The National tribune., 1893-01-12
INDUSTRIAL LEGION.
Gen. Paul Van Der WORT Assumes Com
mand of the Order.

Gen. Paul Van Der WORT Assumes Com
mand of the Order.
The following are the salient points in the
address delivered by Past COMMANDMENTS Chief
Paul Van Der WORT in taking command OF the
Industrial Legion of the United States:
Hon. ]. II. TURNER, Adjutant- General:
DEAR SIR AND BRoTHE-- Your official
notice of my election az COMMANDMENTS Chief
Industrial Legion of the United States received.
/ deem it proper to state as you know, was
not present at the meeting at Memphis, and
did not know such an Order was to be organ.
lied. / am assured that the Legion does not
interfere in any way with any Of the indus
trial Orders which have so grsndly done their
part in educating the people, but simply fills
the loDg-fe want of supplying compact
polite body, in which all can unite in one
common creed, and the only test of member
ship be loyalty to the platform of the Peoples
Party. If / deemed that we should in any way
conflict with any of the great industrial OF
labor organizations would have nothing to do
with it. We must meet the combined money
power of the nation in conflict sBch as tho
world has never witnessed, and We cannot do
it without perfect organization. We must IN
some way weld into one strong, potent, poiti-
cal body all who sympathize with our cause,
and win and educate the masses TO proper
sense of the condition of the country, and
teach them that the only way out Is to over.
whelm the money kings at the ballOt-bOx. The
only secrecy surrounding the Order is simply
enough to prevent the enemy from finding out
our plans ] deem it my duty to accept the
position so cordially and unanimously rendered
and to pledge to the unselfsh devoted workers
who founded the Legion my unfaiterlDg, loyal
support to the cause it advocates.
when one firm regulates the value of all
the cattle and hogs in the land when a sugar
trust raises the price at their will when o
IL, 70 > he fnrt hat
article; when the banks of New York and
Boston could break the banks in p States in q
day; when the price of wheat and cotton Is
made in a foreign market and the value re-
duced below the cost of production because
cash contributed by alien money lords de-
monetized the dollar of our fathers; and or
ganized labor is assaled by the mailed hands
of arrogant power; when thousands OF the
vilest horde or paupers reared in the midst OF
the fostering vice and squalid misery in Eu-
rope are vomited on our shores to take the
places at starvation wages of our honest, indie
pendent working men and women, and the
President, Congress-, and the governing power
refuse to right these wrongs. it is time to band
together in an organization whose onward
march will be irresistible.
ave must stand for truth if we would re-
deem the people. Our cause is too sacred to be
bartered away in a mad struggle for Office; We
should not sell our birthright for mess OF
pottage' am opposed to NIL fusion with either
branch of the enemy. We have nothing In
common with the controlling leaders of
either party. Our conflict fer the next four
years will be with the party in power. They
will not keep their pledges, and will be
weighed in the balance and found wanting
by the thousands who voted the Democratic
ticket hoping for relief. The Republican party
is crushed in the DUST 1t nas accomplished Its
N issiOn and we must rise on the ruins OF the
Democratic party. Where our people hold the
balance of power, as in California, Montana,
and elsewhere, they should stand like our
grand hero Taubeneck through all the storm,
and never surrendering his trust, but cast his
last ballot alone aud went out of the conflict In
the Illinois Legislature like the mail-clad
knight of old, with honor untarnished. Only
thus, by clinging to principle, cen we maintain
the honor and glory Of our party and insure
its final victory.
ave should stand for the rights of all Ameri-
cans with longing desire to preserve popular
Government, administered by the hands OF
the plain people to all our posterity.
We should stand for the freedom of our race
from the despotism of European money sharks,
end hoist the banner of emancipation from
foreign rule so high that all mankind may
read the words. Then restore the silver dol
lar to a free coinage. Let the Government
alone issue the money, full legal tender for
all debts. Stand as firm rs the Rock of Ages
against return to the old wildcat State bank
issue of money. Increase the circulation to
not more than $50 per capita. Impose gradu-
ated income tax. Establish postal savings
bank system, and by bringing about these re-
forms restore fallen prices. advance reduced
wages, employ the thousands of idle hands.
Reopen the abandoned and closed down mines.
Develop thousands of new veins of shining
silver and radiant gold. Inaugurate great en-
terprises, develop western deserts. Remove
the burden of debt crushing down the energy
OF all our people in every relation of life except
the 10000 who own two-thirds of the wealth
of tho Nation, and thus bring peace, prosperity
and happiness to land tern with conflict and
trouble"