The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-03-04
THE PLATFORM.


ST. LOUIS, Feb 25-At the conferences
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 ths
United States and of the world, representing
all divisions of urban and rural organized IN
dustry. assembled in national congress, fnvok-
inS 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 independence.
The conditions which surround US best justify
our cooperation. We meet in the midst OF q ma
ton 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 iInpoy-
erished, and the land concentrating IN
| the hands of capitalists. The urban
workmen are denied the right of organ
I iZation for selfprotectiOn. Imported pauper-
lzed labor beats down their wages, a hireling
| standing army unrecogniZed by our laws. is es-
| tablished to shoot them down, and they are rap
| idly degenerating 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 teen accepted as
coin since the dawn of history has been demone-
IN odd m 10 rlr1rphlginO NJ gold nv
decreasing the value of all forms of property,
as vol as human labor; and the supply
OF currency is purposely abridged 10
fatten uSurers, bankrupt enterprise ana
enslave industry. A yest conspiracy
against mankind has been organized on two
continents and is taking possession OF the
world. II not met and overthrown at once, 1t
forebodes terrible social commissions, the de-
struetion 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 dofend 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 the 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 a plundered people with the up
roar Of n sham battle over the tarin, so that
corporations national banks, rings, trusts,
"watered stocks the demonetization 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 a 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 filled
with the sentiments which actuated that great
generation. we seek to restore the government
Of the republic to the hands Of the plain peo-
ple' with whom it 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 extortons 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 tho common defense, pro-
mote the general welfare and secure the bless
fngs Of liberty for ourselves and our posterity''
we do ordain and establish the following plat
form Of principles:
Low TARIFF. FREE SILVER, sUB-TREAsURY.
l. 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.
2 Wealth belongs to him who creates it
Every dollar taken from industry without an
equivalent is robbery. "n any will not work,
neither shall he eat" The interests Of rural
and urban labor are the same; their enemies
are identical.
3 We demand national currency safe, sound
and flexible, issued by the general government
only full legal tender for al debts, public and
private, and that without the use OF banking
corporations: Just, equitable means of eircu-
lation at a tax not to exceed per cent, as set
forth in the sub treasury plank OF the farmers
alliance or some better system
T. We demand free and unlimited coinage OF
silver.
We demand that the amount Of circulating
medium be speedily increased to not less than
$50 per capita.
g. We demand o graduated income tax
Z 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 that all
national and state revenues shall be limited to
the necessary expenses Of the governments 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 facii-
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 monopohzed for speculative pur-
poses and alien ownership OF land should be
prohibited AL lands now held by railroads
and other corporations in excess Of their actuak
needs and all lands now owned by aliens should
be reclaimed by the government and held for
actual settlers only.
10 Transportation being q means OF exchange
and q public necessity, the government should
own and operate the railroads in the interest Of
the people.
H. The telegraph and telephone, like the post
Office system, being necessity for the 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
consummation OF the perfect union Of hearts
and hands Of al sections Of our common coun-
try: the men who wore the gray and the men
who wore the blue meet here 10 extinguish the
last smoldering embers Of civil war in the
tears Of Joy Of a united and happy people, and
we agree 10 carry the stars and stripes forward
forever to the highest point of national great
ness
Dry in Arizona.
Benson, A. T., Feb. 25.-The failure
of rain for the next three weeks will