The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-10-16
LABoR's PROTEST.
Both Of tho Old Parties Respon.
siblo for It's Disorderod
Condition.
An Address by the Worklngmen's But
Ter and West Club, Of Wash.
ington, ID. &.

To the Industrial Voters Of the United States.
We ask your co-operation. and tender you
ours In the present political contest, In an effort
to obtain such remedial legislation will secure
just relations between labor and capital, place
productive and commercial industry on sound
and enduring basis, and make our theory OF le-
gal equality reality.
Every joint in our industrial body Is dslo-
Gated. Millions are upon the verge Of starva-
ruined by the very abundance OF their un-
salable crops. Millions are almost naked, vet
the storehouses OF the East are bursting with
goods.
Possessing every essential condition OF pro-
dnction natural resources OF which we have as
yet scarcely scratched the surface. manufactur-
Ing " ama 70 'ns. .ne n
products. transporting facilities In excess OF
the demand, and money at nominal rates
hundreds Of thousands OF laborers are unem-
ployed.
Railroads are langnishing. yet at their termini
vast stores OF freight are found awaiting chance
for profitable exchange
Mines. mills and factories are continually
shutting down, suspending and locking out,
while stalwart labor stands helplessly by. and
women and children are employed In the inter-
TO further supplement the labor Of women
and children. cheap. servile labor is imported
Banks are full Of money and interest is low,
but spectators cannot obtain loans, and con-
scryative men dare not use their credit.
Strikes by lahorers. lockouts by employers.
ruptcy of railroads, defalcations OF bankers and
trustees, and suicides OF despairing men and
women afford ample news for the press, and are
the daily incidents Of our disjointcd industry.
Thus with men, money, machinery, mines,
railroads, lands-every natural and every arttf-
ciai condition essential to great and uninter-
rupted prOsperity-We have state Of industrial
paralysis which gives no promise Of future bet
terment.
We believe that the disordered industry here
described and the unequal and unjust distribu-
~ hn af lnhnr ara me n h0 nv
istence OF monopolies created and maintained
by law and social custom. We do not pretend
to know all the measures that will eradicate our
national evils. vet we affirm that great improve
mcnt will be apparent when the public land is
torn from the grasp Of spectators and corpora
tions and given TO actual settlers In moder-
ate quantities: when railroads are under
legislative control, compelling honest con-
struction and management. tmparttalits between
persons and places, moderate dividends. pro-
lection to employees, and uniform, permanent.
and reasonable rates: when the currency is re-
moved from the influences of mining accidents,
trade balances, and corporate interests. and
made uniform in volume, value, and debt-pay-
Ing power; when mines and manufactures are
placed upon = natural basis. and so adjusted
to the demand IA to have q permanent and
assessed and honestly collected: when public
expenditures are applied nationally to purely
public purposes. when statistics OF industry are
freely gathered and the conclusions drawn
thercfrom are embodied in remedial legislation: !:
when the enormous wealth in the treasury is
cast into productive channels. and when the adj
ministration q justice gives the poor an equal
These evils have grown up within the last
TWENTY-FIVE years. Many were directly pro-
duced by law, and others by natural forces in
the absence oil legal restraint.
We charge the Republican party with q crim-
inal indifference or a criminal Incompetence. II
has had twenty -four wears of power. and either
Il would not. or II could not, enact measures Of
relief No matter whether the power or the will
| was lacking. the results are the same,
The Democratic party has never. In all the
| time OF its opposition. united In words, pur-
poses. or deeds, TO remedy these evils Possess
Ing power in several States equally with the
Republican party. 1t hss surrendered to the
same vicious Influences.
Corporate greed aud irresponsible wealth ru le
labor and enterprise everywherc--in Republican
Massachusetts, Rhode Island. and pennsyl-
| vania: In Democratic New Jersey, Maryland,
| and West Virginia: and in the alternating
States, New York. Connecticut. Ohio. and In
| diana. Prison contract labor disgraces Mime
| sofa and Georgia alike.
In Ohio a Republican Legislature sends the
bank monopolist, Sherman, to the Senate, and
| n Democratic Legislature sends the Standard
In New York q Republican Legislature mur-
ders all hut n few of the peoples bill. passing
| few To enable Democratic Governor to engage
| In the con.enial slaughter.
| East. and the uncertain Vest alike come Sena.
tors and Representatives who are the devoted
supporters OF special privileges. The Democrat
4 ~
| Times ana Post-fair representatives OF the en-
tire metropolitan press--are unit OF opposition
/ To every measure of industrial reform.
! Al Chicago the Democratic party was impor'
l timed To declare in favor OF the measures OF 70
| lief we have enumerated, but the convention
| rejected them contcmptuously aud almos
| unanimously, and named for President notort
| GUS friend OF monopolics, thus completing tn,
| last act OF merging with the Republican party
They are one in monopolstic spirit and pnr
pose. Therefore We assert that no relief cal
come from either Of these oil parties. Are no
twenty -nse years Of experiment and disappoint
ment enoughs
II voting for defeated candidates is throwing
| a vote awav. the Democratic half OF our peopl
have thrown away their votes for almost thirt!
| years, and have an even chance OF doing IL again
| Ii voting for successful candidates who, whel
| I'm power hctray and oppress their constituents
| il not throwing Votes away, II Is something IA
worse, aud for this crime Republicans mus
| answer.
There IL but one way to save vote and max
| 1t count. Ii we have ideas and aspirations W
| must give them expression with our votes. |
| We have personal interests We must adyanc
| them With our votes.
The various independent parties National
| Anti Monopoly, and Labor-afe substanfta
unit in their demand that the measures hereto
| fore enumerated shall become laws They hay
| named ndidate acceptable TO all whose Ion
| aud eminent public services make him plat
form in himself. Ii You believe that on
principles ought TO control the Government,
| vote within
no not he fooled by the talk of choice Q
evils. So absolutely certain are the corporation
that their interests are secure. whatever the re
suit OF the election, iEat they serenely butte
heretofore accustomed 10 collect millions of dol
lars from them wherewith to corruptly contre
elections, arc waillas over tha lack OF contTlbu
| lions.
The fsanops,iets have made thair chOicr
| evils and chosen both They nov eraeionsi
As.hfd fa Ms peef1ss the fas.i,ns et dstMmiMp