Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1910-09-16
Socialists Stand.

lSt platform which was adOptet
at the party council in Topeka:
eve, the members of the So
cialiSt party council of the stat'
of Kansas, in regular convention
assembled on this, the Both day
of August, 1910, hereby reaffirn
our allegiance to the principles o.
the international Socialist move
ment and the platform Of the SO.
cialist party of the United States.
"The Republican and Democra
ic parties appeal to the proper
tied classes in the interest of wha
they have; reform parties appeal
to the good people in the inter
ests of what others should be;
the Socialist party appeals to the
workers in the interests of what
they do an desire to be.
Life, liberty and happiness
are the equal rights of all.
"Life is the foundation of all
human achievement.
Human life depends upon foot
clothing and shelter.
"FOOd, clothing and shelter de-
pend on labor acting on land and
raw materials by means of ma
chinery and tools.
"TO become able to acquire
the necessities of life with the
least expenditure of time and of
labor consistent with the equal
rights of all is the ideal condition
toward which right thinking peO-
pie strive.
Liberty of thought, speech,
press and assemblage, liberty to
lie employed or at leisure, are
equally necessary to human happi-
ness. Where the right to choose
or enjoy either Of these is denied
Or abridged, there injustice ex-
lists.
Whenever the entire time of
sn individual must be expended
in securing food, clothing and
shelter, there is mere animal ex-
istence, not life; slavery, not lib
erty; misery, not happiness.
"The government which fails
10 secure these primal rights to
all its citizens is a failure and a
disgrace, and its enforcement a
crime.
Human development, physica
mental, moral, and spiritual, de-
mands that the individual shall
be able to supply the material
means Of existence by the expen-
diture Of only such a part of his
time as shall leave to him abun-
dant leisure for such improve
ment and growth.
"All. just governments must be
organized and conducted with this
end in view.
"The foundation of our most
ideal life is the home. To be
able to secure and provide for the
home, the prime requisite is aSSur
ed access to land, machinery and
tools used for supplying human
needs.
Therefore, we demand:
"First-In education, in order
that every child shall be as per-
fectly equipped for the race of
life as its mental and physical en-
dOwment will permit.
"SecOnd-In employment, in OF
der that no human being shall be
at any time denied the OppOrtun-
ity to supply his needs by honor
able labor.
"Third-In reward, that every
worker, mental and physical, shall
receive as exactly as it is posi-
bic to determine, the full value
of the service rendrd by him.
"FOurth-In disability, wheth,
er by sickness, accident, or natur-
al CAUSES, every needed service
shall be rendered at public ex-
penSe.
"Fifth-In old age, that ev-
cry person who reaches a certain
determined age shall be entitled
to honorable retirement, with a
fixed income equal to his needs,
and
"Sixth-In death, that burial
shall be assured at public expense
and that the average income carr
I'd by the deceased shall be aSSur.
ed to those depending on him fol
support, until able to provide fol
themselves.
"As a condition necessary t.
the fulfillment of the above re