People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-05-20
DECLARATION Of INDUSTRIAL INDIE
PENDENCE.
Platform Adopted BY the St. Louis Confer.
enee, February 22.25, 1892.

ence, February 22-25, 1892.
This, the great labor conference of the
United States and of the world, represent
ing all divisions of urban and rural organ.
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 corporations: 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 ermine of the bench. The peo-
pie 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
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 elf-protection;
imported pauperized labor beats down
their wages; hireling standing army, un-
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 we'll as
OF human labor, and the supply of cur
rency is purposely abridged to fatten
usury, bankrupt enterprise and enslave
industry. A vast conspiracy against man
kind has been organized on two continents
and 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.
zeal organization which is representative OF
our principles. We charge that the con.
trolling Influences dominating the old DO.
lltical 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
reform. They have agreed together to
Ignore in the coming campaign every ia.
sue but one. They propose to drown out
the cries of a plundered people with the
uproar OF sham battle over the tariff; 50
that corporations, 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 our children
upon the alter of Mammon; to destroy the
hopes OF the multitude, in order to secure