Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-08-13
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


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The public press has had much to say about
the Social Democracy since its organization a
few weeks ago. Most of the comment and
criticism, both favorable and unfavorable, has
been inspired by total misapprehension of the
organization, its principles, its plans and its
purposes. Columns have been written about
the failures of colonization schemes of the past.
Other columns have been written about the i'm
possibility of establishing new social system
outside the existing one. The time and space
given to such discussion have been simply
wasted.
That some of critics know better, but
persist i'll misrepresentation, from motives of
their own, is a fact too we'll understood to ad-
NIT of doubt; and although some of these pre-
tend to laugh the "scheme' to scorn, the large
amount of space they devote to it makes it ap-
parent that they are not blind to its immense
possibilities.
The Social Democracy is great social, eco
nolnic and political organization. 1t is at once
national and International. Politically speak
ing, it is party within and for itself, and with
in twelve months its national representatives
will have formulated national political plat
form. Similarly, the various state representa-
tves will have adopted state platforms and the
municipal representatives local platforms
The unit of organization is the local branch
These are organized i'll each ward and township
Five or more persons can organize local
branch, and the membership is limited to five
hundred
The local branches have local or municipal
jurisdiction From these are chosen annually,
in April, representatives to the state union,
who meet annually in May at the capital OF the
state to prepare platform, nominate candi-
dates, and transact other business pertaining
to the state. The several state unions elect
representatives to the N; tional Council, and
this body meets annually, in June, to adopt
national platform, choose officers, nominate can-
didates, and transact other business pertaining
to the national organization.
The Nstional Council annually elects all ex-
ecutive board of five members, which const-
tutes the executive department of the organiza-
ton. The declaration of principles adopted by
the late convention is too long to be introduced
in full, and will therefore only give two par
agraphs, as follows:
''We hold that all men are born free, and are
endowed with certain natural rights, among
which are life, liberty and happiness. In the
light of experience we find that while all citi-
zens equal in theory, they are not so in fact
While all citizens have the same rights politi
cally, this equality is useless under the present
system of economic inequality, which is es-
sentially destructive of life, liberty end happi-
ness. In spite of our political equality labor is
robbed of the wealth it produces. By the de-
velopment of this system it is denied the means
of self-goverlment, and by enforced dleness,
through lack of employment, is even deprived
of the necesslries of life,
"We therefore cali upon all honest citizens to
unite under the banner of the Social Democracy
of America, so that we may Le ready to con-
quer capitalism by making use of our political
liberty and by taking possession of the public
power, so that we may put an eud to the pres
ent barbarous struggle, by the abolition of cap
talism, the restoration of the land, and of all
the means of production, transportation and
distribution, to the people as collective body,
and the substitution of The cooperative com
monwealth for the present state of planless pro-
ducton, industrial war and social disorder--a
commonwealth, which, although it will not
make every man equal physically or mentally,
: 4. +