The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-05-30
A PARTY WITHOUT PRINCIPLE.

The popullsts have held another state
convention and again displayed that
miserable cowardice which shows them
totally unfit for governing anything.
Their whole platform is the cheapest
Of cheap vote-catching material, from
the declaration in favor of an issue of
currency of $50 per capita to the wo-
mans suffrage plank. That they know
protection to be a fraud and a sham,
so far as the masses are concerned,
and a benefit merely to the capitalists
engaged in manufacturing and mining
is conclusively shown by the following
statement in their address:
We have tariff laws to protect the
man who owns the machine, but no
laws to protect the mechanic, who for
merly did the same work from convict
abor and foreign competition. We stop
the bale Of goods at the door of the
custom-house and admit the man who
made these goods upon some foreign
shore free of duty. There is protection
under the single gold standard for the
manufacturer. but none for the laborer.
And yet, having such knowledge. when
they make their platform they have not
the manhood and courage to say one
word on the subject. There was never
before in this country a time when an
honest man ought to speak his mind
on this subject more emphatically than
and out of it are engaged in a hand-to-
hand conflict with the combined forces
of the trusts and the tariff beneficiaries.
They are badly handicapped by the pres
ence of half dozen traitors in their
ranks. Public sentiment could have
great deal of effect if it were shown as
it ought to be shown. And yet this
state convention of men who are OPP
posed TO protection refused to say one
word on the subject. Why? Simply
because they know that it would be a
political advantage to the democratic
party if genuine and satisfactory tar
iff-reform bill were passed. They would
rather see tariff-reform wrecked than
to see the democratic party get any
credit
This miserable political spirit crops
out all through the platform. They are
in favor of anything and everything
that will catch vote. They carry it
to such an extent that in several cases
they demand the passage of laws that
are already on the statute books, as.
for illustration:
We favor a reduction of the working
hours by law in mines and factories in
conformity with the progress of indus
try.
We demand that cities be specially
empowered to assume ownership and
control of public water, transportation
and lighting plants. in such manner as
to operate wholly in the interest Of the
people. without imposing burdensome
taxation.
The state laws OF Indiana already
make it Illegal for any mine or factory
to work its men over eight hours per
day. and any city is empowered to oper-
ate its own water. transportation and
lighting plants. Possibly the most idi-
otto declaration is this:
We are against the giving out of pub
lie works under contract to the lowest
bidder. The state and the communities
should carry out such work themselves
under the supervision Of experienced Of
fcers.
In view of the accompanying asser-
ton that Corruption dominates the bal
lot-box. the legislatures, the congress,
and touches even the ermine on the
bench and corrupts the church." we
should imagine that sane people would
not desire to add anything to it. Are
there not public officials enough to suit
these reformers? DO they want a new
list of fees and salaries? Do they want
additions built to the public crib?