Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1908-10-09

| United states to pass upon the con
stitutionality of legislation enacted
by congress. National laws to be re
pealed or abrogated only by act o.
congress or by a referendum of the
whole people.
Is. That the constitution be made
amendable by majority vote.
16. The enactment of further
measures for general education and
for the conservation of health. The
bureau of education to be made a
department. The creation of a de-
partment of public health.
IT. The separation OF the pres
ent bureau of labor from the depart
ment of commerce and labor, and
the establishment of a department
of labor
1S. That all judges be elected by
the people for short terms, and that
the power to iss1e injunctions shall
be curbed by immediate legislation.
20. The free administration of
justice.
Such measures of relief as we may
be able to force from capitalism are
but a preparation of the workers to
seize the whole powers of govern
ment, In order that they may there
by lay hold of the whole system Of
industry and thus come to their
rightful inheritance.
Platform for 1908.
The Socialist party, In national
convention assembled. again declares
itself as the party of the working
class, and appeals for the support OF
all workers of the United States and
of all citizens who sympathize with
the great and Just cause OF labor.
We are at this moment In the
midst of one of those industrial
breakdowns that periodically para
lyze the life Of the nation. The
era OF our national
prosperity has been followed by one
OF general misery. Factories, mills
and mines are closed. Millions OF
men, ready, willing and able to pro-
vide the nation with all the neces-
saries and comforts OF life are forced
into idleness and starvation.
Within recent times the trusts and
have attained an enor-
nous and menaclng development
rhey have acquired the power to die
ate the terms mpon which we shall
De allowed to live The trusts fix
he prices OF our bread, meat and
iugar, OF our coal. oil and clothing.
u our raw material and machinery,
" all the necessities OF life.
The present desperate condition
" the workers has been made the |
for renewed onslaught |
IN organized labor. The highest |
'ourts OF the country have within |
he last year rendered decision after
Iecision depriving the workers OF
lights which they had won by gener-
tions OF struggle.
The attempt TO destroy the West
rn Federation OF Miners, although
efeated by the solidarity OF organ
zed labor and the Socialist move
nent, revealed the existence Of far
eaching and unscrupulous consplr-
cy by the ruling class against the
rganlzatlons OF labor.
In their efforts TO take the lives OF
he leaders OF the miners the con-
pirators violated state laws and the
ederal constitution in manner
eldom eqnaled even In n country so
dominated by the profit.
eekIng class as Is the United States.
The congress Of the United States
as shown its contempt for the in
erests OF labor as plainly and un-
iistakably as have the other
ranches OF government.
The laws for which the labor or
have continually peti-
oned have failed 20 pass, Laws os-
onsibly enacted for the benefit OF
lbor have been distorted against
lbor.
The working class OF the United
tates cannot expect any re1ody for
g wrong' from the present ruling
lass or from the dominant parties.
o long as a small number OF ind'-
lduals are permitted 20 control the
lurees of the nations wealth for (
leir private profit I'm competition
18th each other and for the exploitq-
on of their fellow men. industrial
enressions are hound TO occur At [
artain intervals. No currency re-
'rms or other legislative measures
roposed by capitalist reformers