The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-07-15
State Platform Socialist Party

CITY cemetery.
State Platform Socialist Party
The Socialist party of Vermont,
through its delegates in state con-
vention assembled, June 1912, affirms
the principles of international Soc
ialism as set forth in the National
Platform and Resolutions OF The So
cialist party of America, adopted at
Indianapolis. May, 1912.
The convention heartily and unan-
imously endorses the selection of Eu.
gene Victor Debs of Indiana, and
Emil Seidel, of Wisconsin, to be the
party's standard bearers in the nat
ional campaign, halls them as ioyal
champions of the working class, and
divided support.
We rejoice at the rapid and wide
spread progress of the Socialist move
ment Like an irresistible tide So.
cialism is steadily advancing in ali
parts of the civilized world, bringing
faith and hope to the poor ana op-
pressed and menacing only the forces
of oppression and spoiation.
We place upon record our approval
of the magnificent work done for the
cause OF Socialism by the partys re-
preventative in congress. Represen-
tative Victor L. Berger, of Wisconsin.
BY his able. fearless and persistent
advocacy of such important meas
ures of democracy and working class
advancement as equal suffrage for
both anA al 90
the veterans Of industry; his sturdy
championship of the victims OF cap
italist class brutality at Lawrence,
Mass, San Diego, Cal, and else
where; his exposure of venal and
corrupt judges. and his successful
opposition to the persistent attempts
that are made to destroy the Right
Of Asylum which our forefathers es-
tablished, and to make this country
an ally of Russian despotism, Repre-
sentative Berger has set a splendid
example for all other Socialists who
may be elected to Congress, and CIV
en- to the working class of America
noteworthy and inspiring object
lesson OF the advantage of Socialist
| representation. We pledge our lives
J ~ WIN ALNNoSAibAg AOA AuC
OF two Socialist representatives from
the State.
We reiterate the declaration of
our belief made two years ago.
namely. that only through the soc
ialization OF the great forces OF pro-
duction and exchange can the nation
find a solution for the problems
which create social unrest, the
masses, be saved from poverty, and
the right to life, liberty and the pur-
suit of happiness be insured TO all"
We reiterate, also, the declaration
made two years ago that we are not
opposed to private property. Again
we repudiate the charge that we ad-
vocate any scheme for the equal d.
vision of wealth and property. The
only equality for which the Socia.
/ list Party stands is equality of Cd
portunity, the right of every child
born to an equal claim upon the ad-
vantages and resources of our civil.
cation.
To bring about that equality OF Cd
portunity We declare IL to be neces.
sary to put an end to the system
which enables a privileged few by
reason OF their ownership and con.
troll of the means of life upon which
all depend TO Cypress the many and
exploit their labor and their needs
To that end, we advocate the peac.
able, progressive development of the
policy Of public ownership and con.
troll of all means of production and
! exchange now used as means OF ex
tracing rent interest and profit
from the labor of the actual produc.
ers of wealth.
/ Socialism is not a scheme to be
adopted, but a stage of civilization
to be reached. We believe that
stage of civilization to be inevitable
The great trusts which today control
the bread and the lives of the people
and menace their liberties make
Socialism the only alternative The
\ choice is between ownership of the
people by the trusts and ownership
of the trusts by the people.
Il Under the present system every
i improvement In the methods OF pro
duction results only in an increase OF
i the wealth and power Of an arrogant
Il plutocracy. We point TO the fact
That the Bulletin on Manufactures FOL
the United States for 1910. recently
published, contains Overwhelming
proof that the share Of the producers
in the volume Of wealth produced
grows constantly less. Meantime
despite the steady cheapening OF the
cost OF production, the prices Of al
commodities increase at an alarmins
rate. The inefficiency OF the present
industrial system is the prime reason
IOr the bitter struggle against power
ty and despair which makes up IN,
|, lives Of millions Of our working PEG
pie.
Against these conditions protest,
are heard upon every hand. and thes,
protests are seized upon by the capi
talist political parties. Republican,
and Democrats vie with one an
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