Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-07
NAME THEIR TICKET.
SOCIALISTS SELECT NOMINEES FOR
GOVERNOR AND LIEU'T-GOv.
ADDRESS AND PLAT ORM ADOPTED.
Appeal to the Working People to
Leave Their Old Parties and Join
the One Thnt Advocates CO-Opera-
tiOn and Fights Capitalism.

land Springs.
For Lieutenant Governor, r. T. May
cumber. Of Fredericksburg.
This is the ticket that has been nomi-
mated by the Socialist-Labor party or
Virginia, whose second State Convention
was held here this week, lasting through
Sunday and Monday. There were deie>
gates present from Richmond. Freder-
icksburg, and Newport News, and some
other visitors The proceedings were en-
tirely harmonious.
The meeting was called to order by Mr.
Carl Schultz, Mr.. Maycumber was maze
chairman, and Mr.. Quantz secretary
After the business session the members
attended the first anniversary ceiepra-
ton of American section of Richmond
held west of the city.
THE PLATFORM ADOPTED.
The Committee or Platform presented
the following, which was adopted:
We delegates to the convention OF the
Socialist-Labor party of virginia, ear
nestly request you, fellow-wage-workers'
to stop, at once and forever, ngntlng III
the political ranks Of capitalism, for cap
Join with us in our efforts to down capi-
talism and wage-slavery, and help us TO
establish upon their ruins the co-opera-
tive Commonwealth, wherein labor can
not be feeced of the product of It's toll
by its taskmaster, capitalism, for the CO.
operative Commonwealth could contain
neither master nor slave; no starving
unemployed nor involuntary idlers OF
tramps. nor yet idle parasites, who reVei
in luxury on the sweat and blood o.
starving labor, but would contain one
intelligent, free, and happy humanity.
DO not forget, workingmen of virginia
the action of our last Legislature. Wnen
petitioned by the Central Trades and
Labor Council of Richmond to enact GER
tain laws in favor of the working class,
what did you get? You asked for bread,
and they gave you stone. Yes. they
turned down your petition with con-
tempt-these representatives of capital
ism. whom you elected to serve you. Be
fore election they were your most num-
BILE servants; afterwards they became
your masters. You put the saddle OH
your backs and the reins in their hands,
and thus they are riding you to death'
You are warned by some as TO
what would be the result of your action;
but you Needed it not, and decried your
friends as prophets Of evil, calamity
howlers. etc. Have you not had enough
sad experience yet to cause you 10 take
the powers of government into your own
hands? Have you not been playing see
saw with the old parties long enough?
Ii not. how long will you continue to jump
out of the frying-pan into the fire. and
vice versa. at the bidding Of capitalism's
most plant tool, the politician? Wake
up and think for yourselves. Remember
Pocahontas, where our Governor. de-
fender of capitalism. sent troops TO quell
a riot that occurred only In the conscience
of the cruel capitalists.
PROSPERITY OUT OF SIGHT.
We would also remind you of the prom
ises Of the Republican party---Ali you had
TO do was to elect Mckinley, and shy
prosperity would at once plume herself
for a return flight to our country, and
our homes. But. alasl and alas, Pros
perity seems to be getting away farther
and farther, and now is entirely out OF
sight. Where is your increased work
and increased wages? Ask of the thou
sands of unemployed in Virginia; ask the
employees i'm factories. on railways. as
well as the clerks and book-keepers and
other wage slaves. The answer comes
every day in the form Of cuts in wages
from 80 TO 80 per cent, a continuous losing
of Jobs, an ever-increasing army OF
tramps, increasing misery, murder. sui
cides, and crime of all kinds, and pro-
portionate decrease in American man
hood and virtuous womanhood.
Workingmen of Virginia. we again call
upon you to break the chains of partyism
that bind you 10 the chariot wheels OF
capitalism as slaves. Awake, and real
ize that you are no longer freemen, as
YOU foolishy suppose. You cannot work
for your living without the consent Of
your capitalist master; you are not al
lowed to beg nor steal, and II you walk
from one place to another in quest OF
work you become a tramp. and member
of a chain-gang. Where is your boasted
liberty?
Come. join the Socialist Labor party.
which has never faltered, has not and
never will fuse with any other party. Her
foundation is science and knowledge;
her motto is one for all and all for one
the brotherhood of man in operation.
WHAT THEY DECLARE FOR.
Recognizing the fact that our public
roads, canals, and rivers are In bad con-
dition. we demand that the Legislature
of Virginia take the necessary steps. at
the earliest moment, to improve them,
and thus give employment 10 the unem-
ployed at fair wages.
Recognizing the evils that flow from
child labor and its companion, ignorance,
we demand the enactment of a State
law prohibiting the employment Of chill
dren under II years of age in factories,
mills etc, and also the enactment of a
law recurring the attendance at school
of all children under IA years of age, and
nublic assistance in meals, books, etc,
when necessary.
Believing that a shortening of the work
day will put more people to work, we
demand a law constituting eight hours
days work.
Believing that life and health are more
sacred than property, we demand their
protection by an efficient employers lia-
bility law.
Believing In the integrity and honesty
of the people, we demand for them the
right to propose laws and to vote upon
all measures of Importance according TO
the initiative and referendum plan.
Being opposed to the Capitalization OF
power we demand the abolition of execu-
tive rights to veto any measure enacted
by the people or their representatives.
Believing that all officers are public
servants. we demand the right to recall
them when they disobey orders or in
structions.
knowing from experience and observa-
ton that the voice of justice is very
feeble when crying for protection for the
poor, we demand that the administration
of Justice shall be free Of charge.
Believing in the sacredness OF life. we
demand the abolition of capital punish
ment.
Recognizing the injustice and hard
shin imposed on the poor by our system
of taxation, we demand that the holders
of property shall be exempt from taxa
tion 10 the extent Of the mortgages that
are resting upon said property, and that
the holders of said mortgages be required