The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-08-29

class that corrupts the government, alien
| at<s public property, public franchises ana
public functions and holds this. the inIght-
lest Of nations, in abject dependence.
Labor, manual and mental. being the
n creator Of ali wealth and al civilization, II
rightfully follows that those who perform
all labor and create all wealth should en-
Joy the fruit or their efforts. But this IL
RENDERED Impossible By the modern system
Of production Since the discovery and
application OF steam and electric powers
and the general introduction Of machinery
IN all branches Of industry, the industrial
operations are carried on by such gigantic
means that but few are now able to possess
them, and thus the producer IL separated
from his products.
Whiio in former times the Individual
worker labored on his own account, with
his own tools. aud was the master of his
products, now dozens. hundreds and thou
sands Of men work together In shops,
mines, factories, etc, cooperating accord :
Ing TO the most efficient division OF labor.
but they are not the masters of their prod
ucts. Tho fruits OF this cooperative labor
are. In great measure, appropriated by
the owners Of the means Of productIco. to-
Wit: BY the owners OF machines, mines
land and the mcans Of transportation.
| This system. by gradually distinguishing
the middle class. necessarily leaves but
| TWO classes In our country the large clnss
| OF workers and the smell class of great
employers and capitalists.
Human power and natural forces are
wasted by the system which makes
profit the only object in business.
Ignorance aud misery. with all concom-
liant evils, are perpetuatcd by this sys-
lem, which makes human labor ware to
DC bought IN the open market aud places
10 real value on human lifc.
Science and invention are diverted from
their humane purposes and made lnstru-
mehts for the enslavement OF men and the
starvation OF women and children
We therefore hold that In the natural
course OF social evolution this system.
through the destructive action OF It's fail.
nros ana crisis on the one hand, and the
constructive tendencies OF it's trusts and
other capitalistic combinations on the
other, VIII annlhllnte the middle ciaga. the
OASIS upon which this system rcsts and
thereby work out It's own downfall.
we therefore call upon all honest citi-
zens to unite under tho banner OF Tho
social democracy Of America. so that wo
may be ready 10 conquer capitalism by
making use of our Political liberty and by
taxing possession OF the public power. ~,
that we may put an end to the present
bnrbaiuus struggle by the abolition Of
capitalism the restoration Of tho land and
Oh al the means OF production. transror-
W,,on ana distribution, to the people as a
ev''eu'IVo oony ana the substitution OF the
cooperative commonwealth for the present
state OF painless production Industrial war
am social disorder--aI commonwealth
wnleh, although II viii not make every man
equai physically or mentally. Will give 10
every worker the free exercise ma md
lmii benciit OF his faculties, multiplied by
az. az, ,ne modern factors OF civilization ana
u.unateiy inausurate the universal broth
A. noon oi mon The sociel democracy OF
America win make democracy ms r,,,,.
OF me people, truth, by ending tha
economic subjngation OF the oyerwbolm,ns
great majority Of the people
WIN u Wow to tho immediate relief M
one people, all our efforts shall be mi
lui'n 10 secure TO the unemployed self
supporting employment, using all proner
m"sS ann means to that end For such
nu'pose one OF The States OF the Union
10 ne hereafter determined sbnli he solect
en Tor the concentration OF our summarize,
ana inc Introduction OF co-opcra,lye ina,,s1
wy ana then gradually extending 10
sphere OF our operations until the Nniionai
W ntNo commonwealth be established
We also make tho following specific
DEMANDS FOR RELIEF.
a. me pubic ownership OF all industries
flnes "''s "n" com
lho public ownership OF oil railroads
iesraphs, telephones. all means OF trans,
yt'"uoh, communication. water works. gas
Utilities "N' puoNc
u Thu public ownership OF gold. silver
copper. lead, coal. iron and all other mInea
30 all oil and gas wells.
'. H'uuctlon OF the hours OF labor I'm pro-
portion to the progress OF production.
~" inauguration OF system OF pub
e woshs Mhu improvements for tha ON
+! uSn'ht OF lhe unemployed, the public
euit TO be utilized for that purpose
o. All useful inventions to be free 10 All
we inventor to BIO remunerated by tho pub
jc. 'u'
banks. '"''"s'
= Tho adoption OF tho Initiative and tho
selersnd'mm, tha imperative mandate and
opartionai representation.
The constitution of the National council
icovides Tor tho organization OF locni
ranches OF tho social Democracy copsIst
Ing Of not less than five nor more than Son
members, and Of State unions to consist ~
oh' representative from each local branch
IN the state. The following Is tha consti-
Ahloh proposed for tho Texas Statn union.
CONSTITUTION OF STATE UNIONS.
Namo and Headquarters.
section l. HIS organisation shall DO known
rs 'hc Texas State Union OF tho Social Do.
nocracy OF America. and its headouarters
fnaii be located ut Austin. the capital city
OF the State, N'
HOW ORGANIZED.
,S'r' 2 The Texas State union OF tho az.
clai democracy shall consist Of ono dclcratc
representing each local branch In the statn
ana shall constitute tho legislative body
OF tho State. o0'
EXECUTIVE BOARD.
Sec :, The executive board shall conslx,
q Two members and shall have general an :.
pervisien OF the Staio uaion. L. shall IA
empowered to provide such rules. lssue
sueh orders and adopt such measures rs
may DO required to carry out the objects
o. inc organization, providing that no ae-
non shall DO taken which conflicts with
ms constitution, tho constitution Of ths
National council. or the declaration Of
ses 4 Tho effiocrs OF the board shah
consist OF chairman, secretary treas.
urer and organizer. and such others as mav
pc determined. who shall be- elected ar nanb
annual meeting OF the board and servo nm.
y. 'nelr successors are elected and ouau.
Med, They shall perform such duties as
hppeft0ln tn their Savar.l