The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-04
1T IS NATIONAL SUICIDE
Militarism and Plutocracy De-
nounced at Buffalo.
MENACE TO THE REPUBLIC
War Against the Filipinos, Martial Law
in Idaho and the Trusts Con-
demned by a Vote OF
the Conference.

Buffalo, N Y, July 3.-In the social
by Professor Heron, criticising the
Philippine policy and the alleged ten
dency to autocracy. 1t was adopted,
but the vote was subsequently re-
considered after a number of addresses
denouncing such action. Pandemonium
ensued as motion after motion followed
and speaker after speaker was heard
or suppressed. Finally an address to
the public was taken up seriatim. From
time to time some delegate would arise
in spirit of desperation, trying to pro-
tect the language of the address.
The first paragraph denounced 1.-The
war of conquest and exterminato ton."
The word determination" was stricken
out The words "lawless and irrespon-
sible" were stricken from the para
graph referring to military control in
Idaho. The address as adopted refers
to the two great evils of militaism
and plutocracy which now menace the
existence of the republic"
The former it declares, is expressed
in our war of conquest in the Philip
pines; in our continued government of
CUBA; in the private use of the United
States army for the complete and in
slant overthrow of civil government in
Idaho and the establishment of mill
tary despotism in the corporate and
private use of military force to destroy
and terroriZe organized labor. and in
the monstrous public corruptions that
have grown out of our Spanish Philip
pine wars.
The nation" the address continues,
that strikes at the liberties of another
nation, comits national suicide. We
cannot too greatly emphasize the fact
that the militarism that seeks con-
quest abroad has for it's ultimate end
the suppression of organized labor at
home and the defense of government by
injunction by federal courts, which
have usurped the functions of legisla-
tion and have set aside the laws of the
land"
An appeal is made to the public to
| join in the demand for the granting Of
the liberties pledged to the Filipinos.
Militarism is declared to be but the
offspring and incident of the greater
| menace of plutocracy, which has estab-
lished a monopoly government
by economic force based upon spe-
cial privileges in law and natural re-
sources, upon indirect taxation and
consequent political competition mon
opoly is centralizing the wealth of the
nation in the hands of enormous trusts
which are becoming irresponsible, econ
omic despotisms, which are using legis-
lation, the judiciary and all the func-
tions of government as the mere instru-
ment of private profit, which are re-
ducing the entire people to economic
serfdom or enforced wage slavery.
Political liberty" the address de-
clares. lis a mockery without economic
liberty Even the further extension of
the suffrage, SO as to grant political
citizenship to women, which extension
we urge and advocate, will avail little
or nothing without economic freedom
to all.
I'VE therefore make urgent appeal to
the people to cooperate with us in the
institution of such movements and the
support Of such men as shall propose
first direct legislation and proportional
representation, direct taxation, public
ownership Of public utilities or monop-
olies growing out of natural resources,
and the existence of society; the sole
control by the people, through their
government of their medium Of eX-
change and for the upbuilding and en-
during establishment of a free, just and
progressive society based on these Gle
mentary principles of political and So
cial democracy. We offer our services
and our citizenship and appeal to the
good will inherent in the association of
men for liberty and the common good