The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1892-03-03
The Convention.
THE NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL
CONFERENCE AFSr. LOUIS
TERMINATES IT'S La
BORIS.
\ STRONG PREAMBLE.
n Platform Calling for a PeTma-
Dant and Perpetual Union
OF the Labor Forces of the
United States.

The Convention met on the I'D Of
February, at st. Louis. President,
l.. l.. Polk, was elected chairman.
The following platform was read
and adopted
This, the first great labor confer
ence Of the United States and the
world, representing all divisio lis Of
urban AID rural organized industry
assembled in National Congress, in.
vOking upon its action the blessing g
aud protection Of AL Eighty God,
puts forth to and for the producers
Of the nation this declaration OF uni
on and Independence. The condi-
tiOnS which surround us best Justify
our co operation. We meet in the
midst of a nation brought to the
verge OF moral, political and mate
rial ruin. Corruption dominates the
ballot box, Legislatures and Congress
and touches even the ERIN inc 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 news
papers are subsidized or iIuzzled;
public opinion is silenced; business
is prOstrated; our homes are cover
ed with mortgages; labor is impov-
| Crished and land concentrating in
the hands Of capitalists; urban work
men are denied the rights of organ
iZatiOn for self: protection; imported
| pauperiZed labor beats down their
wages; II hireling standing army,
unrcCngnized by our laws, is estab-
| lishcG 10 shoot them down and they
are rapidly degrading to the Euro
pcan conditions; the fruits of toll
OF millions are bodily stolen to build
! up colossal fortunes nprecedented
| in the history of the world, while
their pOssessor5 dispise the republic
and endanger its liberty.
From the same prolific wound of
Governmental justice breed the two
great classes, pauperS and million
aires. The national power 10 create
nancy IS appropr ated 10 enrich
bOnuhOlders; silver, which has been
accepted as coin since the dawn of
history has been demoraIized to add
to the purchasing power of gold by
decreasing the value of al forms Of
property, as well as human labor,
and the supply of currency is pro-
posely abridged to tatten usuers,
bankrupt enterprise and enslave in
dustLy.
A vast conspiracy against man
kind has bee.l organized on the two
continents and is taking possession of
the world. If not met and over
thrown at once it forbodes terrible
social commissions, destru ction of
cilizati0n Or the establishment of all
absolute despOtiSm.
In this crisis Of human affairs the
intelligent working people and pro-
,iucers OF. the United States have
come together in the name of peace,
order and security, to defend liberty,
perity and justice. We declare
our union and independence, we as
sert ouf purpose through our politi-
cal organization, which represents
our principles; we charge that the
controlling Influence, dominating the
old political parties has allowed the
existing dreadful conditions to de-
yelop without serious effort to re-
strain or prevent them. Neither dc
they now inteud to accomplish re.
form. They have agreed to ignore
: in tie coming campaign every issue
but enc.
They propose to drown the out
cries of the plundered people wifi
, the uprOaE of sham battle over the
tariff, SO that corporations, National
banks, rings, trusts, "atered stocks,
decentralization of silver and the op.
preston of usurer5 may al be lost
sight Of. They propose to sacrifice
s our homes and children upon the al.
tar Of mammOn; to destroy the nopes
OF the multitude in order to secure
corrupt n funds from the great lords
Of plunder.
We assert that political Crganiza
, ton, representing the political prin.
ciples her 5in, is necessary to redress
= the grievance which we complain, las
sembled on The anniversary of the
birth Of the illustrations man who
led the first great revolution on this
= continent against expressions; filled
with sentiments, which actuateG
: that grand general, we seek to re-
store tse Government of the republic
}. into the hands Of the 'plain people,
. with whom it originated. Our doors
are open to all parts of the compass
We ask all honest men to join with
and help us, in order to restrain the
|. eXtortions of aggregated capital; tc
drive the money changers out of the
temple; to fern perfect union; es.
tablish justice; insure domestic tran
guilty; provide for common defence
promote the general welfare and Sc
cure the blessings of liberty for oul
posterity.
We do Ordain and establish the
following platform of princip les:
: 1st. We desire the union eff thu
labor forces of the United States thi
day accomplished, permanent ant
I. perpetual. May its spirit enter int
all hearts for the salvation of tht
Republic and the uplifting of man
kind.
End. Wealth belongs TO him VIII,
!. created it. Every dollar taken from
!, industry without an equivalent i
Il robqery. If ony ane will not work
neither shall he eat. The interest
ofrural and urban labor are the same
their enemies are Identical.
3rd. We demand a national cur
: rency, safe, sound and flexible, issu
ed by the General Government only
/. a full legal tender for all debts, pub