The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-09-17
THE ANri-MoNopoLY CREED.



acterzed 10y the great interest displayed by the dele
gates In the object for which they had come together
and substantial unity VI purpose full state COM
miitce was chosen, among the best known members
being r. II. Thurber, John n. 1laskin, L.. f. crit
tenden' Thomas kinsella, and Frod. 4. Conkling.
The temporary chairman was Cen. Henry H.. Tre-
main, the permanent president Judgo Patrick IT,
Cowan. Resolutions directed against tho candidacy
Of Roswell T.. Flower aud favorlng that of Cornell
were rejected, the convention deciding to leave 1t
optional with the state committee to nominate candl-
dates II those Of both tho old parties should he mo-
nopollss The following Is the platform In ertenSo.
The Anti Monopolists OF the state Of New York I'm
convention assembled, call public attention TO those
udlsputabe facts Steam and electricity have becomc
controlling factors In tho commercial and indnstriai
world and these great forces have been approprnied
aud inonopoli2ed by those who uso them To tax tho
masses for private advantage. Corporate lifo which
now wicds these great forces has assumed an innnr
tancc never hitherto contemplated. 1t with alarm.
Ing npiditS concentrating the wealth of tho Nation In
Tue hands ut few parsons TO the injury OF the masses
OF lho people u haSaprropiiacd the power Of poti-
cal parties. II has corrupted elections and our
legislation TO an extent which degradcs public morality
suddeny grow rich beyond the dreams Of ay,rcc and
without labor, while trlmpS aud beggars lacrosse
The Hepburn Committee declared that abuses n cor.
porate management existed giailng as to sayor Of
fiction rather than fact Yet the lust aud conservative
measures Ot relief proposed 10y that commtiee worc
delayed and defeated by power witch thrSntoms to
become greater than that Of the state We see a. OuO
offered to legislator of the state Of Now York Ia, hIS
yOto for candidate for tho Scnae VI tho limited
STATES The brlhcry Is proved, the hIber liz Indicted
and corporate Influence suddenly checks legislative
investigation and prevents the culptlt from beng
tried aud convicted. We see Judges openly sprculnt-
Ing In Wan street, and free passes on railroads issued
to politicians " for account of supreme Court we
see Judge Of the supreme Court holding couri In n
stock gambler Office and aiding noto ions chnroctcrs
to rob the people and Legislature refuses to Inpeach
or even cGnsutc him. WcSco Governor perform his
swornconstitutonaduyi In approving or dIsapproynr
legislative bills and corporate power employs political
lawyers favored shippers punish
| him therefor. We sCc business men favored by
railroads with better rates than their nclghbns and
the general public. and contribute money To- ropcal
Railroad Commission blll Intended o secure "A simple
Justice to all, and their purpose to vote for no
candidate who viii not pledge himself 10 such rrnea
and continuance oG the unjust and unlawful priv.
tlcges which these special rats have secured
Wesco the press. hitherto the great educator OF the
common people aud the bnlwaik Of tree Institutions
hrihed To silence or hired with l-gultcn gains to
vllify citizens WHO protest against these abuses
Through Improper legislation corporate power the
creation of tile people perpetual In lis duration, has
grown To magnitude which makes II practically st-
preme. 1t is more Injurious than the system of
prlmogcnure hnd entail. The creature has become
greater than It's creator Tho public servant has be-
come the public master. We see prcrogalvc of ma
iiohal Sovereignty the Issuing of the currency, which
measures tho values, farmcd ont to corporations
thereby subordinnting the interests of the community
to those Of privileged class Tho whole structure
seems 10 bo pervaed with spirit OF monopoly which
must be overcome or popular government win he a
which relieves the wealth u corporal and personal
property from Its burdens and transfers them TO the
owners and tenants Of farms and buildings so that of
Tho sum OF about 800 900 900 raised by taxation In New
York state last year. more than ~, OO0 was paid
by farm and real estate owners without deduction for
their dobts while only about a. 900, was paid by
corporations and personal property, which IN value
probably exceeds that of real estate Such a state.
ment is more Ubiquitous than that against which our
fathers raised the ilag of revolution
Existing political parties, subjected to corporation
and monopoly control refuse to correct these evils or
togye expression 10 the sentiments of the people,
which must demand attention through other chan
ncS Parties are essential To our system of govern
| mcnt. They are usually the best agencies through
rtpl
Into law. But these agencies valuable only while
they free. When they are seized upon by malgn
forces and made the means of creating systems of
plumber by which the rich grow richer aud the pOor
poorer, and through which political power is lndci-
nitely continued in a single vicious line of succession
they become unrepublcan and oppressive, and cease
to protect the Interests or represent the progressive
ideas Of free people. The dominant party of the
country was great In Its original and has made great
achievements II came into being because parties
tempurl2cd and tricd with the irepreSsble conflict
then impending. conflict Just rs lrrcpressbIes
impending now, and parties trI1ing with 1t rs
they once Irled with slavery. They viii reach sim
Illr results. When in the face Of u great public
danger the people realize that political leaders were
unequal To the demands 0f the tnlc party ties became
ropes of sand AMI the people of the old par ties with
the same instincts of liberty which the people now
possess, reformed in new lines, under now leaders
and upon new issues Now as then our in,tItu'ions
| are In danger more. The Republic is In peril
and the Interests of the people arc threatened hcy
never were before. The old parties, pervaded by
selfish and evil Influences uuile and unw Hing to
apply the needed remedies We propose to give
them hut one more opportunity We do not desire to
party If the progressive reforms which the people lie
mand can be secured within existing organizations.
Hut the time has come when We win have something
boticr than platitndes oppressed In political plat
forms, made to catch unthinkiug voters The owners
aud servants Of corporations have declared against |
the people. They know we'll what candidates aro en- |
titled {" the public confidence and win receive the
support of the people The people know equally we'll
what candidates belong To corporation monopolIes
Awaiting the decision of the old parties whether |
they will present nominations from The one on the
other, dc firmly declare
L., governments q ntn ,o
welfare, Improvements nnd happiness of the whole |
people. The rapid accumulation of enormous wealth
by parsons ut moderate ability not engaged In any
productive employment and the consequent impovcr-
isIment Of the ab0Iing millions whose money these
persons absorb show that the Government is ad
mnistered ON republican principles Tho arrest of |
these processes Is Indispensable the pnrlnanencc
and stability of the Republic. Therefore, good cltI
zenS should mite to repress mohopole5 10 reform the
pcryidng Vice OF gambling in stocks and property To
SECURE to all men the Just rewards OF their industry,
TO rGestlbs legitimate competitions Ia elevate trade
and replace the Government upon the broad and firm
foundations established by our fathers
H. In republic the people supreme: rastrIc-
tiOn5 upon their power are not implied and do not |
exist when plainly expressed In the Federal state
Constitutions Therefore, all corporations which de- |
rive their light To exist from the pc0plo are subject to
the control of tbs Legislature. An persons, artificial
as well as natural are subject 10 Legislative authority
III. Corporations employing associative capitaI In |
works Of public improvement and legitimate enter
prise too large for Individual management useful |
To the people, but tho life Of such corporations should
be limited to reasonable period and they should be
supervised and controlled IN the interest of the peo-
charges Tor service which, without iaYortSm on nm
Just discrimination, Will pay the expense Of their
nOmical administration aud reasonable dividends on |
the capital actually Invested, bnt lmlssiuneIs
should bo provided To supervise and control thpm.
When they conform TO the law and the objects their
creation they are entitled To efficient protection
Nv. The people have common interest in reducing
o cost t" the consumer Of the products of the farm,
the mine, and the factory The expansion of our |
territory makes transportation great factor In this
cost, while the combination and pooling Of railroads |
restrict competition. Therefore, tho canals rivers
of ba en- ~ tnIil lv
and efficiently maintained free 0f tolls
Y. Tho present management Of our Telegraph hy |
corporations has resulted In an enormous fictitious
capital which Is constantly increasing, with cOnse-
quent excessive charges for transmitting messages
pressed In the interest of stock speculation and others
Therefore, the Federal Government should own tho |
telegraph lines and operate them as y part of the |
postal sysen establishing taIiil of rates limited To
lhac0st Of maintenance aud transmission.
Vi, Savings banks should he established In c0nnec-
tiOn with tho Past once department. la which the |
poor can safely depOst their earnings.
va. Tho right 10 issue currency, To coin money |
under the Constitution, vested Ia aud ought tn be |
exercised exclusively by the Federal Government.
The int0rehts of the country prohibit tho Issue
troll ul tho currency by private norsons or curporn-
tlons Therefore tho currency issnod Ia thn ma |
tionn hanks should be rured. All currency, whether
metallic az papor should lo Issued and o0ntr0Il. Ly
tho Government only aud he fedeemable Ia gold and
silver.
VII. Tfe mblIc landa tho common Inheritance Of |
the whulr people, should bG reacrycl for actual sUt-
tiers. Therefore tbs lavish grants tO railroads |
should Dc discontinued and those which hayo heen |
terms Of tho grants should bo restored to tho national
domain.
IN, Stability Of values aud reasonable prices for |
the nocessaIi1s Of la essential lo the welfare OF
tho people. Therefore combinations to inilae or |
depfess prices, without regard Ia value are Immoral
and wleked, aud ahou!l bU prohibited by law.
y. Labor, its Importance AZ tho condition Of an |
production and IA ust relations with capital, should
LOrecOguiled and isIghts protected by law. Labor.
saving machinely instead uf unGuly enrching the
capitalist ought To reduce the hours OF labor W ln-
Out reducing wages, 30 that tho working man may
have more time Ion recreation and Improvement.
The right Ot labuIlng men in hold public mertiura
lul Vu4Ueilo discussion ahuuld be- protected by law
Therefore the pulal code should 10 amended aud
Objectionable sections repealed, labor bufoa should
hO added To the state departments Ia collect StastlCB
and procure Information aud make reports aud rec
concentrations To tho Legislature lur tho henrnt Of
protection Of labor with adequate powers IN cases OF
public emergency 10 arhltrate aud arrange questions
arising between iabOiors aud corporations aud
where abOfers aIo employed by public corporations |
TO establish and alter the wages To bH paid.
al judiciary wlso in counsel Independent la
declsOn fearless Of quoGces aHd pGe Ia chaTag
ter is Indispensable 10 good government Therefore