The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-11-15
WILL M'KINLEY CARRY OUT THE
CHICAGO PLATFORMf


Chicago platform and thus deprive the
Democrats OF an Issue In 1900f There
are indications that point in that direc-
ton, il we may accept the statements
az certain close friends OF Mr.. Mckin-
ley. The Conservatives have cut the
ground from under the feet OF the Lib
erals more than once by abandoning their
own policies. and adopting almost all the
reforms promised by the Liberals, ~
history to repeat itself here
Mayor Pmgree, Of Detroit who was
elected Governor of Michigan on No
yemher Bird, has paid visit to President
elect Mckinley. lie gives it out that
MIR, Mckinley feels that the Trusts are
great evils and is fretting TO get
chance Ito knock the stuflin' > out of
them, so to speak. We hope Mr.. Tin
gree is right and that Mr.. Mckinley
will wage vigorous warfare against
these cormorants, but we confess TO
fear that, having elected Mr.. Mckinley
by the lavish use of money, the trusts
will convince him, as they did Mr.. Blaine,
that they are largely private affairs with
which the public has nothing to do"
The Times Herald, edited by Mr..
Kohlsaat. who is Mr. McKinley's closest
friend, also speaks out against the trusts
in tones almost as strong as Mr.. Bryan
did. and declares that the trusts must
be regarded as "a menace to the pubic
peace" and that 1.-THE 55th Congress
will have to meet and fight them" When
the Chicago platform used such threats,
it was revolutionary document! But
let that pass. Every man who support
ed the Chicago platform will join Mr..
Pingree and Mr. Kohlsaat in every hon
est effort to induce the Republi-
can President and the Republican Con-
gress to stop the wholesale rob
berry of the people by unlawful combina-
tons.
1t will be remembered that there was
a great howl all over the country about
this plank in the Democratic National
platform:
1--WE demand the enlargement of
the powers of the Interstate Com
I merce Commission and such restric
ton and guarantees in the control
of railroads as will protect the peo-
pie from robbery and oppression"
1t rallied the great railroad men a
gainst MIR. Bryan, though they pretend
ed that it was the fear of paying their
debts and employees in deprecated dollars
that induced their activity. That and
the declaration against government by
injunction" were the two planks that the
railroads dreaded. They have elected
AIR. Mckinley. VIII he protect them in
their practises and put the army at their
back to enforce their war on organized
labor? Read what his close friend, Mr..
Kohlsaat writes about the Interstate
Commerce law:
THE law is no better than a dead
1 letter when directed against rich and
powerful malefactors Since its en-
1 actment great railway properties have
! been sheIled, stockholders and bond
/ holders robbed, workingmen thrown
out of employment and American
/ credit abroad practically ruined, yet
/ we fail to recall one instance in
/ which the robbers and wreckers were
! caught and punished. Is it not na-
/ tural for workingmen to rebel a
gainst a system which sends them
| to Jail for an offense against one sec
tion of the law, while ''rebaters'
/ and other SNUG thieves put their feet
/ through another section and escape
| even nominal punishment? We
should hesitate to say how much the
fragrant lawlessness of railway cor
/ porations and the almost criminal
apathy of the governments prosecut-
/ ing officers contributed to the wave
of discomfort and rebellion upon
which Mr.. Bryan was dangerously
near riding into the White House"
Mr.. Kohlsaat also declares that the
voice Of discomfort has been sieneed,
but discomfort has not been crushed"
Then he spoke a parable. Is Mr.. McKin-
ley to amend the Interstate Commerce
law and stop government by injunction,
as his friend suggests?
! The Chicago platform declared until
the money question is settled we are OPP
posed to any agitation for further
changes in our tariff laws, except such
rs are necessary to meet the deficit in
revenue caused by the adverse decision
Of the Supreme court on the income tax"
Mr. Mcmillan, Republican Senator from
Michigan, takes the same position, and
says his party ought to wait and see if
the Wilson tariff viii not raise enough
revenue, and if not then to add only
enough tariff to bring in the required
revenue. This suggestion has been APP
plauded in many Republican circles. 1t
is an endorsement of the Chicago plat
form. and if it prevails, the Bryan pro-
gramme viii be carried out by McKin-
ley.
1t was supposed that the election OF
Mckinley would make all reference to
silver odiOus, but the smoke Of the bat
tie had not cleared away before Senator
Chandler issued a manifesto declaring
that the victory must mean more silver
legislation or the people would turn the
.I-Hs..