Such insincere and meaningless declarations place a low estimate upon the intelligence of the average American workingman and exhibit either ignorance of or indifference to the real interests of labor.

The Independence party condemns the arbitrary use of the writ of injunction and contempt proceedings as a violation of the fundamental American right of trial by jury.

From the foundation of our government down to 1872 the federal judiciary act prohibited the issue of any injunction without reasonable notice until after a hearing. We assert that in all actions growing out of a dispute between employers and employes concerning terms or conditions of employment, no injunction should issue until after a trial upon the merits, that such trial should be had before a jury and that in no case of alleged contempt should any person be deprived of liberty without a trial by jury.

The Independence party believes that the distribution of wealth is as important as the creation of wealth, and indorses those organizations among farmers and workers which tend to bring about a just discrimination of wealth through good wages for workers and good prices for farmers, and which protect the employer and the consumer through equality of price for labor and for product, and we favor such legislation as will remove them from the operation of the Sherman anti-trust law.

Eight-Hour Day.

We indorse the eight-hour day, favor its application to all government employes and demand the enactment of laws requiring that all work done for the government, whether federal or state, and whether done dirctly or indirctly through contractors or sub-contractors, shall be done on an eight-hour basis.

We favor the enactment of a law condemning as illegal any combination or conspiracy to blacklist employes.

We demand protection for workmen through enforced use of standard safety appliances and provisions of hygienic conditions in the operation of factories, railways, mills, mines and all industrial undertakings.

We advocate state and federal inspection of railways to secure a greater safety for railway employes and for the traveling public.

We call for the enactment of stringent laws fixing employers' liabilities and a rigid prohibition of child labor through co-operation between the state governments and the national government.

We condemn the manufacture and sale of prison-made goods in the open market in competition with free labor manufactured goods. We demand that convicts be employed direct by different states in the manufacture of products for use in state institutions and in making good roads and in no case shall convicts be hired out to contractors or sub-contractors.

We favor the creation of a department of labor including mines and min ing, the head of which shall be a member of the president's cabinet.

The great abuses of grain inspection by which the producers are plundered, demand immediate and vigorous correction. To that end we favor federal inspection under a strict civil service law.

Currency.

The Independence party declares that the right to issue money is inherent in the government and it favors the establishment of a central governmental bank through which the money so issued shall be put into general circulation.

The Tariff.

We demand a revision of the tariff, not by the friends of the tariff, but by the friends of the people, and declare for a gradual reduction of tariff

duties, with just consideration for the rights of the consuming public, and of established industry. There should be no protection for oppressive trusts which sell cheaply abroad and take advantage of the tariff at home to crush competition, raise prices, control production and limit work and wages.

Railroads.

The railroads must be kept open to all upon exactly equal terms. Every form of rebate and discrimination in railroad rates is a crime against business and must be stamped out. We demand adequate railroad facilities and advocate a bill empowering shippers in time of need to compel railroads to provide sufficient cars for freight and passenger traffic and other railroad facilities through summary appeal to the courts. We favor the creation of an Interstate Commerce Court, whose sole function it shall be to review speedily and enforce summarily the orders of the Interstate Commerce Commission. The Interstate Commerce Commission should have the power to initiate investigation into the reasonableness of rates and practices, and no increase in rates should be put into effect until opportunity for such investigation is afforded. The Interstate Commerce Commission should proceed at once with a physical valuation of railroads engaged in interstate commerce.

Commercial Monopolies.

We believe that legitimate organizations in business, designed to secure an economy of operation and increased production, are beneficial wherever the public participates in the advantages which result.

We denounce all combinations for restraint of trade and for the establishment of monopoly in all products of labor and declare that such combinations are not combinations for production, but for extortion, and that activity in this direction is not industry, but robbery.

In cases of infractions of the anti-trust law or of the Interstate commerce act, we believe in the enforcement of a prison penalty against the guilty and responsible individuals controlling the management of the offending corporations, rather than a fine imposed upon stockholders.

Public Ownership.

We advocate the extension of the principle of public ownership of public utilities, including railroads, as rapidly as municipal, state or national governments shall demonstrate ability to conduct public utilities for the public benefit. We favor specifically government ownership of the telegraphs, such as prevails in every other civilized country in the world, and demand as an Immediate measure that the government shall purchase and operate the telegraphs in connection with the postal service.

Parcels Post.

The parcels post system should be rapidly and widely extended and gove ernment postal savings banks should be established where the people's deposits will be secure, the money to be loaned in the locality of the several banks and at a rate of interest to be fixed by the government.

Good Roads.

We favor the immediate development of a national system of good roads connecting all states and national aid to states in the construction and maintenance of post roads.

Postal Censorship.

We favor a court of review of the censorship and arbitrary rulings of the postoffice department.

Statehood.

We favor the admission of Arizona and New Mexico to separate statehood.

Bucket Shops.

We advocate such legislation, both state and national, as will suppress the bucket shop and prohibit the fictitious selling of farm products for future delivery.

National Health Bureau.

We favor the creation of a national department of public health to be presided over by a member of the medical profession, this department to exercise such authority over matters of public health and hygiene and sanitation which come properly within the jurisdiction of the national government and does not interfere with the right of states or municipalities.

Asiatic Exclusion.

We oppose Asiatic immigration, which does not amalgamate with our population, creates race issues and un-American conditions and which reduces wages and tends to lower the high standard of living and the high standard of morality which American civilization has established.

We demand the passage of an exclusion act which shall protect American workingmen from competition with Asiatic cheap labor and which shall protect American civilization from the contamination of Asiatic conditions.

The Navy.

The Independence party declares for peace and against aggression and will promote the movement for the settlement of international disputes by arbitration.

We believe, however, that a small navy is poor economy, and that a strong navy is the best protection in time of war and the best preventative of war. We therefore favor the speedy building of a navy sufficiently strong to protect at the same time both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United States.

Inland Waterways.

We rejoice in the adoption by both the Democratic and Republican platforms of the demand of the Independence party for improved national waterways and the Mississippi Inland Deep Waterways project, to complete a ship canal from the gulf to the great lakes. We favor the extension of this system to the tributaries of the Mississippi, by means of which thirty states shall be served and twenty thousand miles added to the coast line of the United States. The reclamation of arid lands should be continued and the irrigation program now contemplated by the government extended and steps taken for the conservation of the country's natural resources, which should be guarded not only against devastation and waste, but against falling into the control of monopoly.

The abuses growing out of the administration of our forest reserves must be corrected and provision should be made for free grazing from public lands outside of forest or other reservation. In behalf of the people residing in arid portions of our western states we protest vigorously against the policy of the

federal government in selling the exclusive use of water and electric power derived from public works to private corporations, thus creating a monopoly and subjecting citizens living in those sections to exorbitant charges for light and power and diverting enterprises originally started for public benefit into channels for corporate greed and oppression, and we demand that no more exclusive contracts be made,

Protection of Citizens.

American citizens abroad, whether native born or naturalized, and of whatever race or creed, must be secured in the enjoyment of all rights and privileges under our treaties, and whatever such rights are withheld by any country on the ground of race or religious faith, steps should be taken to secure the removal of such injust discrimination.

State Election-Income Tax.

We advocate the popular election of United States senators and judges, both state and federal, and favor a graduated income tax and any constitutional amendments necessary to these ends.

Equality of opportunity, the largest measure of individual liberty consistent with equal rights; the overthrow of the rule of special interest and the restoration of government by the majority exercised for the benefit of the whole community-these are the purposes to which the Independence party is pledged, and we invite the co-operation of all patriotic and progressive citizens, irrespective of party, who are in sympathy with these principles and in favor of their practical enforcement.

Mig. 25.

NATIONAL COMMITTEE.

Headquarters, Chicago, Ill.

Officers.

Chairman-William R. Hearst, New York, N. Y.
Secretary-Charles A. Walsh, Ottumwa, Iowa.

FIRST POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS IN OKLAHOMA

Republican Party.

The first political convention in Oklahoma was held by the republican party at Oklahoma City, January 17, 1890. More than 150 delegates were in attendance and the session continued three days.

Members of the central committee as selected by the convention were: J. M. Canon, Frisco, chairman; A. C. Scott, Oklahoma City, secretary; George H. Dodson, Orlando: F. J. Wikoff, Stillwater; C. B. Freeman, Guthrie; Sam Murphy, Oklahoma City; A. H. Classen, Edmond; D. W. Marquart, Norman; B. L. Eaton, Hennessey; D. B. Garrett, Lincoln; Frank Rector, Downs; I. Cutright, Frisco; E. E. Wilson, Reno City; Thomas Jensen, El Reno.

Democratic Party.

On March 11, following, the first democratic convention met in Oklahoma City with about 200 delegates present, and was in session three days. Judge Amos, Green was elected temporary president, and E. B. Green of Guthrie, temporary secretary.

The territorial committee selected was as follows: J. E. Jones, Oklahoma City, president; T. E. Berry, Norman, secretary; Charles Van Eaton, Dover; James Shears, Cimarron City; J. L. Mitch, Edmond; P. Barnard, Downs; J. D. S. Calmers, El Rero; T. E. Perry, Norman; J. G. Johnson, Noble; J. J. Kirwin, Britton; W. E. Banks, Mustang; George E. Clayton, Seward; J. R. Booth, Matthewson; P. R. Smith, Lexington; J. W. Crider, Hennessey: T. G. Sutton, Frisco; C. M. Burke, Central City; A. J. Day, Choctaw City; Allan Carruthers and L. Ketchum, Guthrie; D. B. Madden and J. E. Jones, Oklahoma City; E. J. Simpson, Reno City; A. J. Shaw, Union City; J. M. Kuykendall, Orlando; Pat Nagle, Kingfisher; Hugh Wilkerson, Oklahoma City; and Virgil Hobbs, Kingfisher, delegate at large.

The next democratic convention was held at Edmond, July 9, 1890; when E. L. Mitchell of El Reno was nominated for delegate at large from the Eighth representative district. In the August election he was defeated by M. W. Reynolds.

The third democratic convention was held at Guthrie, August 19, 1890, to nominate a candidate for representative to fill the vacancy made by the death of M. W. Reynolds. P. S. Nagle of Kingfisher was nominated but was defeated by A. M. Colson.

The first congressional convention ever held in Oklahoma was that of the democratic party at Norman, October 9, 1890. J. G. McCoy of El Reno was nominated for the long term and J. L. Matthews of Payne was nominated for the unexpired term of the fifty-first congress.

The first republican convention convened at Guthrie, October 11, 1890, but adjourned without transacting any business until October 18. Judge D. A. Harvey defeated Dennis T. Flynn for the nomination.

Alliance Party.

The alliance party was organized early in the fall of 1899 and was the first political party organized in Oklahoma Territory, but had a brief existence.