Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-02-25
WHEELING. W. VA. THURSDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY
social convulsions, the destruction Of
civilization or the establishment Of an
absolute despotism.

social convulsions, the destruction of
civilization or the establishment Of an
absolute despotism.
In this crisis of human affairs the in
telligent working people and producers
OF the United States have come to-
gether in the name Of police, order and
society, to defend liberty, prosperity
and justice.
We declare our union and independ-
ence. We assert our purpose to vote
with that political organization which
represents our principles.
We charge that the controlling in
fuence dominating the old political par
ties have allowed the existing dreadful
condition TO develop without serious ef'
fort to restrain or prevent them.
Neither do they now intend to accom-
plish reform. They have agreed to-
gether to ignore in the coming cam
paign every issue but one. They pro-
pose to drown the outcries of plum
dered people with the uproar Of a
sham battle over the tariff, so that cor
porations, national banks, rings, trusts,
watered stocks, the decentralization 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 destroy the
hopes of the multitude in order to Sc
cure corruption funds for the great
lords Of the plumber.
We assert that politicaforganization
representing 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 revolt on this continent
against oppression, filled with the SEN
timent which actuated that grand gen.
Grafton, we seek to restore the gov
ernment Of the republic to the hands Of
the "plain people" with whom it orig
mated. Our doors stand open to all
points of the compass. We ask all hon
est men to join with and help US.
In order to restrain the extortions Of
aggregated capital, to drive the money
out of the temple, to form perfect
union, establish justice, insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common de-
fense, promote the general welfare and
secure the blessings OF liberty for our
selves and our posterity, we do ordain
and establish the following platform Of
principles:
First-We declare the union OF the
labor forces of the United States this
day acco mplished permanent and perpet-
ual. 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 in
dustry without an equivalent is rob-
berry. If any shall not work, neither
shall he eat. The interests of urban
and rural labor are the same; their ene-
mics are identical.
Third-We demand q national cur
rency, safe, sound and flexible, issued
by the general government, full legal
tender for all debts, public and private,
and without the use of banking corpo-
rations, just and equitable means OF
circulation, at q tax not to exceed per
cent, as set forth in the sub-treasury
plan of the Farmers Alliance, or some
better plan. Also by payments in dis
charge of its obligation for public i'm
provements.
Fourth--We demand free and unlim-
tied coinage of silver.
Fifth-We demand that the amount
of circulating medium be speedily in
creased to not less than $50 per capita.
SiXth-We demand graduated in
come tax.
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 to the
necessary expenses Of the government
economically and honestly administered.
Eighth-We demand that postal saw
ings banks be established by the gov
ernment for the safe deposit OF the
earnings of the people and to facilitate
exchange.
Ninth-Your subcommittee on 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 byiail-
roads 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 exchange and public necessity, the
government should own and operate the
railroads in the interest OF the people.
Eleventh-The telegraph and tele-
phone, like the postoffice system, being
a necessity for the transmission Of
news, should be owned and operated by
the government in the interest OF the
people.
Twelfth-We demand that the gov
ernment issue legal tender notes and
nav the union soldier the difference be-
tween the price Of the depreciated
money, in which he was paid and gold.
Resotued. That we hail this confer
ence as the consumation OF the perfect
union OF the hearts and hands Of all
sections OF our common country: the
men who wore the grey and the men
who wore the blue meet here to extin-
guish the last smouldering embers OF
civil war in the tears Of joy, OF united
and happy people, and we agree to car
ry the stars and stripes forward for
ever to the highest point OF national