The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1892-03-04
ST. LOUIS CONFERENCE
Of the Industrial and Allied Or
ganizatfOns Of the Country.
RsVoIutIon Modern TInea-A
Declaration OF Principles
Tut FORTH Etc.


Especially Reported by EIwood 8. PeRer.I
ST. LOUIS Feb. 24.-The conference
Of the confederation of industrial organ
izations, which convened here last Mon
day, came to an end this evening
From its deliberations, many thousands
believe, will date the greatest political
revolution of modern times However
that may be. it IS assured that the pe,1-
ple's party can enter the campaign with
additional strength and renewed life,
because of its actions.
The conference opened at o'clock
Monday afternoon. in Music hail, with
nearly three tho. sand dFlccz-tes and
visitors in attendance.
s Fl. SniGer, of Kansas, chairman of
the committee on arrangements, intro
duced Hon. Ben Terrell, of Texas, who
presided until a temporary chairman
was elected.
The session was formally opened with
prayer-an invocation 10 God to be pres
ent and assist in the work of the con
ventiOn.
Judge Terrell then introduced Nr
CFyus p. Waldridge, president of the
st. Louis city council, who, on behalf
of the city, rendered a welcome to the
visiting delegnter.
Following Mr.. Waldridge, Mr.. Terrell
read the following address to the con
ventiOn, requesting that it be referred to
the committee on platform:
GElyrLEAIES:-You are here by the authority
% Of the several industrial organizations which
you have the honor to represent, and for the
purpose OF comforting together without pred1u-
dice OF any kind, to the end that you may agree
upon such platform Of principles flor the gov
ernment Of our loved and common countrylr as
Welt as secure equal Justice TO All, and especial
privileges to none. believing las dol in the
fathsrhood OF God and the brotherhood Of man,
and considering that the interests you repre-
sent are those of the tOilers of our
land, it is hoped and believed that
your deliberations viii be marked
by that earuestuess, fairness and 1nauliness
which should characterize the discussion of
such interests. It is possible that the future Of
our country is in the hands Of this convention
to day. II you act wisely I believe 4 revolution
by the ballot attainabis and our country saved
from the fate OF all nations whose financial
policy concentrated in the hands Of the few its
wealth while the many were made paupera-
The responsibility resting upon you is not
% less than that Of the grand old heroes and IA
-thers who signed the declaration Of independ-
snce in l776, aud your country is expecting Of
Ezishs. z2ah tine same fearless oe'''0A To justice and
I beg OF you that you viii remember that the
eyes OF the toiing masses arc upon you today,
and they are expecting a second declaration OF
lnoepenaence. pray Coo you may DO able 70
rise above All party sectional preludicesr lay
aside self, throw od every weight, and do your
duty like men worthy of the trust conhded to
you by those whose cause Is just
In view OF the depressed condition OF labor
and the absolute necessity for unity Of action. /
hope the convention will be conservative and
Just In its demands Let us not attempt
too much. There is much truth in the
saying that you unite many on few
things, and but few on many" would. there
fore, advise that You coufue your de-
unands to land. TRANSPORTATION taxation and
money, believing that when conditions are so
changed that men can enjoy the fruit Of their
labor. they viii hu6 more time and inclination
% 10 attend TO those moral reforms 20 much
needed and so earnestly desired by all who love
humanity.
The question Of who shall own our lands iz
10 ask who shall own the people for those who
own the land own the people. so II we would be
free we must continue to own our lands. There
is no escape from this truisn. 1t has held good
since history began, and the continuance OF
popular government depends uuon the owner
ship OF our lands by the masses. for when tine
monopoly OF the land IS accomplished, slavery
Tor the masses begins If, gentlemen, you can
prevent the condition OF landlord and tenant
irom obtaining in this country you viii deserve
tho gratitude OF future generations.
Lines Of communication and transportation
for public use and should be controleyf 10y
the government so as to prevent abuses Theu
power TO tx prices and rob labor is too great tc
De trusted to corporations without control but
the control Of government should be to preven
abuse, and not to Unduly burden or hamper
them There can be no antagonisn betvooE
capital invested in them and the true interest
Of labor, unless abuses arc practiced. Govern
ment ownership tat a fair valuoFis more JUS
than such control as would destroy values ans
prevent the return Of fair dividends on thei
actual capital invested.
The injustice done through the inequality %
the laws controlling the taxation are shame Z
any government and demand radical changes
All wealth should bear its equal part in suppor
of government, and all indirect taxation shoul,
be avoided as much ass possible and the luEurie
of life not the necessities, should bear them
1t seems that ali our great statesmen, who's
names are revercd to-day for their integrity
love Of country and statesmsnship hav
money to rob aud oppress the peo
pie. jefferson, Clay, Calhoun, Web
steT, Adams, Lincoln, with others, have raise,
their voices In warning and pointing out tn
danger OF allowing money to become the mas
ter instead of the servant OF the people.
A radical change in the financial policy of tn
government is q necessity, and the country ex
poets, and viii sustain, such demand as vii
forever destroy the power OF money to OF
It is with much pleasure that I now declar
this convention ready for the transaction o
business and again allow TO hope tina
with clean hands and pure hearts you VIII d
your whole duty, and may the Divine AIaste
guide you
Col. L. L. Polk delivered the first re
spOnse to the address OF welcome. IL
expressed grateful appreciation for tn,
generous welcome accorded the dele
gates by st. Louis, and spoke glowing
" of the city and its prospects. HI
stated that the convention was com
posed of those who fed, clothed anJ
housed the people of the land; tina
they represented the uncrOyned king
of America, and that they should fee
the weight of the responsibility resting
upon them. In answer to his own in
auiry, "Why are we here2' the speaize
stated as one reason that on tn
boards Of exchange in Wall stree
money could be gotten for 2JS per cent
but the borrower saw money posted il
St Louis, Milwaukee and in the soutI
and west at IL per cent Another rea
son was that the farmers own but .
per cent. OF the wealth of tn
country, and pay so per cent
of the taxes He said that th'
northwest. the west and the sout
should lock hands, and marching iiIs
q great host to the baliot-boE, get con
troll of the government. 1.-The grea
question with me- said the speaker
sis not whether the democratic or re
publican party or third party shall con
troll this country, but that il shall b
accomplished by the northwest, ives
and south. This control would brinl
Us back to the principles of our fore
fathers Both old parties must hav
been approached and petitioned. an
this has been the invariable answer
GO home, work more, and keep out O
Y,slitics." They did not deny that w
needed relief, and here latterly cor
Fgreas has entertained our complaints j