The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1892-07-01
THE ST. LOUIS PLATFORM.

THE ST. LOUIS PLATFORM.
This. the first great labor conference Of tho
United States and Of the world-representing
all divisions OF urban and rural organized in.
dustry-assembled in national congress invok.
ing upon its action the blessing and protec tion
OF Almighty God puts forth, to and for the
producers OF this alton, this declaration of
union and Independence:
The conditions which surround us best Justify
our co operation. We meet in the midst OF a
natlon brought to the verge OF moral, political
ana material ruin Corruption dominates the
ballot box, the legislatures, the congre IS, and
touches even the ermine of the bench The
people are demoralized. Many of the states
nave been compelled to isolate the voters at
the polling places in order to prevent
universal intimidation or bribery The
newspapers are subsidized or muzzled;
public opinion silenced; business pros
trated: our homes covered with mort
cages labor impoverished, and the land concen-
trated in the hands Of capitalists The urban
workmen are denied the right of organization
Tor self protection; imported pauperized labor
beats down their wages: a hireling standing
army, unrecognized by our laws, is established
10 shoot them down, and they are rapidly de.
generating to European conditions. The fruits
OF the toll OF the millions are boldly stolen to
oulld up colossal fortunes, unprecedented in tho
history OF the world, while the possessors de-
spise the republic and endanger liberty. From
the same prolific womb Of governmental Unjust
ice we breed the two great casses-paupers 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 demonetized to
add to the purchasing power of gold by decreas.
ing the value Of ali forms Of property, as well
hI1yrr 1,1o @1o
purposely abridged to fatten usurers, bank.
cupt enterprise and enslave industry A vast
conspiracy against mankind has been or
ganized on two continents and is taking DOS.
session of the world. II not met and over
thrown at once, it forebodes terrible social con-
vulsions, the destruction Of civilization or the
establishment of an absolute despotism. In
this crisis of human affairs the intelligent
working people and producers of the United
states have come together, in the name Of
peace, order and society, to defend liberty
prosperity and just ice
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 influences
dominating the old political parties have al
lowed the existing dreadful conditions to de-
velop without serious effort to restrain or pre-
vent them. Neither do they now intend
to accomplish reform. They have agreed to-
oaign every issue but one. They pro-
pose to drown the outcries of a plundered peo-
pie with the uproar Of a sham battle over the
5ar1f, so that corporations, national banks,
rings, trusts "watered stocks" the demoneti-
Iation of silver, and the expressions OF usurers
may all be lost sight of. They propose to sacri-
ice our homes and children upon the altar of
nammon-to destroy the hopes of the multitude
IN order to secure corruption funds from the
yreatlOrds of plumber. We assert that a political
organization, repr esenting the political princi-
pies herein stated, is necessary to redress the
grievances of which we complain
Assembled on the anniversary Of the birth of
the illustrious man who led the first great re-
volt on this continent against oppression, filled
with the sentiments which actuated that grand
generation, we seek to restore the government
OF the republic to the hands of the plain peO-
pie" with whom it originated. Our doors stand
open to all points of the compass. We ask all
honest men to join with and help US. In order
to restrain the extortions of aggregated capital,
to drive the money changers out of the temple,
ITO form more perfect union, establish Justice,
insure domestic tranquility, provide for the
common defense, promote the general welfare
Ind secure the blessings Of liberty for ourselves
Ind our poSterity, we do ordain and establish
The following platform of principles:
FrSt-We declare the union of the labor
torces Of the United States this day accom-
ol1shed, permanent and perpetual May its
spirit enter into all hearts for the salvation Of
The republic and the uplifting of mankind
Second-Wealth belongs to him who creates
It. Every dollar taken from industry without
IN equivalent is robbery. If any will not work
neither shall he eat" The interests of rural
Ind urban labor are the same: their enemies are
IDENTICAL
Third-We demand national currency,
safe, sound and flexible; issued by the
general government only, full legal
lender for all debts, public and private,
and that without the use of banking cor
oorations just, equitable means of cir
;ulation at a tax not to exceed per cent as set
!orth in the sub-treasury plan of the Farmers
Alliance or some better system Also by pay.
nents in discharge of its obligations for public
improvements
Fourth-We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the government for
The safe deposit Of the earnings of the people
and to facilitate exchange.
Fifth-We demand that the amount of crcu-
ating medium be speedily increased to not less
than $50 per capita
Sixth-We demand the free and unlimited
coinage of silver.
Seventh-We believe that the money of the
country should be kept as much as possible in
The hands Of the people, and hence we demand
all national and state revenues shall be limited
70 the necessary expenses of the government
economically and honestly administered.
Eighth-We demand graduate income tax
Ninth-The land, including all the natural re-
sources of wealth. is the heritage of all the peo-
pie, and should not be monopolized for specula-
tive purposes, and alien ownership of land
should be prohibited All lands now held by
railroads and other corporations in excess of
their actual needs, and all lands now owned by
aliens should be reclaimed by the government
and held for actual settlers only.
neutrality-suspicious. being means of ex-
change and public necessity, the government
should own and operate the railroads in the in.
terest of the people.
Eleventh-The telegraph and telephone like
the post office system, being necessity for the
transmission of news, should be owned and
operated by the government in the interest OF
the people.
Resolved, That we hail this conference as the
contamination Of the perfect union of hearts
and hands of all sections of our common coun-
try; the men who wore the gray and the men
who wore the blue meet here to extinguish the
last smouldering embers of civil war in the
tears Of joy of a united and happy people and
we agree to carry the stars and stripes forward
forever to the highest point of national great
ness.
ADDITIONAL RESOLUTIONS.
We demand that the government issue legal
tender notes and pay the union soldier the diff
ference between the price Of the deprecated
money in which he was paid and gold.
Wo md fhaf fbo 49,