CONNECTICUT. 



217 



a position under the Government, and by which no 

 office-holder shall be turned out or his oihce save for 

 misconduct or inability. 



The Labor-Reform party held their conven- 

 tion at Bridgeport, on the 3d of January, 1872, 

 the delegates in attendance being 31. The call 

 issued for the meeting required that " each 

 delegate, before taking his seat, should pledge 

 himself to leave the political party with which 

 he might previously have been identified, and 

 to support the platform of the General Conven- 

 tion." The pledge was accordingly subscribed 

 by all of the delegates. The following candi- 

 dates were nominated : For Governor, A. R. 

 Harrison, of New Haven ; Lieutenant-Gov- 

 ernor, W. R. Goodenough, of Hartford; Sec- 

 retary of State, E. M. Graves, of Hartford ; 

 Treasurer, James Craig, of Middletown ; Comp- 

 troller, T. H. Laramie, of Bridgeport. The 

 resolutions adopted were of the following im- 

 port : The preamble sets forth that the right 

 condition of labor is the basis of progress, pros- 

 perity, and wealth ; that the burden of main- 

 taining the government rests upon those en- 

 gaged in productive labor ; that the interests 

 of the producing classes have long been held 

 to be of secondary importance by legislative 

 powers in contravention of the organized law 

 of this State ; that all men, when they form a 

 social compact, are equal in rights ; and that 

 no men or set of men are entitled to extensive 

 public emoluments or privileges from the com- 

 munity. 



The resolutions claim that the two promi- 

 nent political parties have broken their pledges 

 to the wealth-producing classes, and that there- 

 fore it was their duty to form and maintain a 

 political organization, under the name of the 

 4 Labor-Reform party' of Connecticut; adopt 

 the platform of the Labor Congress held in 

 St. Louis, last year, as the basis of national 

 politics ; approve the presidential one-term 

 amendment to the Constitution of the United 

 States; propose the abolition of the rotten 

 borough system of representation in the State ; 

 call for such congressional legislation as shall 

 secure the abolition of land monopoly; com- 

 plain of the unwarrantable exercise of judicial 

 power as to the rights of working-men ; call 

 for the establishment of a Labor Bureau in the 

 State; assert that fifty dollars of working- 

 men's wages should be exempt from attach- 

 ment; that the attempt on the part of the 

 capitalists to control the votes of employes a 

 base attempt to corrupt the purity of the bal- 

 lot-box, and should be punished by imprison- 

 ment in the penitentiary ; complain that the 

 competition of convict-laborwith that of hon- 

 est men is a grievance that should not be al- 

 lowed; demand a legal provision for a more 

 equitable assessment of taxes in this State; 

 charge upon the present Executive and the 

 last Legislature of the State the attempt to se- 

 cure a higher rate of legal interest on money, 

 and thereby the attempt to impose additional 

 burdens upon labor and the perpetuation of an 



oppressive system of robbery and public plun- 

 der ; complain of the provision of the laws of 

 this State which provides one hundred dollars' 

 fine and imprisonment for using means to intim- 

 idate the working-man, with intent to oblige 

 him to leave his employer, as a law wholly in 

 the interest of capital; denounce legislative 

 lobbyists as thieves and robbers, and those who < 

 assist them as participators in their crimes, and 

 claim that all legislation for the incorporation 

 of capital should tend to give labor the right 

 to its share of the profits of its production. 



The Republican Convention assembled at 

 Hartford on the 24th of January, 1872, when 

 they unanimously renominated the persons 

 who then held the several State offices for 

 another term, namely : For Governor, Mar- 

 shall Jewell, of Hartford; Lieutenant-Gov- 

 ernor, Morris Tyler, of New Haven ; Secretary 

 of State, Hiram Appleman, of Groton ; Treas- 

 urer, David P. Nichols, of Danbury; Comp- 

 troller, James "W. Manning, of Putnam. The 

 following is the platform: 



The Republicans of Connecticut, in State Conven- 

 tion assembled, declare as follows : 



1. We again express our cordial adherence to the 

 doctrines and principles of the Republican party as 

 manifested in our former statements and in the na- 

 tional platforms, and we reflect with increasing 

 pride upon its wonderful work. It proved that a 

 free government, based on the will and affection of 

 a free people, is the strongest known form of gov- 

 ernment. It suppressed a great rebellion, freed mill- 

 ions of laborers, established equal rights, perfected 

 the national Constitution, and justified the Declara- 

 tion of Independence. By its great reduction of the 

 army and navy, the party proved that it had neither 

 desire nor expectation of war. Having incurred a 

 great debt, for the best reason the nation ever gave 

 at, it resolutely began an immediate reduction of 

 that debt. Yet, having cut down expenses, it has 

 been yearly cutting down taxation. Notwithstand- 

 ing the marvellous sacrifices of men and money, the 

 nation has steadily grown in wealth and population. 



2. During the existing Administration the debt has 

 been reduced nearly three hundred millions of dol- 

 lars ; peace and order have made great progress in 

 the lately rebellious regions ; a new policy toward 

 the Indians has been adopted, marked by firmness, 

 justice, and good faith ; the rights of all, especially 

 the poor and friendless, of whatever race or wher- 

 ever found ? have been scrupulously protected; a 

 self-respecting yet peaceful policy has been pursued 

 toward all the world, and our controversy with 

 Great Britain has been treated in a manner greatly 

 creditable to both nations. 



3. That we have undiminished confidence in the 

 patriotism, integrity, and ability of President Grant, 

 and for great and good work done in the country's 

 behalf we heartily thank him and his Cabinet and 

 the two Houses of Congress. 



4. The future must be as honorable as the past to 

 deserve and keep its lead of the world. The Repub- 

 lican party must be free to examine and criticise and 

 utterly without fear, favor, or partiality in attacking 

 all fraud, dishonor, and corruption, legislative, ex- 

 ecutive, or judicial, in the nation or State. We de- 

 mand economy, industry, and honesty, in our politi- 

 cal affairs, and rejoice at the brightening prospect of a 

 thorough reform of the civil service. For the Presi- 

 dent's efforts and pledges in this matter we tender 

 him our cordial thanks, and therein we pledge him 

 an enthusiastic, unwavering support. 



5. In national affairs we urge : first, a large reduc- 

 tion of taxation ; second, constant study and labor 



