The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-06-08

oISIdIOf.
Fourth Ward-J. X. Ham,.ick
Blacksmith.
We the Socialist Party of the Cny
OF Ronceverte do hereby endorse the
National and State Socialist Plat.
form of 1908.
The people of this country are
rapidly awakening and recognizing
the fact that too little attention has
been paid to the management of the
municipal affairs in most of the lead
ing American cities. The great mass
of the people themselves are t.
blame for this general neglect of
civil huv :ni lack q: a higher
Standard If Give pride.
! The oil -. zeal oa"tv machines
dcgenerated into Instruments of
graft until the term Of oubli. OHIO G
became synonymous with graft.
| Under such misgovern -nent the very
Foundation of our democratic form
OF government is bounI to suffer Sc
verely. Tha cause OF this political
bankruptcy is cue to the general neg
icct of duty on the part OF the peo-
pie, who 'blndly and carc.cssly en-
trust the management of their mu-
nlclpal affairs to the mercenary 20
litical machines of Capitalism.
! The result Of this deplorabIe state
OF affairs is general decentralization
and political corruption, under the
influence and guidance of capitalists:
corporation interests.
| The present system of govern
ment as now exists in the city
of Ronceverte have failed to provide
| the city with progressive unicIpal
| administration. But has done moth
| ing more than a partnership between
the corrupt politician of the two old
parties, placing the entire city add
| ministration in the hands of the ma
| chine politicians and placing the pco-
pie at the mercy of the special in
terest. In view of the fact that the
great majority of the people are
working class take more active
part in the political struggles in
lie improvements.
Both old parties have become the
agencies of the capitalist class and
carry on their political work. to the
| great detriment of the wealth. pro-
ducers.
Municipal government is insti-
|
pie. not for the purpose of becom-
ing the instrument of community by
ca pitalist cliques and corporation in
| terests.
| The Socialist Party. while realiz-
ing that Socialism in it's final effects
will benefit all the people. insists
that no political party can represent
the interests of all people under the
present capitalist conditions The
Socialist Party takes pride in an
nouncins that its supreme efforts
are to defend and represent the in
terest of the working class.
1t is with a clear conception of
our political mission that we enter
this municipal campaign to bring
about the reforms and improvements
in the management of the public af-
| fairs and to strengthen the politica
organization of the working class
with view of increasing the power
and influence of the wealth produc-
ers. so necessary in the great strug-
gle for the emancipation of labor
from the bonds of wage slavery
The working people of Ronceverte
must get together like our conrad s
in Milwaukee under the Banner Of
the Socialist Party and take posses
lsion of the City Government by
means of their united vote
| For immediate relief we advocate
the following measures:
We stand for the enactment of d
new charter, which will more fully
give to the people the following:
Home Rule. '
The Initiative. referendum and re
Icall.
Public baths, Toilets and Waiting
Rooms.
A more economical city govern.
ment, by disposing of surplus officials
Abolition of the present public
contract. system; all public work tc
be under supervision of the City ana
all work to be performed by citizens
as far as possible.
We demand the following:
Municipal ownership of public
| City owned Parks and Playground.
establishment of a more efficient
An