The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-05-21
SLOGAN OF ALASkA'S
LABOR PARTY SAYS
WORKER OWN SAVIOR

CHATAN1KA, Alaska, May 20.-
The new labor party which was re-
Gently launched in Alaska held a
rousing meeting here last Wednesday
under the auspices of the Western
Federation of Miners, but not con-
fined to that organization alone, and
nominated a candidate for congress.
The platform Of the new labor
party which treats of the conditions
of labor and it's demands was unani-
mously adopted, part Of which is as
follows:
For over half a century the labor
ing men of the United States of
America have been looking to, and
depending on, the two dominant po-
litical parties of this country for re-
lief from the oppressive encroach-
ments of combined capital Labor
has appealed to them for redress and
trusted them, giving loyal support at
the polls and receiving empty plat
form pledges in return
After years of patient waiting
and hoping, betrayal, treachery and
Misrepresentation are our only re-
ward. With the issue of tariff high,
tariff low and tariff for revenue only,
labor is now working under an
economic condition where it is ex-
plotted of the wealth it produces, be-
ing allowed to retain barely sufficient
for its elementary necessities.
1.-THE legislative, executive and ju-
dicial branches of our government are
in the hands OF that element whose
only belief in, or use of, the power
of government is to impoverish the
masses and bring about a condition
of master and slave.
I'VE assert that the working class
and 1t alone can and must achieve
Its own emancipation; that concerted
political action is the only means of
attaining this end.
1.-The United States of America,
with its ninety millions of inhabit-
ants, is about the only modern civil
lied country of the world where labor
Is unrepresented in the legislative
branches of their government
Therefore we, the laborers and
wealth producers Of the Tanana val
ley, Alaska, In convention assembled,
realizing the futility of further de-
pendence in those parties which have
so often betrayed us must, and do of
necessity enter the political field our
selves. and we endeavor through po-
l1tfcal action to secure those bless
ings guaranteed to us by our constitu-
tlon to manage our own political at
fairs Independently.
I'VE demand the establishment of
postoffices at convenient points
throughout the territory for the con-
Venience Of the people. and an i'm
provement in our mail facilities. That
as large accumulations of second
class mail matter addressed during
the winter season to interior Alaska,
remains at Valdez and other ports
until the opening of navigation, to
be returned to Seattle and shipped to
its destination by water, thus depriv-
ing our citizens of all periodicals,
magazines and outside newspapers
for the greater part of the season,
we believe it to be the duty of the
government under those conditions to
provide on a larger scale for the
transportation of mail during the
winter season, by stage route.
I'VE demand that congress grant
to the people of Alaska a territorial
form of government such as has
been granted to the people of other
territories in the United States,
wherein the people Of Alaska may
enjoy degree of self-government
In commenting on the new labor
party and its platform the editor of
the Nome Industrial Worker, an or
gan of the Western Federation of
Miners, we read
The Labor party, however, needs
no apology from the Industrial Work
er. The establishment of such
party has been forced upon the
workers of Alaska by the exigencies