The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1892-03-05
THE PLATFORM.

For Third Party-Low TarIi, Free Sill
yer and the sub-TrsasurY.
81. Louis, Feb. 95-At the conference
of labor organizations yesterday Igna-
thus Donnelly, from The committee on
resolutions, reported the following
platform, which was adopted:
This the first great labor conference of the
United States and Of the world, representing
al divisions Of urban and rural organized in
dustry, assembled in national congress, inYolE-
ing pponits qction the blessing and protection
Of Almighty God, puts forth, 70 and for the
producers Of the nation, this declaration Of
unien and independence.
The he'c0ndftions which surround us best Justify
our eo-opeTation. We meet in the midst Of q ma
tion brought to the verge OF moral political and
material ruin. Corruption dominates the ballot
box, the legislatures, the congress and
touches even 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 universal intimidation or bribery
The newspapers are subsidized or muzzled, pub
lie opinion silenced, business Frustrated, our
homes covered with mortgages, labor impov-
erfshed, and the land concentrating in
the hands of capitalists. The urban
worl1men are denied the right of organ
iZation for self-protection. Imported pauper-
u
standing army, unrecognized by our laws, is es-
tablished to shoot them down, and they are rap
idly degeneratfng to European conditions. The
fruits Of the toll Of millions are boldly stolen
to build up colossal fortunes, unprecedented IN
the history Of the world, while their pos
SCISSORS despise the republic and endanger
liberty. From the same prolific womb Of
the governmental injustice we breed the great
classs-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 demone-
tized to add TO the purchasing power of gold by
decreasing the value Of all forms Of property,
as well as human labor; and the supply
Of currency is purposely abridged to
fatten usurers, bankrupt enterprise and
enslave industry. A vast conspiracy
against mankind h0s been organized on two
continents and is taking possession Of the
world II not met and oVerthrown at once, 1t
forebOdes terrible social convulsions the de-
struction Of civilization or the establishment Of
an absolute despotism
NEW PARTY NECESSARY.
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 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 influence
dominating the old political parties has
allowed tho existing dreadful conditions
to develop without serious effort to res
train or prevent them. Neither do they now in
tend to accomplish reform. They have agreed
together to ignore in the coming campaign
every issue but one. They propose to drown
the outcries Of o plundered people with the up-
arof sham battle over the tar1n, so that
corporations, national banks, rings, trusts,
"watered stocks" the demonstration of silver,
and the expressions of uSurers may all be lost
sight Of. They propose to sacrifice our homes
and children upon the altar Of Mammon-to de-
stroy the hopes Of the multitude in order to Sc
cure corruption funds from the great loads of
plunder.
We assert that political organization, rep
resenting the political principles 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, filed
with the sentiments which aotuated that great
generation, we seek to restore the government
Of the republic to the hands OF the ''plain peo-
pie" with whom 1t 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 ag-
gregated capital, to drive the money changers
out of the temple, ITO form a more perfect
union, establish justice, insure domestic tran
guilty, provide for the common defense pro-
mote the general welfare and secure the bless
ings OF liberty for ourselves and our posterlty"
We do ordain and establish the following plat
form Of principles:
LOW TARIFF, FREE SILVER, sUB-TREAsURY
/. We declare the union Of the labor forces
Of the United States, this day accomplished
permanent and perpetual May its spirit enter
into all hearts for the salvation Of the republic
and the uplifting OF mankind.
3 Wealth belongs to him who creates it.
Every dollar taken from industry without an
equivalent is robbery. "If any will not work,
neither shall he eat" The interests of rural
and urban labor are the same; their enemies
are identical.
8. We demands national currency, safe, sound
and flexible, issued by the general government
only, full legal tender for all debts, public and
private, and that without the use Of banking
corporations Just, equitable means OF circu-
lation at q tax not to exceed per cent, as set
forth in the sub-treasury plank Of the farmers
alliance, or some better system
4 We demand free and unlimited coinage of
silver.
5 We demand that the amount Of circulating
medium be speedily increased to not less than
$50 per capita
9. We demand graduated income tax.
T. We believe that the money Of the country
should be kept as much as possible in the hands
VI Ln0 people, anu n6nc0 we ueInanQ LnhL Ail
national and state revenues shall be limited to
the necessary expenses of the government eco
nomically and honestly administered
g. We demand that postal savings banks be
established by the government for the safe de-
posit of the earnings OF the people and to facili
tate exchange.
o Your subcommittee upon land plank beg
TO submit TO your approval the following: The
land including all the natural resources Of
wealth, is the heritage of all the people and
should not be monopolized for speculative pur-
poses 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,
10. Transportation being means Of exchange
and public necessity, the government should
own and operate tho railroads in the interest Of
the people.
II. The telegraph and telephone, like the post
once system, ,sbeing a necessity for tho trans.
mission Of news. should be owned and operated
by the government In the interest Of the people.
II We demand that the government issue
legal tender notes and pay the union soldier the
difference between the price OF the deprecated
money in which he was paid and gold.
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 smoldering embers Of civil war In the
tears Of Joy Of united and happy people, and
we agree TO carry the stars and stripes forward
forever to the highest point Of national great
ness.