The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-18

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ganization of an Industrial and Wage
Workers Democratic League, which
shall consist of a State league, with
subordinateeouaty and district leagues;
and, in connection with the State
league, the establishment of bureau
of information; and finally, when the
objects sought by the organization Of
1.-The Industrial and Wage Workers
Democratic League shall have been
attained, through the enactment OF
just aud equitable laws, in which the
rights of every individual citizen, how
soever humble, shall have been duly
considered, your committee recon-
nerd that we disbsnd, SO that we may
not become political machine in the
hands of designing men, to the detri-
ment of the interests of this State and
lis citizens.
Your committee will appoint an or
ganizing committee in each counsy,
with instructions to organize county,
municipal, township and ward leagues,
and to arrange to send delegates there
from to convention to be held in the
city Of fColunb bia on the - day Of,
1898, for the purpose of electing officers,
adopting plan Of organization and
ratifying or amending the following
draft, submitted asa
DECLARATION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF
THE INDUSTRiAL AND WAGE
WORKERS DEMOCRATIC
LEAGUE.
The Constitution Of the State and OF
the United States guarantees equal
rights to all, and prohibits special priv
ileges to any one of its citizens. It is,
therefore, the duty Of those who may
feel themselves aggrieved through the
enactment of unjust laws. the effect of
which is to deprive some of their COLI
s.itutional rights. while bestowipg
upon others unlawful privileges, to as
semble and protestagaiDst suchunjust,
inequitable and unlawful legislation,
and to take measures to accomplish its
repeal. More especially is this duty
when, from the decision of partizan
officials, empowered to execute and
enforce such laws, the right of appeal
to the Courts is denied; right wisely
guaranteed by the fundamental law of
the land, and recognized as one of the
cardinal principles of Democracy; a
right which experience has proven to
be shield of safety to the weak against
the strong, to the few against the many;
a right which has been, and which
must be, cherished amongst the dear
est privileges Of free people.
We condemn the vicious class legis-
lation attempted and enacted by the
Legislature at its recent session, and
endorsed and approved by the Govern
or of this State, the pernicious effects
of which will be to put to hazard all
industries dependent upon corporate
capital, to lessen the volume of cur
rency, to increase the COS. of credit, and
to render uncertain and precarious the
occupation Of all wage workers within
the State.
We denounce the Inconsistency of
the so-calIed Reform party, which, pro-
claiming salaries too large, omits to re-
duce them; declaring taxes too high,
increases them; protesting opposition
to monopoly, conspires to make the
State a menopolist; preaching prohi-
bition, legislates the State itself into a
rumseller.
We declare our principles to be em-
bodied in the simple but sound Demo
cratic doctrine of equal rights to all,
special privileges to none," and our
purpose to repeal and TO oppose all leg
islation inconsistent Herewith.
We acknowledge agriculture to be
the master-wheel of industrial mech.
anism; but we declare that in the en-
actment and execution Of just and
wholesome laws,it is essential to con-
slider that the quality and quantity OF
the product depend upon the barmo'
| nious working Of the whole machine,
! and that upon no industry more than
| agriculture will fall the injurious ef'
fects Of a departure from this just prin'
| ciple.
We believe the interests Of capital
and labor to be the same, and we assert
| that blow aimed at one will fall upon
both, and that legislation directed
against" either will react upon the
people of the whole State.
We recognize the propriety Of just
laws restraining the abuse of rights and
| privileges granted to individuals OF
corporations, but we condemn all laws
tending, unrighteously, to lessen in.
ducement to capital to invest in the
development of legitimate industries
| within the State.
We assert the necessity of main
| taiuins the independence and high
standard of the Judiciary, and con
| denim any and all attempts to curtsi
the one or lower the other of these
safeguards to the enjoyment ofindi.
vidual right.
| Adhering strictly to the sonnd prin
teiples of Democracy, living within