The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-06-09
THE ST. LOUIS ADDRESS.


the present unjust distribution OF
wealth, that creates a system OF So
ciety in which the few get, without
working. while the many work with
out getting; a system which must re-
suit in either anarchy or despOtism,
and the total destruction OF our re-
public. This condition Is due to the
monopoly of natural opportunities and
the creation of special privileges by
law
We maintain that this government,
which was Dedicated by the fathers
of the republic to freedom and equal
ity of opportunity, shall iulflll Its true
mission. We iemand Tie OF ening TO
all of the opportunities OF nature and
the abolition Of all SPECIAL privileges.
In both Of the great political parties
OF the nation are to be found two If
recoDcilable factions, one In favor cf
governmental ususpation. tending to
the establishment of new feudalism,
and the other standing tor industrial
and political Liberty.
In the peoples party of the nation
lies the only hoIe Of lne perpetual
tion of popular institutions.
We ratify and reaf1lrm the funda-
mental principles OF the platform Of
the peoples party adopted 1t It's ma
! tional convention in Omaha In 1882.
Free speech, frce press, trial by jury
and the rights of the people peaceably
to assemble, are the constitutional
rights OF every American citizen. We
oppose their violation by injunctions
issued by courts CT equity.
| We hold tina. tine right to issue and
coin money and to regulate the value
thereof is solely q function OF the Gov
eminent.
We demand public ownership and
operation of those public utilities
which are in tnelr nature natural mo-
nopolies, such as the railroad, tele-
phone, gas and electric lighting. AS
to those trusts a1d morcpOllcs which
! are not public utilities OF natural mo-
nopolies, we demand that those spe-
cial privileges which they low enjoy
and which alo.e enable them to ex-
list. should be Immediately withdrawn
Corporations being the creatures OF
government, should be subjected tc
such governmental regulation anO
control as will adequately protect the
public. We demand the taxation Of
monopoly privileges, while they re-
main in private hands, 10 tfe extent
] of the value Of the privileges granted
We favor the initiative and referen.
} dunn; the former to the end that the
people may compel the enactment 81
good laws; the latter to tn. end that
! the people may veto legislative meas
ureS.
We favor the direct domination oil
candidates for elective public Office by
direct vote of the people, and the cleo
} ton of the United States senators and
Z federal judges by the people.
} The platform OF the peoples party
Z made at Omaha in 1892 was originally
made in q conference called and hello
by the labor organizations February
\ %. 1892. We therefore invite the
\ wealth-producers 10 take rart in the
primaries that shall choose delegates
to our, conven ION, guaranteeing that
the influence of Ibis party shall be
/ given to advance the interests of or.
ganizei labor by the recognition oil
the union label on manufactured pr Cd
+ ucts. as we'll rs n legislation. which
at last is the only hope of just con
ditions for labor.
We criticise as unfair, Illegal anC
unjust, those 'ecisiOns of the court:
declaring the labor Law uaccnstllu
tional, and we demand a constitu
tional amendment authorizing legls
? lation requiring tie state, municipal
tiles and pubic franchise owing cor
porations, their contrac, ors AMI sub
contractors, to paJ worhmen the PIE
1: yalllng rates OF wages, snd that upol
4 public works. eight hours shall con
= stitute a days work, and We demani
e the abolition OF the contract system
9 upon public work.
We invite the cooperation or al
- reform forces believing IN the abov
a. q