child labor in factories and mines under 14 years of age. 8. The Commissioners of Labor of this State to belong to some labor organization. 9. Railroads and telegraphs to become the property of the State. 10. The repeal of all acts known as conspiracy aots, as applied to labor organizations. 11. A purely national circulating medium Issued directly to the people. 12. An Employers’ Liability act, holding corporations liable for injury received by persons who are in their employ. 13. That all trade and labor unions be incorporated by the Legislature, the same as other incorporated bodies.