Socialism and Democracy in Europe Part 48

In the struggle for freedom the interests of all modern workers are identical. The struggle is not only national but international. It embraces the world and will be carried to ultimate victory by the united workers of the world.

To unite the workers of the nation and their allies and sympathizers of all other cla.s.ses to this end, is the mission of the Socialist Party. In this battle for freedom the Socialist Party does not strive to subst.i.tute working cla.s.s rule for capitalist cla.s.s rule, but by working cla.s.s victory, to free all humanity from cla.s.s rule and to realize the international brotherhood of man.

PROGRAM

As measures calculated to strengthen the working cla.s.s in its fight for the realization of this ultimate aim, and to increase its power of resistance against capitalist oppression, we advocate and pledge ourselves and our elected officers to the following program:

_General Demands_

1. The immediate government relief for the unemployed workers by building schools, by reforesting of cut-over and waste lands, by reclamation of arid tracts, and the building of ca.n.a.ls, and by extending all other useful public works. All persons employed on such works shall be employed directly by the government under an eight-hour work-day and at the prevailing union wages. The government shall also loan money to states and munic.i.p.alities without interest for the purpose of carrying on public works. It shall contribute to the funds of labor organizations for the purpose of a.s.sisting their unemployed members, and shall take such other measures within its power as will lessen the widespread misery of the workers caused by the misrule of the capitalist cla.s.s.

2. The collective ownership of railroads, telegraphs, telephones, steamboat lines, and all other means of social transportation and communication.

3. The collective ownership of all industries which are organized on a national scale and in which compet.i.tion has virtually ceased to exist.

4. The extension of the public domain to include mines, quarries, oil wells, forests, and water power.

5. The scientific reforestation of timber lands, and the reclamation of swamp lands. The land so reforested or reclaimed to be permanently retained as a part of the public domain.

6. The absolute freedom of press, speech, and a.s.semblage.

_Industrial Demands_

7. The improvement of the industrial condition of the workers.

(_a_) By shortening the workday in keeping with the increased productiveness of machinery.

(_b_) By securing to every worker a rest period of not less than a day and a half in each week.

(_c_) By securing a more effective inspection of workshops and factories.

(_d_) By forbidding the employment of children under sixteen years of age.

(_e_) By forbidding the interstate transportation of the products of child labor, of convict labor, and of all uninspected factories.

(_f_) By abolishing official charity and subst.i.tuting in its place compulsory insurance against unemployment, illness, accidents, invalidism, old age, and death.

_Political Demands_

8. The extension of inheritance taxes, graduated in proportion to the amount of the bequests and to the nearness of kin.

9. A graduated income tax.

10. Unrestricted and equal suffrage for men and women, and we pledge ourselves to engage in an active campaign in that direction.

11. The initiative and referendum, proportional representation, and the right of recall.

12. The abolition of the senate.

13. The abolition of the power usurped by the supreme court of the United States to pa.s.s upon the const.i.tutionality of legislation enacted by Congress. National laws to be repealed or abrogated only by act of Congress or by a referendum of the whole people.

14. That the Const.i.tution be made amendable by majority vote.

15. The enactment of further measures for general education and for the conservation of health. The bureau of education to be made a department. The creation of a department of public health.

16. The separation of the present bureau of labor from the department of commerce and labor, and the establishment of a department of labor.

17. That all judges be elected by the people for short terms, and that the power to issue injunctions shall be curbed by immediate legislation.

18. The free administration of justice.

Such measures of relief as we may be able to force from capitalism are but a preparation of the workers to seize the whole power of government, in order that they may thereby lay hold of the whole system of industry and thus come to their rightful inheritance.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] GEORGES WEIL, _Histoire du Mouvement Social en France_, p. 208.