The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-23
Western Federation adopts
Platform Principles.
OPPOSES IMPERIALISM
DEMANDS FREE COINAGE OF SILL
YER AT 10 TO l..
Denounces National Bank System,
Increase of the Army and Gov
eminent by Injunction-Favors
Public Ownership of Utilities and
Initiative and Referendum.

Federation of Miners today adopted a
declaration of principles. The declara-
ton says that the federation believes
that desired industrial reforms can be
accomplished only by radical govern
mental changes and submits the fol-
lowing as it's principles:
"First-We believe that the wage sys-
TEN should be abolished, and the pro-
duction of labor be distributed under
the cooperation plan
Seeond-We are opposed to the ex-
pansiOn of our national boundaries for
the acquisition Of territory populated
by other than the Caucasian race.
"Third-We are opposed to imperial
ism and demand that civil government
under the provisions of our federal
constitution be extended TO Porto Rico
and the other insular possessions OF the
United States.
''FoUrth-We are opposed to arbi-
trary interference by federal authori-
ties in local affairs, and we especially
object to government by injunction as
new and highly dangerous form of
oppression by which federal judges, in
contempt of all laws of the state and
rights Of the citizens. become at once
legislators, governors and execution
ers.
'Fifth-We view with alarm the evil
dent intention to Increase the standing
army. Aside from the enormous ex-
pense a large military establishment
imposes upon the producers of the ma
ton (whO are the actual taxDayers)
we know from historical facts and our
own experience that it is the chosen
weapon of tyrants, a deadly foe to in
diyidUai rights Of the common people
and incompatible with free institutions;
therefore we express the hope that the
members of organized labor everywhere
will refrain from voluntary enlistment
in any department Of the federal or
state military service.
Direct Legislation Demanded.
"Sixth-We believe representative
form of government a fable and Re
gard direct legislation as the first step
necessary to enforce legislative re-
forms, and therefore demand the initia-
tive and referendum in making of all
laws, state and municipal.
''Seventh-We regard public owner
ship and operation of all the means of
production and distribution as the log
zeal solution of the industrial problem,
and respectfully urge all working peo-
pie to give the subject the thoughtful
consideration its Importance deserves
''Eighth-That a graduated tax be
levied on the incomes and inheritances,
and property tax should be levied on
land values alone.
"Ninth-We demand the rehabilita
ton of silver as a money metal and its
free coinage at the ratio of 10 to 1.
Opposed to National Banks.
s"Tenth-We denounce the national
bank system as an institution estab-
lished and maintained in the interest
of Capital alone and inimical TO the best
interests of the producers, and demand
the system be abolished. and a postal
savings bank system be substituted in
stead, and we further demand that all
moneys-gold, silver and paper-be is
sued by the government Of the United
States direct to the people.
"Eleventh-We stand unalterably OPP
posed to the immigration of cheap Ia
Dor and demand that the prohibitions
of the Chinese exclusion act be extend
ed to the Japanese and all the other
Monaghan races.
''Twelfth-We believe the time has
arrived when all labor unionists should
study and discuss economic and po-
litical subjects with the view of sup
porting the candidates for Office best
which we stand.
"Thirteenth-We recommend that
when a member of organized labor is
available for public Office he should be
advanced and supported in preference
to all other candidates.
"FOurteenth-We recommend the full
and free discussion of all economic and
political questions by all unions of the
federation"
The chief business tomorrow will be
the election of officers A few alter a
tions will be made in the constitution
and then the convention viii adjourn
VIII Meet at Denver Again.
Both the Western Federation of Min
/ ers and the Western Labor union have
decided TO hold their conventions
next year in Denver.
At this mornings session Of the Fed
Grafton the ritual committee reported
great number of changes in the ritual
work, all of which were adopted A
resolution was adopted asking all men,
bers to work toward establishing
| boards of arbitratiOns in the various
states. Support and hearty sympathy
with the clerks union at Butte was
voted in the fight being made upon the
union by the Hennessey department
store.
The convention refused to indorse
the proposed establishment of a nation
al bureau OF mines.
/ Resolutions c0ndemning President
| Mckinley. General Merriam, Governor
| Steunenberg OF Idaho and Governor
Smith of Montana for their course in
regard to the Occur d'Alene miners
trouble were adopted.