The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-06
ST. JOHN ON THE FUTURE.
Thinks the PeopIe's Party VIII Double
It's Vote This Year.


Dixon, Ill, Aug. En- an interview
here Mr. John p. St. John said:
I'm my judgment. while the Prohibit
ton party Will make large gains in all
the states from the very best class Of
people. the late labor troubles will result
In nearly, if not quite, doubling the PEG
pies party vote throughout the country.
The treachery of the Two old parties on
the silver question viii bring about an
entire change in the financial complexion
OF the present congress. The next con-
gress Will be overwhelmingly in favor of
the Tree coinage of silver, and the Pco-
pies party j. liable to have fifty mem
ners Of congress, instead of eight or nine
as now.
The Prohibition party and the Peo-
pies party have but one real issue divid-
ing them. and that is prohibition. 1 be-
lleve by 1896 the two parties viii get to-
Eefher, with prohibition and woman
suffrage among the principal planks in
the platform, and thus united Will elect
president in 1896 So far as the Demo
Gratis and Republicans are concerned
there is no real issue between them.
They might just as well move into the
same house, consolidate their commit
tees, and save rent and running expenses
Mr.. ST. John continued:
''PrOhibitiOnists contend that the hard
times Of today are neither due to the Nc
kinley bill, the Wilson bill, nor the Sher-
man law, but they are the result Of long
line of vicious legislation in the interest
Of favored few and against the great
body of the peOpie=One OF the greatest
legalized rObberies Of The age was the
decentralization Of silver in 1898. That Is
one of the principal causes of the dis
tress Of today, and from that day until
this as we have gradually approached
single gold standard the indie otedness Of
the people has increased from year 10
year until today it amounts to at least
$3,OUO,OOO more than the face value Of all
the gold coin in the world.
This debt was mainly contracted
when the average price Of wheat was
$1.15 bushel. and the people are called
upon to pay it with the average price Of
wheat not exceeding 40 cents d busheI.
The continuation of our present financial
system must inevitably result in making
this land Of tenants, ruled over by Il
few money kings The Prohibition party
demands that all money shall be issued
directly by the government and shall be
full legal tender for all debts, public and
private
ITO help along this system Of Iegalized
plumber the Mckinley bill has played an
important part. The results Of Demo-
cratic and Republican rule have been to
enable 8 per cent Of the families Of the
nation to absorb II per cent Of the
wealth, while 81 per cent of the families
own but 20 per cent OF the wealth. This
revolution, and unless there is a radical
change in our present system more than
one COxey will be found treading on the
grass
ITO help along these schemes for
plumber the government. as now admin
istered, legaEzes 24J,CO retail liquor
houses. These places not only wasted
$5,0OOOOO annually, enough money to
feed, shelter and clothe every destitute
family IN the land, but they destroyed
in 1898 10000 lives and sent misery,
poverty, crime. and heartache Broadcast
among the people. They are the hot
beds for all kinds of political corruption.
Their whole influence is against good
government, and any political party or
politician who favOrs their Equalization
or is too cOwardly toscOndemn them ought
to be driven from their homes forever.
II believe labor has just as much right
to organize has capital and that the
reduction of the laborer's wages to a
starvation point is a strike by capital and
a sin against God and ought to be made
Z crime against man. On the other hand,
believe that whenever labor is we'll paid
and then strikes, closing factories and
public means Of transportation. it is
equally sin and crime. Cnders tdnd me,
am in favor of strikes. for they are the
only means Of protecting labor; but the
strike should be made ca the same day
simultaneously along the whole line-at
the ballot box. The federal bayOnets up
to the present hour do not count This
strike should not only be made against
the oppression of corporate power, but it
should be made against every distillery.
brewery. and saloon IN the land. The
Prohibition party has fought the battle
against these wrongs for more than
twenty years past. and it Will continue to
fight them till victory crowns its efforts.
1t wants no victory at the sacrifice of
principle. While its numerical strength
is not great yet in point Of mental force
and moral power it IS without Il peer on
TIL continent Never IN the history of
the party has its growth been so rapid as
now"