The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-03-21

peflUy, DuG Une very existence OF Tree
institutions depends, and we ask all
men to first help US to determine
whether we are to have a republic to
administer, before we differ as to the
conditions upon which it is to be ad-
ministered. believing that the forces
of reform this day organized will
never cease to move forward until
every wrong is righted and equal
privileges esta blished for all the men
and women Of this country; we de-
clare, therefore,
UNION.OF THE PEOPLE,,
First, That the union Of the labor
forces Of the United States this day
contaminated, shall be permanent
and perpetual; may it's spirit enter
into all hearts for the salvation of
the republic and the uplifting Of
mankind.
Second, Wealth belongs to him
who creates it, and every dollar TAX
en- from industry without an eQuiva-
lent, is robbery. III any man will
not work neither shall he eat" The
interests of rural and civil labor are
the same; their enemies are identi-
cal.
Third. We believe that the time
has come when the railroad corpora
tions will either own the people or
the people must own the railroads,
and should the government enter
upon the work Of owning and man
aging the railroads, we should favor
an amendment to the constitution
by which all persons engaged in the
government service shall be placed
under civil service regulation of
the most rigid character, so as to
prevent the increase of the power of
the national administration by the
use of such additional government
employees.
FINANCE.
We demand a national currency,
safe, sound, and flexible, issued by
the general government only, a full
legal tender for all debt public and
private, and that without the use of
banking corporations, just, equit-
able and efficient means of diStribu-
ton direct to the people at tax not
to exceed 2 per cent per annum, to be
provided as set forth in the sub
treasury plan of the farmers alliance,
or better system; also by payments
in discharge Of its obligations for
public improvements.
We demand free and unlimited
coinage of silver and gold at the
present legal ratio Of Is to l.
We demand that the amount OF
circulating medium be speedily in.
creased to not less than $50 pei
capita.
We demand q graduated income
tax.
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 state
and national revenues shall be linn
tied to the necessary expenses of the
government, economically and hon
estly administered.
| We demand that postal saving.
banks be established by the govern
ment for the safe deposit of the
earnings OF the people and to facili
tate exchange.
| TRANSPORTATION.
Transportation being a means o.
exchange and a public necessity, thu
government should own and operate
the railroads in the interest Of tn.
people.
The telegraph and telephone, lik,
the pOstOfice system, being neces
should be owned and operated by thu
government in the interests of tn,
people.
LANDS.
The land, including all the natura
sources of wealth, is the heritage O
the people, and should not be monop
olized for speculative purposes, ant
alien ownership of land should b.
prohibited. All land now held b,
railroads and other corporations ii
excess of their actual needs and al
lands now owned by aliens should b.
reclaimed by the government an,
held for actual settlers only.
RESOLUTIONS.
The following resolutions were OF
fered independent of the platform
and were adopted, as expressive o
the sentiment of the convention:
Resolved, That we demand a fire.
ballot and fair count in all cleo
tiOns. and pledge ourselves to secur
it to every legal voter without fede1
al Intervention through the adoption
by the states of the unperverte'
Australian secret ballot system.
Resolved, That the revenue de
rived from a graduated income ia
should be applied to the reduction o
the burden of taxation now levie'
upon the domestic industries of thi
country.
Resolved, That we pledge our sup
port to fair and liberal pensions t.
ex-Union soldiers and sailors.
Resolved, That we condemn tn
fallacy Of protecting American labo
under the present system, which
opens our ports to the pauper an
criminal classes Of the world AM
crowds out our wage-earners, and W
denounce the present Ineffective la,
against contract labor, and deman%
the further restriction of undesir
able immigration.
Resolved, That we cordially sym
patize with the efforts Of organize,
workingmen to shorten the hours o
labor, and demand a rigid enforce
ment of the existing eight-hOur Law
on government work, and ask that
penalty clause be added to said law.
Resolved, That we regard tn
maintenance Of large standing
army of mercenaries, known as tn
Pinkerton system, as menace II
our liberties, and we demand it's alb
clifton, and we condemn the recen