The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-08-05
SOCIALISTS OUT
FOR RSUPERGOV'T
FOR FA|RM0NT
Unions, Lodges, Fraternal
Orders and Churches to
Advise City Directors.

Municipal ownership. and munich
pal control Is advocated in the plat
form of the Socialist party of Fair
mont, which was adopted last even
ing at meeting OF the special COM
mittee appointed for that purpose in
Central Labor Hail. A plan is sug-
gested by which delegates from
churches, fraternal organizations and
trades councils would present their
cause before the board OF directors
should any matters of that nature
arise.
The platform is the handiwork of
B. F. Mills and E. D. Faux and all of
the members of the committee COM
posed also Of H. l.. Franklin. j. H.
Snider and George Deaver concurred
in the action. H. L.. Franklin was
chairman Of the committee.
Mr.. Franklin was directed to ad-
dress the trolley company employees
and he did this last night. He point
ed out the sterling union qualities Of
both Socialist candidates.
The platform complete is as fol-
lows:
(Preamble)
Before the war the Industrial life Of
every great nation was controlled by
private individuals for private gain.
Widespread poverty among the wage
workers, meagre incomes for the pro-
fessional class, and the concentration
of Immense wealth in the hands Of
comparative few-these were the
natural results of a-world run in the
interest of big business.
Every civilized nation was split into
warning camps; the non-producers
who owned, and the producer who
served.
Then war came. 1t challenged the
domination of our economic life by
private enterprise. Private operation
and competition was found totally un-
equal to the strain Of war.
The interests OF the state became
supreme.
Underlying all the problems of in
ternational reconstruction the great
est of all issues with which the world
stands faced.
ION the answer to this question de-
pends the future Of mankind: (The
state is dominating industry. Who
shall dominate the state0l
Already the lines are forming.
In every belligerent country, friend
and foe alike, the men of power in
commerce and industry are laying
their plans openly to capture the trade
Of the world.
Already these men seek to enlist the
active support Of their governments
in these schemes of conquest to fol-
low peace. The future of the world
for them is a uper-struggle for wealth
and power; but in that game no mere
individuals but nations and govern
ments themselves would be the pawns
Opposed TO this the ranks of labor
are taking form. Within the belliger-
eht' nations the mass of the workers.
are gathering strength.
The toilers, of hand and brain alike,
are building new brotherhood in the
unity of their demands.
True to its (historic) mission, the
(Labor) Socialist party of the City OF
Fairmont seeks to prepare the work
ers to take their part in the new fra
ternity Of labor.
The Labor Socialist party comes be-
fore the people pledged to the service
of democracy. Democracy in govern
ment, democracy In industry, democ-
racy in education.
The state, the industries, and educa-
tion, all three must be owned and man
aged by the people (for the people),
with no thought OF profit.
In fha onhtauA,nonk = Az
candidates of the (Labor) Socialist
party for the Board Of Directors for
the City of Fairmont stand pledged to
the following principles and demands:
l. We demand, that all laws abridg-
ing right of freedom of speech, press.
and assemblage shall be Immediately
repealed.
2. Municipal ownership and opera
ton Of all public utilities.
.. A minimum wage scale for all city
employees shall be Five Dollars (S5.00)
per day. A work day to consist of
eight hours the maximum. With, rec
ognition OF the right to organize and
bargain collectively.
4. A public market house for the
buying and, selling Of food stuff at the
cost of distribution.
5. That the city officials may be
advised as to the needs of the people
we request that each church, frater-
nal organization and labor union do
elect one member each to meet and
represent his organization in frame
ing the desires of that body which they
wish enacted into laws, and present
them to the Board Of Affairs. Such
committee shall meet once eacL
month, and no member DO act more
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