Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1896-09-11
speaking began the large hall was crowded.

speaking began the large hall was crowded.
Several Bryan men were present, and
made their presence known by loud cheers
for their candidate. This interruption was
speedily stopped by the police. after which
the programme of the evening was car
ried out. Mr.. Powderly was the first
speaker. He began by saying:
Mr.. President and Friends:-Did I be-
lieve an apology for my presence necessa-
ry, would say that / am here because I
believe the right of the American wage
Garner TO receive the highest rate of COM
pensation for service rendered, and the
right to claim and receive the best kind of
money IN exchange for his labor, should
not be interfered with"
Nr. powderly then took up the Chicago
platform and compared il with previous
platforms OF the Democratic party, say
ing:
Democracy for Free Trade.
'The platform of four years ago pledged
the party entering into power to the over
throw of the American system of protec-
ton, and with all his and their power
with all the force and influence at his and
their command, the man and party upon
whom the power was conferred labored to
place the foreign workingman on a higher
plane than his American competitor, and
that platform was anything but meaning
less. Four years ago the pivotal point
around which the Democratic platform
swung was free trade.
when that congress assembled there
was no deficit; the revenue was amply suf-
.icient TOR the needs of the government,
and there no income tax upon the
statutes OF this nation. The income tax
Law was an after consideration; ii was no
part of the Democratic PLATFORM. of 1892,
and was only thought of when It became
manifest to its originators that they had
sawed on the revenue limb. on which they
had been sitting in their mad attempt to
undo what their Republican predecessors
had SO well planned and SO faithfully exc
cuted. To make amends for a blunder
they would perpetrate crime. and the in
come tax Law was no less than a crime
II may be charged with opposing one of
the cardinal principles of the knights of
Labor. which demanded that a graduated
income tax be levied. That section. was
adopted by the Knights of Labor in oppo-
sition to my earnest and empnatic pro-
test ! never believed in it and have al
ways opposed 1t.
when congress assembled in 1893 there
was no income tax upon the statute books.
Under the provisions of such law, no
revenue accrued TO the government and IL
Is unfair. as well as dishonest, to charge a
teilng revenue TO something which had no
existence when the agitation for a change
In our economic laws began
Democratic Inconsistency.
Docs II not appear inconsistent for the
defenders of the Chicago platform to as
eert that they are opposed to English rule
IN America on the finance question after
they have opened our ports to the product
OF the English factory and millo Our
chief competitor in the domain of manu-.
norant man indeed who will demand the
abolition of our tariff laws and not know
that the gamer by the abolition of these
laws will be England They tell us tina,
that the tariff which protects them and
those who work for them is a robber tar.
IN. Well. what OF It? II workingmen will
not organize, as the window glass trade
and railroad workmen are organized, to
mite with employers in protecting thei,
rades and callings, they have themselves
o blame for not securing all the adyant.
ges of protection.
1.-THE fact that s35o.ooo 600 worth OF agrt.
ltural product was imported to this coun.
nsumed by Americans. proves most con,
Isively that TO that extent, at least, tbs
riculturists. of this country were tbs
sers. and had they been protected in theil
iustry by tudicious tariff law, the con
mers of the land would have bought tha
oduct of their hands instead OF tina
lich came from foreign hands. and tha
st sum of money would be circulating
'g taxes and debts in the United State.
-lstead OF enrichlng the producers o.
S,relgn Landslide 'robber barrons' O.
Europe.
The Ills of the Farmer.
''The farmer is told that the cause Of f,i
lis Is because he has not been blessed witt
zee silver. But whoever tells him tha
deeeives him TO his injury. Those who ad
bears Since is7s farming in in the he Tnite, -ia e
States has undergone a radical and almos
total change. and causes other than tn
demonstration of silver have combined {,
cheaper his product"
Mr;. Powderly then compared the worl
possible 10 be done with modern agri
cultural implements with that under III
old methods. and said: lis 1t any wonder
then; then; mat The prices OF wheat; corn an
seem plain to the observing man that tn
agencies which l have pointed out hay
than the DEMONSTRATION of silver? Tn
farmer needs market, and he should hav
market In which TO sell At fair. rea
taught that he should buy In a chea
market and sell in dear one. but II h
wishes for high prices for himself h
prices for others"
Mr.. Powderiy then told of how improve
machinery had displaced hand labor
cities as we'll and called attention TO tn
great Influx of immigrants who settle
the cities and work cheaply. and continued
Here. then. are two cause.-the intrt
graticn-whch combine to lower ii
prices OF products and deprive the farmt
Of his market. and the crime of 1873 hs
had nothing TO do with either one.
Democrats Oner No Remedy
offer for this condition of affairs? Ii recoi
nizes that such a condition is true. for
contains plank calculated to lead the III
abolish one OF these evils. 1t reads: w
hold that the most efficient way of protec
ing American labor is to prevent the in
cnfa inn of 1obo