6
THE ALLIANCE-INDEPENDENT.
'THE "PLATFORM.
(Assembled upon the one hundred
I i m . t v
and
sixteenth anniversary of the Declaration
of Independence, the People's Party o'
'America, in their first national conven
tion, invoking upon their action the
blessing of Almighty God, puts forth in
the name and on behalf of the people of
this country, the following preamble and
'declaration of principles:
fk The conditions which surround us best
Justifyiour co-operation. We meet in the
midst of a nation brought to t he verge of
moral, political and material ruin. Cor
ruption dominates tbo ballot box, the leg
islatures, the congress, and touches even
the ermine of the bench. The people are
demoralized. Most of the states have
been compelled to isolate the voters at the
polling places to prevent universal in
timidation or bribery. The news
paners are largely subsidized or muzzled,
public opinion silenced, business pros
trated, our homes covered with mort
gages, labor impoverished, and the land
concentrating in the hands of the capital
ists. The urban workmen are denied the
right of organization for self protection;
imported pauperized labor beats down
their wages; a hireling standing army, un
recognized bj our laws, is established to
shoot them down, and they are rapidly
degenerating into European conditions.
The fruits of the toil of millions are
boldly stolen to build up collosal fortunes
for a few, unprecedented in the history of
mankind, and the possessors of these, in
turn, despise the republic and endanger
liberty. From the same prolific womb of
governmental injustice we breed the two
great classes tramps and millionaires.
The national power to create money is
oppropriated to enrich bondholders. A
vast public debt payable in legal tender
currency has "been funded into gold-bearing
bonds, thereby adding millions to the
burdens of the people.
, Silver, which has been accepted as coin
since the dawn of history, has been
demonetized to add to the purchasing
power of gold by decreasing the value of all
lorms of property, as well as human labor,
and the supply of currency is purposely
abridged to fatten usurers, bankrupt
enterprise and enslave industry. A vast
conspiracy against mankind has been or
ganized on two continents and is rapidly
taking possession of the world. If not
met ana overthrown at onco it forebodes
terrible social convulsions, the destruc
tion of civilization, or the establishment
of an absolute despotism.
We have witnessed for more than a
quarter of a century the struggles of tho
two great political parties for power and
lunder, while grievous wrougs have been
nflictcd upon a suffering people. We charge
that the controlling influences dominating
both these parties have permitted the exist
ing dreadful conditions to develop without
serious efforts to prevent or restrain them.
Neither do they now promise us any
substantial reform. Thev h
gether to ignore in the coming campaign
every issue but one. They propose to
drown the outcries of a plundered people
with the uproar of a sham battle over
the tariff,' so that capitalists, corporations,
national banks, rings, trusts, watered
etock, the demonetization of silver, and
the oppressions of the usurers may all be
lost sight Of. They propose to sacrifice our
homes, lives and children on tho altar of
mammon; to destroy tho multitude in
order to secure corruption funds from the
millionaires.
Assembled on the anniversary of the
birthday of the nation, and filled with
the spirit of the grand generation who es
tablished our independence, we seek our
independence; wo seek to restore the gov
ernment of the republic to the hands
of "the plain people' with whoso class it
originated.
iWe assert our purposes to be identical
with the purposes of tho national Con
stitution 4 'To form a more perfect union,
establish justice, insure domestic tran
quillity,' provide for the common defense,
Erpmoto the general welfare and secure the
lessings of liberty for ourselves and our
posterity." We declare that this repub
lic can only endure as a free government
while built upon the love ot the whole
people for. each other and for the nation;
that icannot be pinned together by bay
onets; that the civil war is over, and that
every passion and resentment which grew
out of it mus. die with it, and that we
must be in fact, as we are . in name, one
united brotherhood of freemen,
tin Our country finds itself confronted by
conditions for which there is no precedent
in the history of the world our annual
agricultural productions amount to bil
lions of dollars in value, which must
within a few weeks or months be ex
changed for billions of dollars of com
modities consumed in their production:
the existing currency supply is wholly in
adequate to make this exchange; the re
sults are falling prices, the formation o
combines and rings and the impoverish
ment of the producing class. Wa
pledge ourselves that if given
power we will labor to correct
these evils by wise and reasonable leg
islation in accordance with the terms of
our platform. We believe that the pow
ers of government in other words, of tho
people should be expanded (as in the case
of the postal service) as rnnidlv and n
far as the eoad sensa nf an inaiiimm.
peopie ana tne teacningg or experience
shall justify, to the end that oppression,
injustice and poverty shall eventually
cease in the land.
While our sympathies as a party of re
form are naturally upon the side of every
proposition which wiil tend to make men
intelligent, virtuous and temperate, we
nevertheless regard these questions, im
portant as they are, as secondary to tho
great issues now pressing forsolution, and
upon which not only our individual pros
perity, but the very existence of free in
stitutions depend: and we ask all men to
first help us to determine whether wo
are to have a republic to administer, before
we differ as to the conditions upon which
it is to be administered, believing thai, the
forces of reform this day organized
will-never cease to move forward until
every wrong is remedied, equal rights
and equal pri vileges are securely establish
ed for all the men and women of tho
country.
. We declare, therefore
First That the union of the labor forces
of the United States, thia day consum
mated, shall be permanent and. perpetual.
May its spiri enter into all hearts for the
salvation of the Republic and tht uplifting
of mankind.
Second Wealth belongs to him who
creat it, and every dollar taken from
industry without an equivalent is robbery.
"If any will not work, neither shall" he
eat." The interests of rural and civio
labor are the same; their enemies are
identical.
ThirdWe believe that the time has
come when the railroad corporations will
either own the people or the people
must own the railroads, and should
the government enter upon the
work , of owning and managing
any or all railroads, wo should favor an
amendment to the Constitution by which
an persons engaged in tne government
Bervice shall be placed under a civil ser
vice regulation of the most rigid charac
ter, so as to prevent the increase of the
power of the national administration by
the use of such additional government
employes.
lourth We demand that national cur
rency, safe, sound and flexible, issued by
the general government only, a full legal
tender for all debts, public and private,
and that without the use of banking cor
porations, a just, equitable and efficient
means of distribution direct to the
feople, at a tax not exceed
ng 2 per cent, per annum, be provided, as
set tortn in sub-treasury plan of 1'armer's
Alliance or somo better system: also by
payments in mscnarge of its obligations
for public improvements.
Fifth We demand free and unlimited
coinage of silver pnd gold at t he present
legal ratio of 10 to 1.
Sixth We demand that the amount of
tho circulating medium bs speedily in
creased to not less than $50 per capita.
Seventh We demand a graduated in
come tax.
Eighth We believe that the money of
the country should be kept as muoh as
possible in the hands of . the. peoplot and
hence we demand that all state and na
tional revenues shall be limited to the
necessary expenses of the government
economically and honestly administered.
Ninth We demand that postal savings
banks be established by the government
for the safe deposit of the earning? of the
people and to facilitate exchange,
Tenth Transportation being a means
of exchange and a public necessity
the government should own and operato
the railroads in the interest of the people.
Eleventh The telegraph and the tele
phone like the postoftice system, being a
necessity for the transmission of news,
should bo owned and operated by the gov
ernment in the interest of the people.
Twelfth The land, including all the
natural sources of wealth, is the heritage
of all the people and should not be mon
opolized for speculative purposes, and
alien ownership of land should be pro
hibited. All land now held by railroads
and other corporations in excess of their
actual needs, and all lands now owned by
aliens should be reclaimed by the govern
ment and held for actual settlers only.
The foil owing resolutions were also
adopted:
Whereas other questions have been pre
sented for our consideration, we hereby
submit the following, not ps a part of the
platformof the People's Party, but as
resolutions expressive of the sentiment of
this convention.
First Resolved, That we demand a
free ballot and a fair count in all elections
and pledge ourselves to secure it to every
legal voter without federal intervention
through the adoption by the states of the
unperver ted Australian or secret ballot
system.
Second Resolved, That the revenue
derived from a graduated income tax
should be applied to the reduction of the
burden of taxation now resting upon the
domestic industries of this country.
Third Resolved, That we pledge out
support to fair and liberal pensions to ex
Union soldiers and sailors.
Fourth Resolved, That we condemn
the fallacy of protecting American labor
under the present system, which opens
classes or tne world, ana crowds out our
wage earners; and we denpunce the pres
ent ineffective laws against contract la
bor, and demand the further restriction
of undesirable immigration.
Fifth Resolved, That, we cordially
sympathize with the efforts of organized
workinemen to shorten the hours of labor,
and demand a rigid enforcement of the
existing eight-hour law on government
work, and ask t hat a penalty clause be
added to the said law.
Sixth Resolved. Tfcat we regard the
maintenance of a large standing army of
mercenaries, known as the Pinkerton
system, as a menace to cur liberties, and
we demand its abolition; and we con
demn the recent invasion of the territory
of Wyoming by the hired assassins of
plutocracy, assisted by federal officials.
Seventh Resolved. That we commend
to the favorable consideration of the peo
ple and th i reform press the legislative
system known as the initiative and re
ferendum. Eighth Resolved. That we favor a
constitutional provision limiting the
office, of president and vice president to
one term, and providing for the election
of senators of the United States by a di
rect vote of the people.
Ninth Resolved. That we oppose any
subsidy or national aid to any private cor
poration for any purpose.
Resolved, ' That this convention sympa
thizes with the Knights of Labor in their
righteous contest with the tyrannical com'
bine of clothing manufacturers of Roches
ter and declares it to be the duty of all
who hate tyranny and oppression to refuse
to purchase the goods made by said man
ufacturers or to patronize any merchants
who sell such goods.
"The People's Party at the outset to
secure permanent control of the party
organization unaffected by the interests
of those in public service does hereby In
national convention assembled at Omaha,
on this 4th day of July, 1892, establish this
ordinance as fundamental law of party
organization, vi;:No person holding ftriy of
fice or positon of profit.trust or emolument
under the federal or any state or munici
pal government, including senators, con
gressmen and members of the legislature,
state and local, shall be eligible to sit or
vote in any convention of this party, and
a copy of this ordinance shall be annexed
to every call for any future convention of
the party.
FRICK'S RECORD.
The Enevitable Results of His Quarrels
With Employes.
A prominent leader of the Home&tead
millmcn thus recounts Manager Frick's
record in labor troubles:
"Three times in the last seven years
lias the militia been called into the field
for service. Each time their duty was
to aid Frick in reducing the wages of
his employes.
"In December 18S5, the troops were
called out because of a strike in the
coke regions. They were not called
upon to fire, but before the troubles
there were ended eight men were killed
and twenty-five wounded. H. C. Frick
won his fight and wages went down.
In April, 1891, occurred the coke
troubles in Fayette county. Twelve
persons were killed and twenty
wounded. Womon and children were
among the victims. H. C. Frick was
successful, with the aid of tho troops,
and miners' wages, then very close to
the starvation point, were still further
reduced. Now the militia is here in
Homestead, called out for the third
time by II. C. Frick. They have not
shot any of our people. The armed
Pinkertons, who preceded them, at
tended to the necessary slaughter.
"The whole business career of An
drew Carnegie and IT. C. Frick has been
attended with strikes and slaughter.
The first strike in Homestead was in
1882. Sixty or seventy armed police
men of the Pinkerton force were
brought here, and many people were
shot down and badly wounded though
fortunately none fatally. Rioting con
tinued for six months. Duqucsne mill
was the scene of similar occurrences iD
1890.
"Braddock for the past fifteen years
has had to go through the same ex
periences as every other mill town
under control of the Carnegie interest.
In January, 1891, four Slavs were killed
and many wounded. Three Slavs were
convicted of murder in the first degree.
"In 1SS8 there was a strike which
lasted four months. A force of 18C
Pinkerton men was brought in to aid ic
reducing wages, and they shot twe
men dead, besides wounding man?
others. ' .
l,In 1885 Braddock saw a strike in
tion ana in- in.6i oi .kaDor wen
beaten. Pinkerton's special coal and
iron police took possession of the town
and the strikers were starved and
frozen into submission. It was during
the winter months. Every year fron
1874 to 1885, wages were reduced a
Braddock. There was not one increase
"Shortly after the inauguration o
President Grover Cleveland the men de
manded and obtained a 10 per cent raisi
of wages. The next year saw it cyr
down, however, and it
down evei since.
has been goirV
The Wcskcs
gets in some
tho money,
monopolists
Our now Eg, o titled
Must Go to tho Wall,"
tremendous blows against
land and transportation
and shows Low tho ballot box rmt
give protection to the weak. This is a
four plate song hich no independent
dub, alliance or labor organization can
do without It educates and arcuiis
all. See our ad. elsewhere.
Pure Bre) Poultry. White Plym
outh Rock. A'hite Games Partridge
Cochins. To'i ouse Geese, White Hol
land Turkns, White Guineas, Pekin
Ducks. Eggs in season. Prices low.
W. A. Bates, Jr.,
Fremont, Neb. 36 tl
The Alliance-Independent
till after election for 25 cents.
S. C. BROWN LEGHORNS
CHOICEST PEN
OF
Thoroughbreds
In the western
states.
Eggs per set
tingol 15, If 1.50
Exorcss chg's pre
paid when two I
lings are orde
12 ctrcss4to6d
a light cage with he i $3 50
W.JHICKOX, AhmNob
Mention taissji
paper. 4Uf
k r
,vs o'd tnl f
H
J. M. ROBINSON
KENESAW, ADAMS CO., NEB.
Breeder and ship
per of recorded Po
land China hoB.
Choice breedi ng
Btock f ?r sale.
write for wants.
Mention Alliano.
FURNAS Co HERD
mmm. m m m
VWrfm oeaver uity, Neb.
Thoroughbred exclusively, All ages,
Eithtr sex. 8ows bred. Stock guaranteed as
represented. Pi ices right. Mention this
paper. H. S. Williamson, Prop'r. 48
L. H. SUTER,
Neligh, Neb.
Breeder ot fancy
Poland China
pwlne And P. K.
fowls. Majority of
pigs 6ireo ty Free
Trades (test. Remainder
Lytles Dandy. Kreo Trades Rest
by Paddys Chip and
if B Rest is sirpd hv
fT m j j i . . i . . .
r it-? i muB, me great, enow nog mat was so a
for ? 800.00, b ng the highest priced hoe in
cxibtecce. Had a full sister to F e Trade in
ray herd for 3 years and have ma-ny fl-e stviB
from hr. L. H. Suter.
ROOFING
GUM-ELASTIC ROOFING FELT costs only
S2.00 per 100 square feet. Mafces a good roof
for years and any eno can put it cn.
GUM-ELASTIC PAINT costs only 60 cents
per gal. inbbl. iols or $4 50 for 5 gal. tubs.
Color dark red. Will stop leaks in tin or iron
roofs that will last for years. Try it.
Sead stamp lor eain pies and full partiucUrs.
Gum Elastic Roofing Co.,
39 & 41 West Broadway, New Terk.
Loral Agent 'Wanted.
J. 1. PARR &
PAINTERS,
2045 M Street, Lincoln, Neb.
DOEIiLE
Bretch-Loarter
S7.99.
RIFLES 18.00
KM 1 HFl
mm
hMMt
AU kindf
than elsewhere.
fore job bar. Mod
iUmpforilloetrtWd
Ceulogae to Th
PawellACleMtC.
, tM M.I. o..A.
tt-ta
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