The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1893-04-27
Mr.. WATSON'S VIEWS.
Continued from fast issue.)
TRANSPORTATION.

TRANSPORTATION.
"On the question of transportation
We radically differ from the Demo
cratic party. The Democratic party
being largely dominated by the pres
idents of these great transportation
companies, naturally evades and
avoids the question until the last mo-
ment. We say that the only possible
solution is that the government
should recognize that a railroad is a
great public channel of intercourse.
like river or dirt road, and should
not allow 1t TO be held under the con
troll of private individuals. When
we sprung this issue the country was
not prepared for it. We have had
to endeavor to educate the people up
to IT, but the capitalist are doing
moro to propagate that idea than we
could possibly do. The United States
Government to-day is running a ma
Jority of the railroads in Georgia. as
well as some of the great corporations
of the Northwest. And the capital
lists, in getting Judge Ricks to decide
that the government would put out
its strong arm and compel the engi-
neer TO stand with his hand on the
throttle whether he wanted to or not,
have made a step in our direction
that may not be clearly realized now.
but will be seen hereafter. If the
government has any power on earth
to say that the striker, the laborer.
shall not vex or harass the railroad
comprny or the community when he
wants to enforce what he deems his
nights, the logic of that decision is
plain. 1t is that if the government
is to regulate the labor it will have
to also regulate the employer.
"Taking hold of the man who runs
the car, you are compelled to take
hold Of the car itself. AS far back
as the address | made in Atlanta in
August, 1891, took the position that
government ownership would abso-
lutely do away with all motives for
strikes with their, consequent evils,
and that was, therefore. the best rea-
son for such ownership"
TRANSPORTATION VS.. TARIFF.
"Why do you consider this ques-
ton inseperable fiom your other
principles of reform?"
''To realize the Importance of the
transportation question we have only
to remember that the watered stocks
of these transportation companies
annually PULL from the pockets of
the people greater sum Of money
than the entire tariff schedules of
that monstrosity of class legislation,
called the Mckinley bill. In other
words, Democratic statesmen take
the hustings and very justly denounce
the system which, in order to raise
5000, 900, 900 to pay government ex-
penses operates as favor to the
manufacturer and d discrimination
against the man who buys from him;
but they say nothing whatever
against system which takes fully as
much money from the same unpro-
tected people and puts it into the
pockets of syndicates, trusts, COM
bines and spectators as dividend
from property which does not exist,
as an income from value which was
never earned by labor. or in any 9th
er way recognized by business prin-
ciples."
WHERE HE WILL STAND.
"How do you propose to act with
reference to your future relation to
these issues?"
''It is plain, from what | have said,
that there are three vital differences
between our Populist platform and
that of the Democratic party-differ.
ences as to- finance. taxation and
transportation. So far as l am con.
oerned, l propose to stand by the
party, no matter how long it may be
in the minority. which honestly de,
clares its purpose to settle any one
of these three questions in the man
ner which we all agree is right. The
ture of the country depends upon the
proper settlement of each one of these
questions. There can be no healthy
business system without sound finan
ces. There can be no system of JUS
taxation, so long as we tax the back
the stomach and necessary working
tools Of the poorer classes of people
and leave the great fortunes of the
country paying no taxes or tribute
to the government which produced
and protects them. Nor can there
be any safety to our future, as Ions
as corporations are allowed to con
troll this government for their pri
interest. AS General Toombs sai(
in his last days, when he had no mo
tive except to speak his disappointed
sentiments, The railroads will either
own this government, or the govern
ment must own the railroads. There
fore, I am bound to say, that if ever,
plank in the Democratic platform
were enacted into law, | would still
think it necessary to the safety O
our government and the perpetuatior
of civil liberty that these three pris
ciples should be continually agitatet
and pressed through to a righteou
settlement
"Tnen you still adhere to the Peo
ple's party as an organized necessi
ty7"
"My fortunes are cast with tn
party and | am just as firmly attach
ed to its principles as | was when
left the Democratic party because
had become firmly convinced tina
the Democratic party would neve
again recognize the principles Oh
which Jefferson and jackson found
ed it."
PURE DEMOCRACY.
"An6 what were those essentia
principles, as you viewed themsn
''As The Constitution has pointe'
out, Mr.. Jefferson himself favore,
an income tax, the free coinage o
silver, bitterly opposed the farmin,
out by the government of the powe
! to make money and control its vol
ume, and strongly opposed the spe
cial fostering of special interests
l T. go :, a g g. G.1