Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-25
THELABOR RPLATFORM
Formal Uttorances Of tho Confer
enco at St. Louis.
THIRD-PARTY NOMINEES.
a Commtttse, yuclading Polk, Appointed
to Act with the Peoples Party
in Making Them.
rBy telegraph to tho Dispatch. ]

great national lnQuStri6l COnIerenco was
expected to take place to-day, but the
"blue and the gray" mass-meeting into
which the convention resolved itself be-
fore graphing with the platform tempo
rsrily poured oil on the troubled waters.
Paul vandervoort, of Nebraska. for the
Union veterans present in the convention,
pledged President Polk, for the old Con-
federate soldiers in attendance, that they
would Join hands to bury sectional hate
and the treaty, if such it might be termed.
was ratified In speeches BY ex-senator
Van Wyck, of Nebraska, and Ben. Terrill,
of Texas. The blue-and-gray incident
ended plcturesquely by o delegate on the
platform putting up a big American nag
and waving ITS folds on high.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Branch, OF
Georgia, TO hold the Democratic and Re-
ent impoverished condition of the people
was laid on the table.
A motion TO clear the parquet OF all who
could be shown to be not genuine dele
gates, whether they had been admitted by
the Credential Committee or not. was
made. but was suspended until the plat
form was read. Mr.. Powderly demanded
the expulsion from the convention OF such
professional strikers at Albany" as he
Galliher. and he pointed TO them.
THE PLATFORM
was then read as follows:
This, the first great labor conference of
the United States and of the world. repre-
senting all divisions of urban and rural
organized industry. assembled in national
congress, and invoking upon Its action the
blessing and protection of Almighty God,
puts forth to and for the producers OF the
nation 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, and material
ruin. Corruption dominates the ballot
box, tho Legislatures and the Congress
and touches even the ermlne 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 mul-
zled: public opinion is sIlenced; business
is prostrated; our homes are covered with
mortgages; labor is impoverished, and the
land is concentrating in the hands OF
capitalists. The urban workmen are de.
MED the right of organization for relief
and protection: imported pauperized labor
beats down their wages q hireling stand
ing army. unrecognlzed oy our laws, Is es-
are rapidly degenerating TO European
conditions.
The fruits of the toll of millions are
bodily stolen to build up colossal for
tunes unprecedented in the history OF the
world, while their possessors despise the
republic and endanger liberty. From the
same prolific womb OF governmental in-
Justice breed the two great classes-,pau-
pers and mlllicnnaIres. The national pow
or TO create money Is appropriated 10 en-
rich bondbolders. Silver, which has been
accepted as coin since the dawn of
history, has been demonetized to add
to the purchasing power of gold by
decreasing the value OF all forms of pro-
perty as well as human labor. and the sup
ply of currency is purposely abridged TO
fatten usurers, bankrupt enterprise. and
enslave industry. A vast conspiracy
against mankind has been organized on
two continents and is taking possession OF
the world. If not met and overthrown at
once it forebodes terrible social conyul-
sious. the destruction OF civilization, or
the establishment of an absolute despot-
ism.
In this crisis OF human affairs the intel
ligent 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.
UNION AND INDEPENDENCE.
We declare our union and independence.
We assert our purpose throughout the po-
litical organization which represents our
principles. -,
We charge that the controlling infiu-
ences dominating the old political parties
have allowed the existing dreadful condi-
tions to develop without 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 issue but one.
They propose to drown the outcries of a
plundered people with the uproar OF
sham battle over the tariff, so that corpo-
rations. national banks, rings, trusts,
"watered Stocks" the demonstration OF
silver, and the oppression 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 10 secure corruption funds from tha
great lords of plunder.
We assert that political organization
representing the political principles herein
stated is necessary to redress the grievances
of which we complain.
Assembledo on the anniversary OF the birth
of the illustrious man who led the first great
revolution on this continent against op-
pression, filled with the sentiments which
actuated that grand generation. We seek to
restore the government of the republic to
tho hands of the "plain people" with
whom it originated. Our doors are open
to all points of the compass. We ask ali
honest men to join with and help us, in
order to restrain the extortions OF aggre-
gate capital, to drive the money-changers
out of the temple. to form q perfect union,
establish Justice, insure domestic tran
onility. provide for the common defence,
promote the general welfare. and secure
the blessings of liberty for ourselves and
our posterity.
PLATFORM PROPER.
We do ordain and establish the follow
ing platform OF principles,
i We declare union of the labor forces
of the United States this day accom-
plished permanent and perpetual. May
rs spirit enter into all hearts for the sal
yation of the republic and the uplifting of
mankind. =.
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.
2. We demand national currency. safe.
sonnd. and flexible, issued by the General
Government only. q full legal tender for all
debts, public and private; and, without
the uss of banking corporations, lust ana
equitable means OF circulation at tax not
to exceed per cent, as set forth in II. the
ance. or some better system also, BY pay
ments in discharge of its obligation tor
Nv We demand the free and unlimited
coinage of silver,
s. Ne demand that the amount OF the
circulating medium be- speedily increased
to not less than $50 per capita.
6. We demand graduated income tax
=. We believe that the money OF the
Treasury should be kept as much as posi-
bic in the hands Of the people. and hence
we demand that all national and State
revenues shall be limited to the necessary
eYnenses of the government economically
and honestly administered:
8 We demand that postal savings oanss
be established by the government tor the
safe deposit of the earnings OF the people.
and to facilitate exchange.
LAND PLANg.
Q. Your sub-committee upon the land n !