Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1892-03-11
The Leader.
Published Friday at 81 q year.
ST. Louis Meeting.
Industrial Masses of the Nation
in Conference.
Vox Popu|i, Vox Del.
Americas Second Continental Congress
Authorized Representatives Present from
Nearly Every Labor and Reform
Organization in the Land.
OF the People! For the People!

OF the People! For the People!
The Iowa Farmers Tribune gave a
splendid report Of the great St. Louis
meeting, and in speaking of the last day
of the session says!
Wednesday morning while the confer
ence proper was waiting the report of
the committee on platform, the ''blue
and the gray" took possession of music
hall and held grand union meeting and
love feast. Hon. Ben Terrill Of Texas
presided and speeches were made by
Hon. l.. L. Polk, Gen. G. H. Van Wyck,
Ben Terrill, Paul Vandervoort of Neb-
raska, Captain Power of Indiana and
others. The greatest harmony and en-
thusiasm prevailed and while an Ohio
gentleman sang Omitted we stand and
divided we fall," the men who had once
faced each other over blazing gun-bar-
rels clasped hands and literally 'fell on
each others necks and wept." 1t was
moving scene and there were few dry
eyes in the great audience.
THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE
It was nearly eleven o'clock when Mr..
Terrill resigned the gavel to Chairman
Polk and the conference proper was call
ed to order to hear the report Of the COM
mittee on platform. The chairman Of
the committee announced that the report
would be presented in two parts. First,
Mr.. Donnelly would read an address
which proceeded the platform proper and
then the platform itself would be read.
The chair. urged that the conference re-
train from any demonstration during
the reading, that there might be perfect
order and the report be heard by every
| one A hush fel. on the vast assembly,
and Mr.. Donnelly advanced to the plat
form and, in strong, clear tones, read the
following:
STATES.
| This, the first great labor conference Of
the United Statas and Of the world, re-
presenting all divisions Of urban and
rural organized industry, assembled in
national congress, invoking upon it's
action the blessing and protection Of AL
mighty God; put forth to and the pro-
ducers OF the nation this declaration Of
union and independence:
| The conditions which surround us
best justify our cooperation. We meet
in the midst of a nation brought to the
verge of moral, material and political
run. Corruption dominates the ballot
| l,, c1,t,, ND
the ermine of the bench. The people are
demoralized. Many of the states have
been compelled to isolate the voters at
the polling places in order to prevent un-
iversal intimidation or bribery.
| The newspapers subsidized or muzZled,
public opinion silenced, business pro-
strated, our homes covered with mortga-
ges labor impoverished and the land con-
centrating in the hands Of the capitalists.
| The urban workmen are denied the
right of organization for self-protection;
imported pauperized labor beats down
their wages; hireling standing army,
unrecognized by law. is established to
shoot them down and they are rapidly de-
generating into European conditions.
The fruits of the toll of millions are bold
" stolen to build up colossal fortunes
unprecedented in. the history OF the
world, while their possessors despise the
republic and endanger liberty.
From the same prolific womb Of gov
ernmental injustice we breed the two
great classes-pauper and millionaires.
The national power to create money is
appropriated to enrich bondholders.
Silver, which has been accepted as coin
since the dawn Of history, has been de-
monetized to add to the purchasing pow
er Of gold by decreasing the value Of all
forms Of property as we'll as human lab
or, and the supply of currency is pur-
posely abridged to fatten usurers. bank
rupt enterprise and enslave industry.
A vast conspiracy against mankind has
been organized on two continents and is
taking possession OF the world. If not
met and overthrown at once it forebodes
terrible, social commissions, the destruc-
tion of civilization or the establishment
of absolute despotism.
telligent working people and producers
of the United States have come together
in the name of peace order and society,
to defend liberty, prosperity and justice.
We declare our union and independence.
We assert our purpose to vote with that
political organization which represents
| our principles.
We charge that the controlling intlu-
ence dominating the old political parties
have allowed the existing dreadful con-
ditions to develop without serious effort
to restrain or to prevent them. Neither
do they now intend to accomplish reform.
They have agreed together to ignore, in
the coming campaign, every issue but
one. They propose to down the outcry