The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-07-31
The g Daily Arsas>
Rock ISLAND. ILLINOIS.
LEWIS STEWARD INTERVIEWER

fore think it should be as simple as pos =
sible; and that | can see no harm in try
ing the experiment proposed IN the plat
form"
How do you regard the other planks r
Mr.. Steward picked up newspaper
containing the platform. and ran it over,
thus:
Lets see:
| Resolved That the pre- servation of our national
life imperatively demands that every American
voter shall attend with to all primary nomna,
| tions and elections of competent and honest men
| TO all offices in the gift of the people b
| "Well, that's platitude that reads we'll, !
and guess it does no harm.
| ResoLUed That we demand the immediate re-
form of abuses in the civil service, through which
the patronage of the government is dispensed as
reward of partisan service rather than with regard
TO the public necessities.
That is all right l don't thing anyone
will object to that.
| Res0lyea That we are in favor of improving and
perfecting the navigation Of our lakes and rivers
and water connections, soon as It can be possibly
done.
''Of course That is good.
Financial plank That's all right.
That's what I've been talking about.
| RESOLVED, That as the tendency of much OF the
Legislation of congress has been to enchance the
value of interest bearing bonos of the governments
and to depreciate the value of the equally sacred
obligations issued to the people as their circulating
medium therefore we demand in all future legisla-
ton legal and exactjustice to all classes.
We'll, that is all right 1t sounds good
1t might have been left out without hurt
ing anything, bat [ suppose they wanted
to make platform.
! Resolved That we demand the reserving of the |
public lands, the heritage of the people; for the
actual settler, not another acre for railroads or
n spectators.
"Do you know what the tenure OF land
!. in China is?''
E Il know something about it. "
81 believe the rule is that the govern
meut never gives title in tee simple, but
that when land falls below certain
' standard of cultivation it reverts to the
crown. | believe in that. The
e lGovERNMENT SHOULDN'T GIVE AWAY ITS
RS LAND.
tell you, we may surround ourselves
with sophistries as much as we please. but
i1 the fact remains that the problem of life
lis how to live, and | believe the Chinese
n, are the only people who have successfully
N solved it. How to support life 10 the
greatest number and maintain thrltt-that
= is the great question. Why, the lowest OF
le Cinnamon can read and write, and they
live almost one man to the square foot OF
: find between the lids of the bible is to
multiply and replerish the earth. China
; only has done it and done it successfully.
without crowding anyone out | believe
ST. the Chinese are the most enlightened race
on the face of the earth to-day, and more
\. to the same effect.
Resolved That we dema nd the abrogation OF al
laws that do not tear eqally upon capital ana laoo
and the removal of unjust technicalitles delaysan'
determinations in the administration OF Justice, anS
u.s. the adoption of measures providing for the heal,
'' and safety of those engaged in mining, manuiac
turing, and building pursuits.
. There! That's good. This thing /
one of the crying evils of the land to-day
eas indorse that without qualification.
Res0lUed That the right OF the Legislature to res
late and control the railroads and other corPori
lions chartered by the state must be vndicated e
O,s tabli~he and malntaiLed essential OF Ii
state government
THAT is all right"
Id, lou are
A RAILROAD MAN
yourself, are you not. Mr.. Steward?"
ne Il am the president Of the Chicago
Wilmington and Western railroad compan.
merry and that is The extent of my connectic
with railways, | never owned dollar
railroad stock until this company was o
ganized. | don't know that could e!
press myself better on the railroad que
ton than we did in little pamphlet, tn
we got out then.
He had hunted, up copy Of the pamp
let, and read from it as follows:
Recognizing the wisdom of the present gene
demand for ceislative control Of railroads,
the necessity for reform in rates Of transporati,
which now such grevious burden upon
producing population OF the west we propose
- place this road squarely under state control ana
the hands OF the people
Mills We believe there Is even yet large amount Jun
on building of railways, provided the people are CT
on WINGED that the benefit is to be really their on
Dc They must know that the expense OF CONSTRUCT
~ iuyt Ives no extravaganza contracts: that the M
u u agement is to be at home; that the prime object
the road Is to be the oh 1 far rf Poo
I'LL traffic or nucleus for some bod scheme OF wat
- ed STOCK
G I forward without some ones taking the initial
- and perfecting an organ cation around which
popular impulses can crystallZe. TIE power OF
people is equal 10 any emergency, when 1t car
,co concentrated and brought to bear directly on a
AGO sired object. Its influence, however, is too OF
wasted on vague and desultDry exertions, one eft
a. neutralzing another, and all failing from the W
AN or persistent and well-directed effort By tax
o. advantage of this fact, the oppressors of the pee
nt9 frequently accomplish their scheme of extortio
ITT In the organization oil the chicago, Miliing
Hill and western railway we propose to open chan
\ Hill through which the wide spread opposition TO
Ib iTe of practical results II is undertaken
It peoples railway-to be built by the people, Tor
- people, aud to be managed for their own use
~ benefit For ourselves, we pledge to 1t lid
1A support in money and energy. At the same
Ea-A we do not wish 1t to be regarded as our
rather than that of any other half dozen citiz
The law Fsq 9eIa 1hs a's
directors for the fret year, we have. at the so
)RK tn Of 9tner 10 be trusting that
Shut previous record will inspire CONFIDENCE that we
nds OF on tie side of the people and VIII sianu ny
At the years end other gentleman Will be asso
ed with us in the management, or take our pl
should it appear that the confidence OF the pc
l can be thereby better retained y
And so on, Then taking up
THE LAST PLANK:
=! ResOEped That we demand a reduction o
! publ C expenditures to the end that taxation
4 he reduced to the lowest possible limits.
,av ~ "Of course-of course.
The Times man remained IN conve
tim Nth him until near midnight. but