The independent., 1903-10-08
Referendum,


The committee on resolutions re-
ported the following, which was
adopted by unanimous rising vote:
The DELEGATES Of the united peoples
labor party of Kentucky in convention
assembled desire to congratulate the
reform voters of Kentucky over the
tendency of organized labor and the
farmers of the country to unite their
efforts to advance their mutual inter-
ests. We feel now as in 1902. when
the Omaha platform enunciated the
great truths upon which the peoples
party was founded-that "the interests
OF rural and civic labor are the same
their enemies are identical"
We congratulate the united reform
movement upon the substantial prog
Tess Of the immortal principles fof
which we now stand and have always
stood, namely
Honest elections-the right of every
citizen to cast free and unrestricted
ballot. and to have his ballot counted
and returned as cast. Free and hon.
est elections are the foundation upon
which the enduring republic must
stand.
Majority rule, through the initiative
and referendum, doing away forever
with political machines. and mailing
the people in fact as we'll as in name,
self-governing and free.
A just financial system, taking the
control of the volume Of money out
of the hands of spectators and shy
locks, and making money the servant
OF the people rather than the master.
Public ownership-the public own
ing and operating the great essential
monopolies in the interest OF all.
Opposition to land menepoly-be-
lieving that the land is the heritage OF
all the people from their common
Creator, and not to be mOnOpOlized
by few and the masses left home
less.
Labor legislation-preventing child
labor, shortening hours OF labor. and
the passage of all laws Oettering the
conditions Of wage-workers, and In
creasing their earnings.
Recognition and advancement Of the
union label-as the baGge of intelli-
gent, well paid, free labor, in contra
distinction from the products of wage
slaves driven by ignorance and avarice
to toll in sweat shops under cruel mas
tiers. for a bare sustenance.
Recognizing that no reform is pos
sible until the majority of the people
favor it, and feeling perfectly secure
in trusting the welfare of this COM
monwealth with a fair and unpreju-
diced majority of The people, we de-
clare the most important of all issues
to be that Of the initiative and refer
endum, or majority rule, providing the
open door through which all other re-
forms may be secured; ard. without
deserting or modifying our position on
any of the great ISSUES we deem nec-
essary for the advancement of labor
we recommend that our efforts be GEN.
tered upon the issue of majority rule
in an attempt to secure it's immediate
adoption.
In this connection it is therefore
Resolved, That in counties where
there are no reform candidates fol
legislative Offices the labor forces or
ganize to secure practical results, ant
agree to vote for no man for repre-
SCutdIlsc VI ScudLOI Wiz Will AoI olS3h
the following pledge:
PLEDGE TO BE SIGNED.
eff elected to the legislative Office tt
which aspire, agree on my honOl
as man and citizen of the common
wealth of Kentucky, to vote agains
any proposed election law which is no
absolutely fair to all political parties
and does not guarantee to every citi
zen the full enjoyment of MS consti
tutional rights. also agree to vot
to submit to the people at the mex
general election proposed amend
ment to the constitution of Kentuc'y.
providing for the initiative and refer
endum, by which not over five pc
cent of the voters of the state or an,
legal subdivision thereof may deman,
the submission of proposed law to
vote of the people before it become
operative or may propose a law an,
that the people may likewise propos
and secure further amendments to th
state constitution
Resolved. That we call upon all la
Dor and other organizations favorin,