The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-08-29
SOCIAL DEMOCRACY.
DecLARATlON OF PRINCIPLES
~ New orssnisatfon which
49, Il Trylag to Flsas-Censti-
N tution OF state unions.

Gay
ltE
j8acos Texas, August 2s.-The little cit,
bruceville. seventeen milcs south from
X b0. on tho Missouri. Kansas and Texas
lStvad. boasts Of the flrst local branch
tkhe social democracy organized in Nc
fS,nAn county, when Eugene v. Debs or
\ <1asd the socisl democracy In Chicago,
Ike II. 1897. the old timers scattered all
H tho country went to work for the or
I'M Az Z result there has been branches
aniEed In sixteen States. the Bruceville
y 'hch being No. I In Texas. Special Sig
,ance IL given the organization at
!. lceville because Of the fact that Martin
,3as. tho old time labor leader. who d.
lcd the great Missouri Pacific strike IN
IN for the knights Of Labor from his
sidquarters In st. Louis, was the primo
jrser and Ia now the organizer for tho
inch. Irons makes his home with Or.
RI Il. Harris, chairman OF the populist
inty executive committee and chairman
ss.hc branch OF the social democracy. He
me to Brucevllle six or eight months ago
finding In DR.. Harris q c0ngeniai spirit
his house a pleasant home, he re-
''H ned They welcomed the new move in
N Interest OF organized labor and hast
ID to organize a branch with DR.. Harris,
Sirman: Robert Swan, local agent for
x railroad. secretary, and Martin Irons,
tanizer. The branch has eight members,
Of whom Joined voluntarily They have
x yet attempted to secure additions TO
branch. but have been content with
aributlng social literature among their
sshbors preparatory to the Inauguration
"a proselyting campaign. Secretary Swan
elves bundles of the Social Democrat,
y Debs' paper, every week for dlstribu-
"A. also the Appeal TO Reason. the Com
y Nation and other socialistlc publica-
as. He said to Post correspondent yes
lay that the farmers around Bruceville
l,ie to his Office regularly each week and
led for reform papers. taking what he
Y with an eagerness that left no doubt
their earnestnoss,
.lr. Irons has been 10 Bell county for
eeral days organizing knights OF Labor
temblles and distributing social lltera-
ic. He Is q quiet but constant worker
4 his dissemination OF socalisiic doe
Iaos Is eo-extonsive with his travels.
X Irons is about GO years old, He has
\ hard struggle with adversely since
:. disastrous strike he directed eleven
trsl ago, and the encounter with the
verbal wolf has not softened his feel
IS toward the opponents OF organized
or. He Is MS determined Zoe TO mon
Ply as ever, and while he has been some
al obscured for several years he IL etill
/ deck with knife up his sleeve for
srything that savors Of putocracy. The
N OF the social democracy seems to be
organize Knights of Labor assemblies
\ kindred secret orders for the purpose
propaganda, BY reading the constitution
bylaws OF the social democracy II
4 be seen that an applicant for mem
ship must understand the principles OF
sialism and subscribe TO their demands.
! requires considerable study for tho,
ernge farmer TO become eligible. hence
necessity for the distribution OF iitera-
'e and to distribute literature econom-
lily It IL necessary TO have agencies
roughly In sympathy with tho work In
,'ry community there are men who can
Induced to join one or another secret
lor organization; once they are gathered
secret conclavo they become the very
iit propagandisis. Tho utilization OF such
iormers In each community. for dissem-
4tion OF socialist literature is expected to
fruitful OF great results and II ought
I to be a matter OF surprise IT, In the
trsc OF twelve months, nearly every
lnty In the State has It's social democrat
tnches. and IN connection Herewith a
ito union,
che social democracy ia not secret or.
Qtxnfton. Cha n In nj 81
10 branch declared that thoy had moth.
j, to hide. I'VE are socialists" he said.
nd we are not afraid for the world to
ow II. We expect to interest a majority
our neighbors In the movement by fur
hing them good reading matter and
zen they have thoroughly Informed them
yes on the subject We will simply offer
an cordial welcome into our branch, ;"
The following Is the address formulated
Chicago when tho National organization
- hrst formed last June, and which sets
IN tho socialist grievances and their
mands;
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.
We hold that I'LL men are born FREQ and
endowed with certain natural rights,
long which are life. liberty and happt-
ss, In the light OF experience we flnd
at while all citizens are equal In theory.
ey are not so IN fact While all citixana
We tho Same rights politically, this politi-
equality Is useless under tho pres,nt
stem Of economic inequality. which is e.
ntially destructive OF life, liberty and
rpiross. In spite OF our political eaual-
| labor Is robbed OF tho wealth II pro-
ces. by tao Development OF this sys-
a u Ia denied the means at self-em-
,yment, and by enforced dleness through
* OF employment is even deprived OF tho
cessarics Of life.
70 the obvious fact that our desrotlc
stem OF economics Is the direct oppo
Q Of our democratic ryctem OF politics,
DO plainly traced the existence OF n
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