Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1890-06-07
The Reforners.
Here is their address to the people Of

the country in which they say
There are several grea. questions
which seem TO lead to all Others in point
Of importance and upon which several
distinct political parties have been or
ganized. Chief among these are the fl
nance, liquor, labor, transportation, tar
if, suffrage and land questions.
The committee is Of the opinion that
no political party can form, with rea-
Eenxble hope OF success, III country
like this, with such vast, complicated
and diversified interests, under any
name which involves but lone idea"
No party bearing such cOgnOmen-
ana there have been many Of them
has ever succeeded in this country. We
fully indorse the latest official utterances
Of the executive committee of the Pro-
hibision party. IN which 1t says:
what we need ID new party, peO-
ple's party. not all Office-seeking party.
A party that can and will grapple with
the problems of the times, that will de-
throne the grog shop, and with the high
err aims and purer purposes which M
spire such u party, will be able to con-
slider all the great and important ques-
tions now before the peOple--the proper
adjustment of the tariff, the restraining
power Of the law over mOnOpOlles, the
labor problem, the relation Of railroads
TO the great farming interests of the
country, the conversation of the finan-
cial interests Of the inass, the promotion
of public education. in short, the estab-
liehment as living reality Of govern
ment of the people and for the people"
To all of which we say amen. But
when 1t SAYS, ''Such n party Ia the Pro-
hibition party" we beg 10 suggest that
n more comprehensive name is netessa-
ry and that a platform comprising more
Of the essential reforms Of tile day will
more rapidly gain the millions OF votes
needed to win the cause.
1--WE believe when the labor refOrmer
discovers that the saloon II one Of la
boris great enemies, and that no true
labor reform can De realized while. the
saloon is in the saddle, he will be ready
to combine with all who wish the over
throw Of the traffic. When the ballot
reformeI aces corrupt politics la kept
corrupt by saloon supremacy, he sees
that the saloon must be Overthrown be-
fore substantial progress can be made
in behalf of a pure ballot.
When Temperance and ballot REFORM
ers discover that no true reform can be
realized while all these evils are in the
saddle" they will be ready to combine
with all thOke who wish tho overthrow
of these evils.
1--WE favor the utter suppression OF
the lianOr traffic for beverage purposes
by constitutional amendments, both In
Il al hkA III
a pernicious and very dangerous factor
in the politics Of the nation. We would
say that taxing vice or business for
the purpose of depressing or suppress
ing it is not only foolish but wicked. II
a business be wrong it should be abol-
ished, but if it be right the government
has no right whatever to trammel it."
We regard the liquor. labor, tariff, II
nance, suffrage, land and transportation
questions as among the great leading
questions In our present American pol
itics. As to which OF these great ques-
lions shall lead the column, the COMPUTE
tee saith lot, preferring rather to await
the action Of the national convention.
So far as members of this committee are
concerned, they care but little in what
order these great questions are placed SO
long as they are placed in the platform.
For more than Wenty years this has
heen il government Of politicians by
politicians, and for politicians and mo-
nopolies. Is it not time that the honest
farmer, mechanic. and labOrer should
have an eqnal chance in the race OF life !:
70 this end we, as National Reformers,
have taken up the side Of oppressed
against The OppressOr. Our motto Is,
and ever shall be: Down with the OPP
pressor, down with the rum power,