The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-03-24
BY Charles III. Kelley

mlnatl0n TO COMBINE on the ATTAIN
ment of common aim, marks the
most important and significant de-
velopment in this nation in a half
century.
1t can be likened only to that other
gathering of oppressed citizens, in
Philadelphia back in 1776, who
pledged their elves and their sacred
honor" in an effort, which proved
highly successful, to throw off the
chains of tyranny and political au-
tocracy.
1t was fitting that this second
declaration of independence should
be given to the world on the ami
versary of the birth of the Father
of His Country. A recital of the
evils that today afflict the producers
of America almost parallels the op-
pressions and iniustices that bore
heavily upon those earlier Americans
who in solemn conclave denounced
the evil reign Of an English monarch
and declared their intention to throw
off the yoke of slavery and make this
nation free and independent.
This 1922 conference dedicated
itself to the task of returning the
nation to the foundation laid by the
fathers and restore to the public
been usurped and give the United
States a government of the people,
for the people, and by the people"
The declaration of principles adopt
ed by the Chicago convention recog-
nizes the fundamental principles
upon which the nation was founded
L.
rations of the people. They were
not put to the necessity of working
out new political doctrine, but they
saw the imperative necessity of get
ting the nation back to the bedrock
of it's liberties and driving out of
power the reactionary bourbons who
have in a very large measure NULL
fled the sacrifices and the sufferings
of the "embattled farmers of '76"
and have brought this land perilous-
ly close to industrial serfdom and
political autocracy.
Reasserting these fundamental
doctrines as the cornerstones of lib
erty. those attending the producers
conference declared their purpose to
earnestly seek to restor the govern
ment to the noble ends and high pur-
poses for which ii was conceived"
and then gave this ringing platform
of action to the world:
eve hold the splendid structure of
the visible government is sound and
we'll adapted to the genius of our
people. But through the apathy of
the people and their division upon
false issues. the control of this Wis
ible government has been usurped by
the invisible government of plutoc-
racy and privilege and. administered
in every branch by their creatures
and servitors. has become destructive
of those sacred rights to secure which
it was established.
"The history of recent years is a
history of repeated injuries and
usurpations by the servants of this
oligarchy in both the dominant par
ties; all having in direct object the
establishment of an absolute tyranny
and plutocratic dictatorship within
these states. Life, liberty and hap
piness all have been sacrificed upon
the altar of greed. To prove this.
let these facts be submitted to a can
did world.
"They have stifled free speech,
throttled free press and denied the
sacred right of assembly.
"They have sanctioned wholesale
corruption of the electorate by seat
ing in the senate of the United States
Newberry, its most notorious bene-
ficiary.
"They have used the federal re-
serve system. controlling the life
blood of the nations credit. as an in
strument to deflate and crush farm
ers and independent business men
and cause nationwide unemployment.
"They have INSTRUCTED every hon
est effort to relieve the distress of
agriculture thus caused. and have
used every influence to secure be-
trayal of the farmers interests.
"They have conscripted four mil
lion men and boys while they per-
mitted corporations and individuals
to extort unsconscionable profits and
have sacrificed the soldiers just de-
mands for equitable compensation to
the dictates of Mellonism and the
selfish interests of tax-dodging cap
italists and warp rofiteers.
"They have abolished the taxes
upon excess profits of corporations
and have reduced the taxes upon the
incomes of millionaires.
"They have squandered the re-
sources of the nation in wasteful and
| fraudulent contracts and subsidies.
"They have permitted the railroads.
the arteries of the nation. to be op-
Grated not for service. but for spec
ulative gain and, after substituting
them heavily and guaranteeing their
income. have allowed them to be loot
ed by financial manipulation and by
contracts to corporations controlled
by favored railroad directors.
"They have engaged in campaign
of ruthless imperialism in Haiti and
San Domingo and have permitted the
arms and resources of the United
States to be used to crush nations
and peoples struggling for freedom
and self-government.
"They have through the courts null
lifted the righteous laws of state mad
nation for the protection of human
rights and exalted iudge-made law
above the statutes.
"They have permitted organized
crimes and conspiracies of trusts to
go unhampered and have turned the
sword of the antitrust law only
against organizations of farmers and
industrial organizations.
"They have held in prison men
convicted of no crimes and have
pardoned without warrant notorious
profiteers and monopilists.
"They have used the army and the
troops and police force of states and
cities to crush labor in its struggles
to secure rights guaranteed by the
constitution.
"They have prostituted the high
est offices of the government as
channels of nernicio1s nrona panda