The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1901-10-17
rHE SOCIALIST PLATFORM.

The Socialist Party in National convention assem-
bled, rearms it's adherence to the principles Of Inter-
national Socialism, and declares its aim to be the
ganzaton Of the working class and those in sympathy
with it, into political party with the object 0f
querng the powers OF and using them for
the puroae Of transforming the present system Of pr
vate ownershp Of the means Of production and distr
ton into collective ownership BY the entire people
Formerly the tools Of production were simple and
owned by individual workers. To day, the machine,
which is improved and developed tool OF pro-
duction, is owned by the capitalists and not by tho
workers. The ownership enables the capitalists to con-
troll the product and keep the workers dependent upon
them.
Private Ownership Of the means Of production and
distribution is responsible for the increasing
certainty Of the livelihood and poverty and misery Of
the working GLASS; and divides society into two hostile
casses-the capitalists and wage-workers The once
powerful middle class is rapidly disappearing in the
mill of competition The struggle is now between the
capitalist class and the working class The possession
OF the means Of livelihood gives the capitalists the
troll Of the government, the press, the pulpit and
schools and enables them to reduce the workngmen to
state of Intellectual, physical and social nferiory,
subservience and virtual slavery
The economic interests of the capitalist class doi-
nate entire social system; the lives Of the working
class recklessly sacrificed for profit, are TO-
mented between nations ndiscrminate slaughter s
couraged and the destruction of whole races is
toned in order that the capitalists may extend their
commercial dominion abroad and enhance their suprem-
acy at home.
But the same economic causes which developed cap
talism leading to Socialism, which will abolish both
the capitalist class and the class of wageworkers And
And the active force in bringing about this and
higher order of society is the working class All other
classes despite their apparent actual conflicts,
alike interested in the UNFOLDING of the system of pr
vate ownership of the instruments Of wealth produc
ton The Democratic, Republican, the bourgeoise pub
lie ownership parties and all other parties which do not
stand for the complete overthrow Of the capitalist
tenn of productin alike political representatives Of
the capitalist class.
The workers can most effectively act q class in
their struggle against the collective powers Of capital
ism, by constituting themselves into political party,
distinct from and opposed to all parties formed by the
propertied classes.
While we declare that the development of economic
conditions tends to the overthrow Of the capitalist sys
tenn, we recognize that the time and manner of the
transition to Socialism also depends upon the stage of
development reached by the proletarat We therefore,
Party support all active efforts of the working class
Offices order to facilitate the attanmant of this end
As such means, we advocate
1. The public ownership Of all means of transporta-
ton and communication and all other public utilities,
we'll all industries controlled by monopolies,
trusts and combnes part of the revenue OF such in
dustres to be applied to the taxes Of the captasc
GLASS; but to be applied wholly to the increase Of wages
and shortening of the hours OF labor OF the employees
and to the improvement of the service, and diminishing
the rates to the consumer.
g. The progressive reduction of the hours OF labor
and the Increase of order to decrease the share