The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1877-02-03

I
raised against it by the partizan press and
partizan leaders, who were quick to per-
ceive that growing independence Of party
tIes,And more intelligent use Of the bal
lot, would be the result of its influence up
on its members.
Ii in my Judgment worse than folly to
attempt to stem the tide Of wicked and cor
rupt legislation that is beggaring the pro
duciHR interests Of the country, by any
othet means than the united rote Of the
lahnr pf the country and so long as we
are allgided upon political questions, and
parmlt ourselves to be arrayed in separate
ofRA4izations, and kept lighting each other,
soIobg will the evils Of which we complain
cdzzfinne. That we whose interests are 50
idHptical III any particular, can be thus d.
i vided by the selfish schemes of political
leHdHrs, and by our own ignorance in mat
/ ter OF such vital Importance to us, seems
/ te.Ne sorry comment upon our capacity
and fitness for citizens of free representa-
! TIE government.
l. II late election has proved beyond a
dzk~ ~>s-fhpp pFessing necessity Of such an or
ganization as ours, which, though not po-
litical in its character, has yet within itself
| the elements Of a great political organiza-
I tIon which can be brought into active oper-
alton, whenever the necessity arises, or the
\ times are ripe for il.
Out uf this Association has grown the
4 Matt mai Independent party as it exists to-
day, and the fact, that IN place Of the So
v 900 independent votes Of two years ago IL
I this State, but Is, 600 were cast at the late
\ election, proves, not that our cause has
/ really gone backward, but that there is a
! more pressing need OF such well organized
/ tftuit on our part that our principles shall
4 not fail to reach every producer every
wealth creator N the State, and etfectually
I cuuuteract the influence of those old party
/ ties and affiliations which, III the excite
meut # "A Presidential contest led so many
/ to vote Tor the very men and measures
thar are to fasten still more strongly upon
them the chains Of their degradation and
slavery.
Meu ceased to reason III the Whirl and
excitement of the bitter contest lust closed.
but now that reason has resumed her
throne, and they look calmly upon their
work, ana see the effect Ia the uncertainty
ut the future, the paraly zing of business,
and the stagnatIun uf ali enterprise, while
tht politicians are wrangling over tile spoils
nrun- from the sweat and blood uf the
I people, regrets are felt Ia thousands uf
hearts that they were deluded into making
their votes the instrument of their own
subJneation To the HunIed power, that nov
controls the entire legislation Of the State
and Nation.
have felt from the first, that cur As
soclatlou ought to be one Of the permanent
. organizations ut the laborlng and producing
classes Of the State, and the events of the
past year have strengthened ny convic-
OoHs IN tins direction.
4 Punhcauon Of our political system can
only come through the iustrumentahty of
a neN party, ana this party must grow out
of tLe rural districts, where, If any here
Iu th country, may be found population
uncontaminated by the vices incident to the
cities, and v here an identity If interests
viii tend to chrystalize a sentiment mimi
cal ~ the politician, and Of vital import
ance ~ those whose votes have heretofore
ueen cast In obedience to party dictates,
and without thought of the effects upon
their own rights ana interests Independ-
ence of thought, and action will follow
the discussion Of questions that come be-
fore us here, aud We have every thing to
encourage us IN the constantly increasing
ta'f' tNot III tiAt H'ih W ItlbIul VIC nave
maugeratcd, and the gratifying fact that
men are reading, and thinking upon the
great problem OF the relation of capital and
labor as never before IN the history uf this
or any other country, aud notwithstanding
the terrible fact that men and women by
the million are suffering fur the veriest
necessaries Of life, IN consequence Of the
disturbed condition Of our finances, and
the fear that prevents new investments
tor the employment Of labor, the effect Of
such suffering must be to arouse men to
seek ont its true cause, and remedy FOR
such mOnstrous evils.
we hold the balance of power in the
legislature through the election II Senators.
upon the principles laid down in our Deca-
tur platform three years ago. If they use
this power to maintain those principles in
the present contest for United States Sen
ator, and to prevent the further encroach-
ment upon the peoples rights, by the en-
actment of unjust laws, as well as insisting
upon revision Of our revenue laws IN the
interest OF right and Justice, 1t will be a
point gained OF more Importance than any
thing Vet accomplished, whatever the final
result of the Senatorial question may be-
Some nore efficient legislation is neces-
sary TO carry out the reforms we seek III
the matter uf railroads, and the revenue
laws, and trust we shall SO improve this
occasion Of our meeting IN this city. while
the legislature is in session as to insure
that the same respect shall be paid to the
expressed wishes Of the large constituency
We represent on these questions.
"A recent article IN one Of the Chicago
n n "A L..4 Al a
managers, foreshadows the attempts that
viii be made to take the control Of the
railroads from the State, and hand them
over to the corporations themselves, leav-
ing the people helpless in the hands Of
those, who, If their schemes can be carried
out, will practically cuntlscate the entire
labor Of the country to their insatiate
greed. The same paper has also demanded
that the banks be relieved from large part
of their present State and National taAe-
ton, making some gross mls-statements IL
regard to their profits, as well AS of the
amount of taxes imposed upon them. Both
Of these subjects Will no doubt be brought
before the legislature this winter, and the
release Of railroads from State control, and
the banks from their fair share Of taxation
viii be advocated by a bireling press, and
doubtless by very many members Of both
houses Of the general assembly. The mote
of alarm should be sounded here, and the
people aroused to a stern resistance t. these
schemes to complete their Subjugation to
the corporate monopolies ot the State.
Every attempt at legislation that shall
relieve the people from unequal laws and
, an unjust burden Of taxation, has been
met with the determined opposition Of the
daily press with but few exceptions, and
the paid lobbyists Of the corporations, as
well as of their friends IN either house
The bill recently introduced to lower the
rate of interest on special contracts to :
per cent has already encountered the wrath
OF the Tribune, and it has taken up the
Ia ..r,- Of .shri can,ital ni1t l,f III.