The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-04-01

2. Public ownership of monopolies, not
interstate in character, including city
building sites, telegraphs, telephones and
electric railways for cities and state;
with service furnished at cost.
5. Public industries, including depart
ment stores, lead and zinc mines and oil,
gas and salt wells. their products furnish
ed to Kansans at cost.
4. The urban home ,or rural homestead,
without rent, mortgage or debt. for each
family in the state.
5. Education from kindergarten through
university and professional or technical
school, available to all without charge.
6. Justice as guaranteed by Magma
Charta, for all, without refusal, delay o.
purchase.
:. Public revenues. ample and just, de-
rived, first, from graduated taxes on cor
porations, incomes, inherItances and Land
values, with liberal exemptions for those
of moderate means.
Finally, in the wage Garner and farmer
we recognize The leading types of the
producing classes of Kansas Under our
present economic system both are ex-
plotted for the benefit of trusts and no
nopolies; the laborer in the sale of his
labor, the farmer in the sale of his pro-
| ducts, and both in the purchase of prac-
tically all of the necessaries and COM
forts of life. Their cause is one. Divided,
their doom is certain; united, their re-
demption is sure. Each is justified in
combining for the protection of himself
and his class; but combined political ac-
ton is essential to the salvation of each.
J mir no tt1a % <
and farmers of Kansas can take full con-
| troll of the legislative, executive and ju-
dicial branches of the government of this
commonwealth, and end the self-confess-
ed carnival of eruption and plumber that
has long reigned at our state capital.
| They can throw from their own shoulders
/ upon the brawny back of wealth and priv
I ilege the burden of state taxation. They
/ can furnish to themselves, at cost, many
/ OF the necessaries Of life, including oil.
/ coal, gas and salt, and all public utilities
and passenger transportation and tele-
/ phone service within the state. They can
/ guarantee the Iaborer certain and contin-
uous employment at trades union hours,
wages and conditions and insurance
against accident, sickness and want in
/ old age. They can provide for the farm
/ err grain elevators, stock yards, tele-
/ graphs, freight transportation within the
state, and loans of money at cost. They
! can elect the board of railway commits
sioners with full power to fix rates. They
can unite farm to town by good roao5
and electric car lines and telephones
provided by the state and furnished at
cost; they can enlarge and improve, at
/ 81 h.
experiment station, enlist the full power
of the state in securing the long desired
outlet, by rail or canal, to the Gulf, and,
as rapidly as my be deemed wise and
expedient, apply to agriculture the pris'-
ciple of public ownership apd operation.
thus increasing the product, shortening
the hours, diminishing the severity Of
the toll. and. in large measure, abolish
ing the slavery in which not only the
farm hand, but the farmer himself his
wife and children are now involved
The Socialists of Kansas stand for each
and all of these beneficial measure and
appeal to the wealth producers of this
state TO aid them in their attachments.
From its birth in the struggle against
| the slavery of blacks. Kansas has led the
vanguard of the hosts of freedom. Will
not her tillers and toiers worthy sons of
John Hampden, Patrick Henry and John
| Brown, again rally in defense of wives
and children of hearts and homes? AS
their fathers won political liberty from
| kings will they not win economic liberty
from the despots of wealth. and in so
doing not only make life today worth liv-
ing. but win the undying gratitude of
generations yet to be?
Confusion. wrangling. dissatisfaction
and discomfort marked the first Socialist
state convention that was ever held in
Wichita, and which convened in the Music
hall on North Main street Yesterday.
About one hundred Socialists from var
ious parts of the state assembled in the
forenoon and organized c. r. Mitchell
of Geuda Springs. was elected as chair
man, and G. W. Merrillet of Enterprise,
| as secretary.
! The various necessary committees were
appointed next and then was the incip-
iency OF an excitement such as has
scarcely been known in this section at a
/ political assembly. The greater portion
of the day was occupied with tongue
flashing, verbosity and superfiuous argu-
/ ment concerning the adoption of a party
platform. Some favored what they des-
/ ignated as Carl Marx Revolutionary
! Platform, while others advocated a set
Of resolutions providing for immediate
action on certain and specific socialistic
/ principles. This occasioned a real war of
words. In various parts Of the hall men
arose 10 their feet, asked for recognition
from the chairman and shrieked out their
/ assent or approval
Chairman Mitchell made numerous I'M
successful attempts 10 pacify the flaming
/ atmosphere. The gavel was used with all
the might of the chairman. In the midst
of all this disruption a man by the name
of Parks, from Olathe, lesped to the front
and popped his fists together and ut
tered a most hideous yell. 1t was fully 10
minutes before quiet was resumed and
| business continued.
Finally there was majority and a
minority report of the committee read
and considered. The majority platform
. as is explained by Socialists. is supposed
/ to contain principles that are practical
! In other words in this platform the ad-
! vocatees want immediate control of gov
/ ernmental affairs. They also champion
various other principles. such as initia-
tive. referendum. proportional represen-
tation. equal suffrage and municipal home
I rule
The minority platform was almost
"hooted down" The pith and nucleus OF
this platform is considerably on the Ctop-
ian style. AS read it sounded like a
dream. and a beautiful one too. painted
in eloquent rhetoric and forid English.
But. that is about as much as can be
said of ii