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nomical question. We repudiate entirely connection with all political parties of the propertied classes without regard to their name.
We demand that all the means of labor (land, machinery, railroads, telegraphs, canals, etc.) become the Common property of the whole people, for the purpose of abolishing the Wages System, and substituting in its place Co-operative Production with a just distribution of its rewards.
The Political Action of the party is confined generally to obtaining legislative acts in the interest of the working class proper. It will not enter into a political campaign before being strong enough to exercise a perceptible influence, and then in the first place locally in the towns or cities, when demands of purely local character may be presented, provided they are not in conflict with the Platform and Principles of the party.
We work for organization of the Trades Unions upon a National and International basis to ameliorate the condition of the working people and seek to spread therein the above principles.
The Workingmen's Party of the United States proposes to introduce the following measures, as a means to improve the condition of the Working Classes.
1. Eight Hours for the present as a Normal working day, and legal punishment of all violators.
2. Sanitary Inspection of all Conditions of Labor, Means of Subsistence and Dwellings included.
3. Establishment of Bureaus of Labor Statistics in all States as well as by the National Government; the officers of these Bureaus to be taken from the ranks of the Labor Organizations and elected by them.
4. Prohibition of the use of Prison Labor by private employers.
5. Prohibitory laws against the employment of children under 14 years of age in Industrial Establishments.
6. Gratuitous Instruction in all Educational Institutions.
7. Strict laws making employers liable for all accidents to the injury of their employees.
8. Gratuitous administration of Justice in all courts of Law.
9. Abolition of all Conspiracy Laws.
10. Railroads, Telegraphs, and all means of Transportation to be taken hold of and operated by the Government.
11. All Industrial Enterprises to be placed under the control of the Government as fast as practicable and operated by free Co-operative Trades Unions for the good of the whole people.
