The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-10-24
CLASS LEGISLATION.
Inc interests of Arkansas Paramount
to All Other Interests.
Law Which Encourages the building of
cotton Mills Wagon Factories, Etc.,
poes Not Fall Under the Detinl-
ton of Glass Legislation.

poes Not Fall Under the Definl-
ton of Glass Legislation.
The object of this article is not to
give advice, but rather to awaken
Uhought III a certain line and let read
efs draw their own conclusions as to
What extent they have been misled by
'he influence and teachings Of poll
tlelahS. Our peculiar form OF govern
ment' IN which every citizen is a polit-
zeal factor, calls for the agitation and
discussion of political questions. In
EUROPE, no person is expected to pass
judgment on financial topics excepting
hnanciers and economic students who
nave given profound attention to the
problem and worked out interesting
conclusions oof tariff and other public
questions for legislators to deal with.
In TINS land OF free speech and demo-
cratic rule, where every man has polit-
leal convictions and sovereign rights,
all cltlzens discuss and pass Judgment
on current questions at issue and, as
they believe, vote intelligcntly There
are but few voters who would not in
dlgnantly resent the imputation that
they are either misguided or party
bllnd at times and cast a ballot often
at variance with their own interests.
Ii Is matter of regret that too many
voters receive inspiration and instruc-
ton from stump orators who have self
lsh rather than general interests at
stake. No country can boast of farm
ers possessed of higher grade of intel
ligence and broader conceptions of
questions and measures of public i'm
portance than those of the American
republic. Yet it must be admitted that
party leaders have at times by false
statements and appeals to prejudice
misled them. There is no possibility
that the stock of selfish partisans will
ever become exhausted, but there is a
hope that their power will il time weak
EN- to certain degree. There is much
miseonception in regard to what is
termed class legislation by congress,
Let us think for moment how class
legislation can be accomplished. By
class legislation it is meant such en-
actments by congress as will benefit a
certain class ct the expense of the
masses Now, as the government is
not and never can be in the hands of
legislators enlisted in the support of
any section or class, but constituted of
representatives of every congressional
district, how is it possible that laws
are made which bear unequally upon
the masses? All laws are general in
their effect. If not, who is to blame?
Each congressional district has a rep
resentative to guard its interests. The
internal increase of wealth in the New
England and middle states, it has been
alleged, is due to class legislation.
With preponderanee of western and
southern legislators in congress, how
could laws be passed favoring the Sec
ton having the minority representa-
ton? Certain tariff enactments have
been held up to view as class legisla-
ton. A law which protects an indus
try in one state protects it in all states,
as rule. There are exceptions, how
ever. For example, sugar cane cannot
be produced in Wisconsin nor silver in
louisiana Therefore, bounty on
sugar and law which appreciates the
value of silver may be defined as dis
eliminating enactments, while a law
which encourages the building of cot
ton mills, wagon factories and manu-
factories in general, does not fall under
the definition of class legislation, as all
states have facilities for these indus
tries 1t is true natural advantages
are not evenly distributed, though OPP
portunities are equal. Arkansas has
superior resources and conditions more
favorable for the growth of varied
manufacturing enterprises than any
other state in the confederation, as
here all the elements exist necessary
for the produl; ion of every article pro-
dueed in the United States. All that
is lacking to transform the vast guam
titles of raw material into manufac-
turcd products is machinery and arti-
sans. 1t isnot the purpose of the writer
to tell why capital and mechanics have
remained away. Our own people have
expended their energy in developing
AGRICULTURAL interests, which accounts
for their inattention to other indus
tries. From all parts OF the state come
utterauccs, ineligible and emphatic,
and with a general recognition of the
fact that something must be done to
supply the great want of Arkansas;
that is, the establishment of diversified
industries We all know what is neces-
sarv to be done. What else is necessary
is to know how 10 do it. The Office
hunter who eanvasses the state in his
own special interest discoursing upon
class legislation has never told us to do
ANYTHING to advance the interests OF
the state except to vote for him. We
have voted for him, and we are becom-
inc increasingly alive to the fact that
tho great want of the state is something
different than the string of rhapsodies
about 'nv fitness and qualifications
for the Office to which | aspire fol-
lowed by a vigorous assault against
"class legislation" In plain words. we
have become convinced of the fact that
we must expend less time and thought
in the interests of Office hunters and
moro in the interests of Arkansas.
Arkansas has PIG square miles of zinc
fields samples of which took first prem
ium at the Chicago exposition. A fea-
turc of the zinc mines of this state is
they can be more easily mined Than
anv other yet discovered.