People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-05-27
DECLARATION OF INDUSTRIAL INDE,
PENDENCE.
Platform adopted BY the St. Louis Confer

lied industry, assembled in national con-
gress, invoking upon its action the bless
ing and protection of Almighty God, puts
forth to and for the producers of the ma
ton this declaration of union and indie
pendence. The conditions which surround
Us best justify our cooperation: We
meet in the midst of nation brought to
the verge of moral, political aud material
ruin. Corruption dominates the ballot
box, Legislatures, congress, and touches
even the srmins of the bench. The PEG.
pie are demoralizsd. Many of the states
have 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 mortgages;
labor impoverished, and lands concen.
trating in the hands of capitalists.
"The urban workmen are denied the
right of organization for lf.protsction;
imported psuperized labor beats down
their wages; hireling standing army, IN
recognized by our laws, is established to
shoot them down, and they are rapidly de-
generating to European conditions. The
fruits of the toll of millions are boldly
stolen to build up colossal fortunes, IN.
precedented in the history of the world,
while their possessors despite the republic
and endanger liberty. From the same
prolific womb of governmental injustice
We breed the great classes of paupers and
millionaires. The national power to
create money is appropriated, to enrich
bondholders; silver which has been accept.
ed as coin since the dawn of history, has
been demonitized, to add to the purchas
ing power Of gold by decreasing the value
of all forms of property, as well as
Of human labor, and the supply of cur.
reHcy is purposely abridged to fatten
usury, bankrupt enterprise and enslave
industry. A vast conspiracy against man.
kind has been organized on two continents
aud is taking possession of the world. If
not met and overthrown at once, it FORE
bodies terrible social commissions, the de.
struction of civilization and the establish
ment Of absolute despotism.
I'm this crisis of human affairs the in
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 ourpurposeto vote with the polit.
ical organization which is representative OF
our principles. We charge that the con.
trolling influences dominating the old DO.
litical parties have allowed the existing
dreadful conditions to develop without a
serious effort to restrain or prevent them
Neither do they now intend to accomplish
a reform. They have agreed together tc
ignore in the coming campaign every is
sue but one. They propose to drown our
the cries of plundered people with thu
uproar Of sham battle over the tariff; &c
that corporations, national banks, rings
trusts, 'watered stocks, the decentralization
of silver and the expressions of usurers
may all be lost sight of. They propos,
to sacrifice our homes and our children
upon the alter of Mammon; to destroy tn
hopes OF the multitude, in order to secur
corruption funds from the great load o
plumber.
I'VE assert that a political organizs
! ton representing the political principle
herein stated is necessary to redress tn
grievances of which we complain. As
i sembled on the anniversary Of the brit
of the illustri Jus man who led the frs
revolt on this continent against oppres
sion, filled with the sentiment which &C
tuated that grand generation, we seek :,
restore the government of the republic t,
the hands of the plain people with whom
it originated. Our doors stand open I,
, all points of the compass. We ask al
honest men to join hands with and he'll,
US. In order to restrain the extortions O
: aggregated capital, to drive the none,
changers out of the temple, to form
more perfect union, establish Justice, in
sure domestic tranquility, provide for tn
common defense, promote the genera
welfare, and secure the blessings of liber
ty tor ourselves aud our posterity,' we d
. ordain and establish the following plat
form Of principles:
IL. We declare the union of the lapo
forces of the United States, this day &C
complished, permanent and perpetual
May its spirit enter into all hearts for tn
D salvation of the republic and for the up
n lifting of mankind.
20. Wealth belongs to him who create
E it. Every dollar taken from industr
f without an equivalent is robbery. If an
will not work, neither shall he eat
!. 3. Demands national currency, safe
!. sound and flexible, issued by the govern
ment only, without the Intervention o
banks, said currency to be a full legs
t tender for all debts pnblic and privat,
{ and to be loaned to the people at rat
not to exceed per cent, as set forth i
# the sub-treasury plank of the Farmer
e Alliance platform, or by some better sys
ten, and also in payments in discharge O
obligations for public improvements.
4. Demands the free and unlimite
i i coinage of silver.
5. Demands that the amount of th
circulating medium be speedily increase
\ to not less than $50 per capita.
Il 6. Demands graduated income tax.
I. Believes that the money of the cour
d try should be as much as possible in th