Natchitoches populist., 1898-04-15
ANNUAL CONVENTION.
The LABOR ORGANIZATIONS
OF AMERICA.
meeting Mt st. Louis May Cd, for Politi-
cal Discussion and Action-The Plat
form Adopted at Last Falls National
Convention,

Convention.
An important delegate convention OF
all labor and labor reform organiza-
tlons will be held In st. Louis, May 2,
1898, for the consideration Of political
questions. This is designed to be the
nrst OF a permanent series Of annual
national conventions, and is the out
growth of the labor conferences held
last year to consider the coal miners
strike.
The, committee OF arrangements in
charge OF the coming convention con-
sists of Eugene V. Debs, w. D. Mahon,
Z. M. Bannister, NJ: P. Carrick, Sheri-
dan Webster, John F. Waters, Dan Nc
Donald, ". Fl. Priesmeyer, and G. F.
stephens. Every local organization in
the country is entitled to one delegate
organizations Of the Farmers Alli-
ance, Patriots of America, Patrons of
Husbandry, ETC., are invited to send
delegates to confer with their fellow
workers Of the cities.
That this most encouraging labor
movement is thus far in line with Pop
ulism is shown by the declarations Of
last years convention, as follows:
This convention hereby endorses, as
relief measures upon which the friends
OF labor can unite, the demands Of the
various labor and reform organizations
or the country, including, viz:
Direct Legislation, through the Init
iative, Referendum, Imperative Man.
date and Proportional Representation
Abolition of bank issues Of money:
the issue Of stable legal tender by
the government direct; the free and
unlimited coinage Of both gold and si!-
yer at the ratio of 16 to l, without
waiting for the aid or consent of any
other nation; and the establishment of
postal savings banks.
Government ownership and opera
tion Of all public utilities. national,
state and municipal; also OF all in
dustries controlled by monopolies,
trusts and combines.
THE land is the common heritage of
all the people, therefore any individual
or number of individuals who hold any
portion Of such land to the exclusion of
the rest can do so, in equity, only by
paying those so excluded what such
privilege Is worth; and in order tha;
this principle may be most effectively
carried out We are in favor OF having
the government take, in the form of
taxation, the full rental value of land
exclusive Of improvements.
THE imposing of a tax on incomes
and inheritances such as will reduce
those accumulations of wealth which
have been acquired through unjust le-
gal privileges.
The establishing, by legislative en-
actment, Of standard eight-hour
working day, and abolition of the child
labor and sweat-shop evils.
THE Inauguration of needed public
works as a means for immediate relief
to those who have been thrown out of
work by operation Of monopoly foster
ed by government.
Industrial cooperation as a means
OF self-employment for those wishing
to free themselves from oppressive
conditions.
"The taxation laws of the various
states OF the union should be rigidly
enforced; all assessments of property.
particularly Of land and franchises
should be at its full, true and actual
value, and the assessment rolls should
be Immediately published; all officers
entrusted with the enforcement of tax
laws should be promptly punished civ
lily and criminally, for all disregard
and violation Of their sworn duties
under such law.
I'VE especially demand the abolition
of the injunction evil and all forms Of
judicial usurpation by making all
judges removable by the people, and
enforcement Of the constitutional
right Of trial by jury. We further de-
mand recognition Of that most sacred
of all rights-free speech and free
press"
The secretary Of the committee on
arrangements is Sheridan Webster. 9OS
Chouteau avenue, st. Louis, Of whom
full information may be obtained.