The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1911-12-07
(By H. w. Houston.)

In these stirring days, Just be-
tore the opening of the great polit-
ical battle of 1912, there is 4 Wis
ion that is ever with me. Wheth-
er in the thronging streets. or in
the privacy of my home; VIII ether
in the open country or in peace
full village; in the busy hours OF
day or the silent solitude of night,
1t ever keeps me company. 1t is
vision that was dimly seen in
the dreamland days OF boyhood-
a vision taking shape with the
rapidly passing years-and now
Ia bout to be carved into reality
That vision is this:
A clean, clear-cut, class-consci-
Gus. militant working class carry
ing the red banner Of, economic lib
erty to political victory in our be-
loved West Virginia. Fortune has
entrusted Harrison anl kanawha
counties with the high and sacred
honor of translating that vision in
to reality. That is the holy mis-
sion committed to us, my comrades.
Knowing YOU and having been
amcng you ] have no fears that
you will betray the trust placed
upon you. Without a taint of flat
terry I can say that the cause OF
Humanity has no better soldiers en-
listed in the army of the Common
Good than ycu.a Thrice armed be-
cause our cause is just, With the
very stars in their courses fighting
for US. We cannot fail.
Language fails to tell all that
such victory would mean to the
people of this State-a people
sorely tried by the innnmerable
wrongs heaped upon them by a Jaw
less plutocracy. We have. here
within the confines of our State a
commonwealth built by Nature as
a home for treemen. With it's fer
tile hills and valleys, it's majestic
mountains and matchless scenery, its
illimitable wealth of forest and mine
it should be peopled by men ana
women who know not the fear OF
want or the shackles of wage
slavery. Human life should here
blossom into fairest flower. The
mountain sides should echo and re-
echo with gladstone voices and the
song of childhood.
EHut the scene that now Sreets
the eye is vastly different. In place
of this we see a people betrayed.
plunJered and their land profaned.
The gorson of Capitalism, in it's
search for profits, has trampled the
land with it's ruthless tread. The
trophies of wealth have been filch-
cd from our land and wrung from
our blood. Our manhood mas beet
prostituted and our sisters violat-
ed Our halls :f legislation have
been turned into shambles, where
in the cause of the people has been
assasinated, while corporate hire
lings have held drunken brawls
over our life's blood. Public Of
fee has been converted into a
means of larceny. while big thieves
sit il velvet pews, and subserv1ent
Judges whitewashing the sneakinS
rogues. Prosecuting attorneys be-
tray their trust and then storm, in
profanity because the accusing fin
ger seeks out the culprits.
From such conditions the people
must have deliverance. Deliverance
can come only through the work.
irG class. This, then, my comrades,
is the cause committed to your
care: Your triumph in the counties
of Harrison and kanawha wou1u
mean the deliverance of the. peo-
pie from political bondage.
Your victory would mean new
hope in the hearts of the masses.
1t would mean the triumph OF
clean and honest government.
It would mean that political
thievery must stop.
1t would mean that the people
had grasred political power.