The Oklahoma Leader (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 5, No. 12, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 12, 1918 Page: 4 of 4
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THE OKLAHOMA LEADER
Surrraaor to Ot rer Valley Socialist
S. A. AMERINCER
>1 M. SINCLAIR
Editors
Entered * irroild class mall mailer -liinf I.
I« IX at lhe Pom Office al Oklahoma
Oklahoma, under the Act of March J. I*/'
MISREPRESENTING THE LAW
Subscription Rate - $1.00 per year
Advertising Rates on Application
6 7
Congressional Platform
of the Socialist Party
(Continued from Last Week.)
war trade board, the federal hade com-
mission, ami the federal food and fuel ad-
ministrations so that there may be built
up a democratized and unified system f
public regulation and control over all
phases of large scale industry in the in-
terest of all the people.
2. DEMOCRATIC MANAGEMENT.
Government ownership with democratic
management may become a greater men-
ace to the world than the system of private
ownership and exploitation which is pass-
ing away. Without the control of indus-
try a democratic government may he a
menace to the liberty of the individual.
The addition of the immense power over
public policy, and over the happiness of
the masses, incident to industrial domina-
tion, intensifies the menace a thousand
fold.
Self-government in industry is the first
esential of a truly democratic nation, and
the only guarantee of real freedom for the
workers. The Socialist party, therefore,
demands that the rgiht to organize be a
fundamental light for al! government em
ployes; and that the right to strike be in
no case denied or abridged.
In all industries controlled by the gov-
ernment there shall !>;• established prin-
ciples of democratic management of the
conditions of employment by shop com-
mittees, elected by the workers.
To prevent the use of the immensely in-
crcastyl number of government positions
for purposes of political patronage, we de-
mand that the merit system of appointment
to iijvil service be extended to every plant
or industry as it is taken over by the gov-
ernment, but the political rights of such
employees must be. safeguarded.
As a means of strength ning the working
class in its everyday struggles and fit it
for this complete emancipation, we indorse
the principle of industrial unionism.
3. DEMOBILIZATION.
With the problem of tb * returned soldier,
and the cessation of war industries im-
minent, there is urgent necessity for a
national policy in the field of employment.
The Socialist party demands that the
present efforts at co-ordination by the de-
partment of labor of federal and state em-
ployment agencies be developed into a
permanent system to supplant private agen-
cies, as follows:
(a) The use of present labor union or-
ganizations as far as possible as bases for
a service conducted under union condi-
tions.
(b) The rapid development of a system
of vocational education.
(c) The organization of a construction
service, under proper standards of labor,
to carry on the various government works
and to provide apprenticeship to returning
soldiers and other workers for permanent
employment in dev loping the land and
natural resources of the nation.
(d) The acquisition and permanent
holding by the government of tracts of
agricultural lands needed by returning
soldiers and (ither workers.
(e) Guaranteed employment for all will-
ing workers.
i. THE STRUCTURE OF GOVERN-
MENT.
The prevent structure of government is
totally inadequate to assume the additional
burden of industrial control.
Organized on the theory of a separation
of powers and constrained by a rijiid con-
•tttution, the*president, two nou ea < f con-
gress, and the courts have be.m checks
and bajance.1 upon one another that have
destroyed efficiency, and made ineffective
the will of the people. Only by he domi-
nation of the executive and the servility
of congress has any effective action been
secured. Hut the lo*s to democracy has
been immense.
The dictates of both efficiency and de-
mocracy demand a flexible constitution and
a unified form of government. The presi-
dent ami th courts must be responsible
to congress and its members elected by
the people without regard to sex and sub-
ject to their continual control.
The Socia ist party, therefore. 4emands:
1. That amendments to the United
States Constitution may lie made upon the
recommendation of a majority vote ot
congress and ratification by a majority of
the voters of the nation; or by initiative
of the people.
2. The abolition of the senate, and the
election of members of congress by pro-
portioned representation subject to recall,
democrtiti/ation of congressional procedure,
the terms of congressman to begin soon
after their election. The election of fed-
eral judges by the people subject to recall.
3. The direct election of the president
and the vice-president, subject to recall,
and the abolition of the veto power.
t. The abolition of the usurpation of
power by the courts to declare acts of
congress unconstitutional, and
Section 25. Chapter 157, page 324 of the Session Laws of 1913. reads as follows:
Count of vote.—duplicate certificates of results—disposition.
Section 25. Election Certificates. At any primary or general election w ! '
ers announce the vote, the enumerarots shall call the number aloud keeping check on
each other, and when the count is completed the two tally sheets shall be ^™\ '-f ,
four counters. The four counters shall then fill put the certificate in he back of the
book of ballots without detaching it from said back, and they shall also make ou at ea
FIVE duplicates of such certificates. Each certificate shall have only the total of ea
candidate's vote, and that shall be written with pen and ink in words and figurcs.
Each certificate shall be signed by each of the four counters and sworn to before the in
spector of elections, and when properly certified and sworn to shal be prima facie evi-
dence of the correctness of the precinct vote One of said certificates, sc ™rn to stall
be kept bv the inspector of elections. ONE SHALL 1 E ILL - -
CI ERK.'of the county at the time the ballot boxes are returned and delne i
countv election board, and such certified copy shall become a permanent Pub lc "ecord'
in the office of the county clerk, and shall not be removed therefrom. And within one
hour after the count is completed, the election inspector shall cause one copy ot sue
certificate to be posted in a public place immediately outside of the polls lot public
section ami .he ".he. .wo copies shall CONSTITUTE THE RE1 URNS. Any person,
who shall deface or remove the certificate posted, as provided in this section.
nomic imperialism following the w«r will
be inevitable.
If this disastrous policy is to be avoided
and the community relieved of the burden
of billions of dollars now exacted by priv-
ate financiers, the government must com-
pletely and democratically control its
banks and credit system.
In the direction of such control, the
Socialist party demands:
1. That all banks essential to the con-
duct of business and industry be acquired
by the government and incorporated in a
unified public banking system.
2. As the government acquires owner-
ship of industries, it shall substitute for
metallic money and the present form of
paper money an increasing proportion of
notes redeemable in the service and coin
moditics furnished by the government,
thereby ultimately eliminating entirely the
necessity of maintaining a gold reserve, ex-
cepl for international trade relations.
8. AGRICULTURE.
Exploited by those in control of the
railroads, the grain elevators, and cream-
eries, the packing houses, cold storage
plants, banks, agricultural machinery, as
well as by other owners of land, capital
and life's necessities, many farmers have
been reduced to a condition of poverty.
Their ultimate interest and that of so-
ciety at large may lie in the public or
! .A|..ntanr 1'< I .(> Ml-TO I i VP ('OO I) or at i OI. of
lacc iii ituiuvt niv v,viiii.v«.v f ! voluntary co-operative co-operation
t wentv-four hours thereafter, or any officer who knowingly fails, neglects or retuses t >
pests,
by
I farms supplied with the most improved
conn.lv with the provisions of ibis section, shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by. machinery and the services of scientific
conipi} Willi lilt |)IUVI5I"II!I I I .,,u„ fi,.o„ nrc or imnrison-' experts- free scope being given to those
imprisonment in the penitentiary not less than one noi more thai . < ■. 1 ■ j farmer8 so dPsirjng to continue individual
nicut in the county jail not less than three months nor more than one year. j operation. immediately, however, the
'CI, 1.,,,, ... CKVT VVTTH Fl FCTION SUPPLIES: * workers on the farms should be relieved
1 he law as SLIM 1 YViltt E.1.EA. 1 1W1N .1Ut ,;'1- • number aloud 1 of the oppression of big business which
When the callers announce a vote, the enumeiatois s . . ■ , fjXC9 prices. Especially designed to
keening- check on each other, and when the count is completed the two tally sneets snai afford re|ief in (hig directioni ,he Socialist
be signed bv the four counters. The four counters shall then fill out the certificate in the parly pjedges itself to the following:
hacK.l!j hook of hallo.s. wi.ho,,. de.aching i. (ron, said hook and .hey shall ,bo
make out at least FOUR duplicates of such certificates. Each ceitihcate snail na\c ing houses, creameries, cold storage plants,
ihe total of each candidate's vote, and that shall be written with pen and ink, in words and {actories for the production of agri-
1 r ' - TTn^ti <*<>rt;ficitr slvill be signed bv the four counters and sworn to betore cultural implements.
and flL>llieS. liacil cutllicate snail ne Milieu IJ\ u 2 Public insurance against disease of
he inspector of election. One such certificate shall be kept by the inspector of elec-
tions the other two shall constitute the returns and when properly cei tihed to shall he
prima facie evidence of the correctness of the precinct vote. After such certificates are
signed and sworn to as above provided, and within one hour after the count is com-
pleted, the election inspector shall cause one copy of such certificate, so signed and
sworn to, to be posted in a public place outside the polls for public inspection, and it
shall be a misdemeanor for any person to deface or remove when so posted within a
neriod of twentv-four hours thereafter. ,
This is the law as sent to the precinct election officials by the State Election Hoard. car
found on page 57 of the election law booklet sent with supplies in the 1916 election and can also be
found on pages 60-61 of the booklet sent and used in the: last pn™ry.th tMF C OUNTY
ONLY FOUR CERTIFICATES ARE ORDERED AND NOI ANY PILED \\ I I H 1 HE COL M
tl L'just why the law was misrepresented can plainly be seen. They did not want these
certificates in the county clerk's office where they could be inspected by the public and many of the
precinct inspectors^lid not file with the county clerk for the reason that they did not think the law
rC'qU'After they have made the law, it might be well for them to explain why they do not abide by it
Why conceal the truth from the public? Why call this democracy when it is the worst kind of
autocracy ?
5. Responsibility of the president and
his cabinet to congress through the power
of interpellation. I Pea<
6. Self-government for the District of i 5.
rilicizing the conduct of economic and so-
ial conditions, or for discussing terms of
The amendment of existing espion-
age legislation which will restrict its ap-
plication to actual agents or supporters of
the enemy and which will render impos-
sible its further use as a weapon of the
government against polilical opposition.
6. Tlie immediate repeal of all legis-
lation restricting freedom fo speech and
j of the press, and the immediate uncondi-
fields of government.; tional pardon of all political prisoners.
Columbia.
7. The inilialive and referendum ap-
plied to federal legislation.
8. The immediate passage of the
amendment to the Constitution of the Uni-
ted States establishing the right of women
to the franchise, and adequate represen-
tation of women in legislative, judicial
and administrative
that the interests of women may be belter
safeguarded.
5. CIVIl. LIBERTIES.
The war has brought restrictions on our
constitutional rights of freedom of speech,
press and assemblage which are not only
unnecessary, but which menace the whole
future of democratic institutions and in-
dividual liberty.
Mob violence, spurred on by the utter-
ances of the conservative press .and of
many men well known in public life,
challenges the orderly processes of demo-
cratic institutions. Exploiting business in-
terests are deliberately using these re-
strictive measures to crush radical labor.
Under the cloak of patriotism they rob the
consumer with one hand and pile up huge
war profits with the other.
The vague langugage of the espionage
act is being used not so much to deal with
enemy spies, a. to suppress all independent
expression of opinion, particularly in rela-
tion to >var policies and the class struggle.
The postoffice censorship, under which i
I scores of pap! rs have been d 'prived of
| their second class mailing privileges,
I deslroying the freedom of the press.
1. The Socialist party, therefore,
mands the litj-ral interpretation of
constitution and application of the e
liberties provisions of the constitution <
| ing war as well as peace.
2. That mob violence be suppressed
through the power of the federal govern
ment.
3. The immediate repeal of those
clauses in the federal statutes which givi
the postmastf r general owers of censor
ship over periodicals suppressed and print
ed matters. It should be the business of
the postoffice department only to transmit
mail matter, not to pass upon its mail-
ability. The administration of sedition
laws is the function of the department of
justice.
4. The immediate reversal of the arbi-
trary acts of censorship by the postoffice
department, and the readmission to second
class privileges of all newspapers and pe-
riodicals suppressed during the war for
6. TAXATION.
The war has brought to the very front
of importance the question of taxation.
The colossal expenditures already made in
this war, of which, against the protests
of ihe Socialists, but a small proportion
has been raised through taxation, place a
heavy burden of debt upon the future.
Afler the war is over, capital will be
needed for many social enterprises and the
resources of the government must be vastly
greater than ever before. Meanwhile col-
ossal fevtunes are beitlg made over night,
developing new and powerful spheres of
financial influence. Means must be found
to discharge our huge public debt, raise
the revenue necessary for the rapidly in-
creasing functions of government and at
the same time solve the ever menacing
problem of wealth concentration.
To this end. we favor.
1. The imposition of an excess profits
tax approximately 100 per cent. No one
would be permitted to secure profits from
this war, while others are enduring untold
sacrifices.
2. A progressive income tax, aiming at
ihe abolition of all incomes above the need
of a comfortable and secure livelihood.
3. A progressive inheritance tax, rising
to 100 per cent in large estates.
4. Taxation of the unearned increment
of land; all lands out of use to be taxed
at full rental value.
5. A more adequate corporation tax.
7.
CREDIT.
During the past few decades we have
witnessed the creation of a huge empire
of finance, dominated by a few financial
masters. This control has led to the crea-
tion of great unearned fortunes, to the
making and unmaking of gigantic busi-
nesses, to the manipulation of national
policy for the benefit of the few.
The United States is rapidly becoming,
then, the the greatest investing nation of
the world. If private interests still con-
trol the nation's credit, a policy of eco-
animals, disease of plants, insect
hail, flood, drought, storm and fire.
3. The leasing of farm machinery
public bodies at cost.
4. The encouragement of co-operative
societies for agricultural purposes.
5. The application of the land value*
tax to land held for speculation and ex-
ploitation; exemption of farm improve-
ments from taxation.
6. The retention by the national, state
and local government of all land owned by
them, and the continuous acquirement of
other land by reclamation, purchase, con-
demnation, taxation or otherwise, such land
to be organized as rapidly as practicable
into socially operated farms.
7. Encouragement of unions of agricul-
tural workers.
8. Extension of labor laws to agricul-
ture and the securing to agricultural la-
borers of minimum standards requisite for
a healthy life and worthy citizenship.
9. We also call attention to the fact
that the elimination of farm tenantry and
the development of socially owned and
operated agriculture resulting from tlie
foregoing measures will open new eppor-
tunities to the agricultural wage worker
and free him from dependence on tbe
private employer.
9. CONSERVATION OF NATURAL
RESOURCES.
The steadily increasing concentration of
natural resources in private hands has led
to untold exploitation and to ruthless
wastage of the nation's raw material. If
industrial democracy is to be secured, and
if the material heritage of America is to
be utilized in the interests of the entire
people, all natural resources—including
mines, quarries, oil wells, forests and
water power—must be brought under pub-
lic ownership and operation. As imme-
diate measure toward this end the Social-
ist party urges:
1. The retention by the federal govern
ment of all remaining public lands, and
of all powers over public streams.
2. Development by the government of
a comprehensive system of national river
regulation for the storage of flood waters
and their use for irrigation, hydro-electric
power and navigation.
3. The acquisition and permanent hold-
(Continued next week.)
Until the Oklahoma Leader Daily can be launched the Oklahoma Lead-
er Weekly will do its best to serve the party in every possible way, thru
givin news of the-party in the state, nation and internationally. Even
afteiMhe daily is started' the weekly edition will be continued to serve the
people not living on rural routes. The paper is small now, but will be in-
creased as the circulation grows, and the receipts justify an improvement.
The price is $1.00 for a year's subscription. Go out and see how it feels to
get subscriptions for a Socialist^ paper jigain.
\ \ME
RURAL ROUTE
OR STREET
TOWN
STATE AMOUNT
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Ameringer, S. & Sinclair, H. M. The Oklahoma Leader (Oklahoma City, Okla.), Vol. 5, No. 12, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 12, 1918, newspaper, September 12, 1918; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc148569/m1/4/: accessed March 29, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.