Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1908-09-03

Infdfb 10 eNdue tneiIl we lneIeloIe
demand that the funds necessary to
inaugurate measures that shall ad-
vance the health, happiness and COM
fort of the working class. be raised
by taxing capitalist property progress
sively as the circumstances demand;
that the poll tax OF SO and the poor
tax of 81 be abolished. and also all
collecting of taxes in the shops
through the employer.
The initiative and referendum law
passed by the recent legislature has
proven completely inadequate, as the
socialists predicted. because OF the
large per cent and wide territory COW
cred by the demands of the petition.
We demand the enactment of a prac-
teal referendum measure that will en-
able a fair expression OF the will of
the persons affected.
The capitalist laws OF this state are
inadequate In their provision for re-
dress and compensation TO the work
ers for injuries to life and limb suf-
fered through the rapacity of en-
ployers. We demand an employers
liability act that shall guarantee to
the employe or his estate full COM
pensation for injuries or death. in
CURED in the performance of his duty.
The organized Industrial workers of
Montana have suffered most severely
in the past year from injunctions of
distri and federal judges against
strikers so that labor was crippled in
a most sweeping Injunction was issued
by Democratic Judge Fox of Billings,
and although reversed by a republic
can sepreme court. still more bind
ing injunction was issued from repub-
lican Judge Hunt OF the federal court.
We denounce in unqualified terms all
forms of government by injunctions,
as opposed to the democratic ideal of
popular rule. and we denounee the
abolition OF all injunction processes,
and that all cases OF contempt OF court
shall he submitted to jury trial,
Both state and city authorities in
Montana have repeatedly violated the
oight-hour law i'm public works We
demand the strict enforcement of this
law and the prosecution of all viola
tions.
The greatest abuses, with gross neg
lcct and cruelty have for a long time
prevailed i'm our state and county in
stitutions and works under the con-
tract system. We demand that this
method Of carrying on our public in
stitutions and activities be abolished
and that the work Of our penal insti-
tutions be carried on directly by the
state.
We demand that the state labor
commissioner be given the power to
enforce the labor laws.
Since the present blacklist law is
useless and grossly unjust to organ
lied labor. we favor the enactment of
a measure that will abolish the in
QUESTION of applicants under heavy
penalty to the employer or employers
agent.
The socialist party stands, un-
equivocally. for the economic and
political equality OF women with men.
and we pledge ourselves to the inau-
guration of measures To bring about a
referendum to establish such equality
In this state.
We recognize the futility under the
system OF capitalism OF attempting to
deal with the evil of intemperance by
prohibitive laws. With the institution
of socialism the root evils of the liquor
traffic. poverty of the people and the
element of profit in the manufacture
and sale of intoxicants. viii be elimln-
atcd.
We urge upon the working class the
Importance OF winning economic free
dom as of first consequence, and that
the money now diverted to capitalistic
uses, through patronage of saloons
should be devoted to the support of
the socialist party and press for the
emancipation OF the working class
from all the exploitation and evils of
capitalist society.
We favor legislation that will fix
the employment OF railway employees
by the week and not by the day, as
the present law provides. and that will
establish the maximum number OF
working hours OF such workers at 72
hours per week.
To relieve the unfortunate and poor
from the odium of charity and from
the rapacity OF privately conducted
hospitals. we favor law for the es-
tablishmcnt and support OF county
hospitals on the same basis as pre-
l.