The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-09-17

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voting strength among those who are
proud to be known as the common
people, and it pledges itself 10 propose
and enact such legislation as is neces-
sary to protect the masses in the free
exercise OF every political right and in
the enjoyment Of their just share of
the reward of their labor.
ARBITRATION.
| desire to give special emphasis to
the plank which recommends such leg
lslatlon as is necessary to secure the
arbitration of differences between en-
ployers engaged in Interstate CON-
merce and their employees. Arbitra-
ton is not new idea-it is simply an
extension of the courts of justice. The
laboring men of the country have ex-
pressed a desire for arbitration, and
the railroads cannot reasonably OBJ
ject to the decision rendered by an
impartial tribunal. Society has an in
terest even greater than the interest of
employees and has right to protect
itself by courts of arbitration against
the growing inconvenience and EN-
barrassments occasioned by disputes
by those who own the great arteries Of
commerce on the one hand, and the
laborers who operate them on the
other.
IMMIGRATION.
While the Democratic party well
comes to the country those who come
with love for our institutions, and with
determination and ability to contrib
ute to the prosperity of our nation, it
is opposed to the dumping of criminal
classes upon our shores, and to the
importation of either pauper or con-
tract labor to compete with American
labor.
INJUNCTIONS.
The recent abuses which have grown
out of injunction proceedings have
been SO emphatically condemned by
public opinion that the Senate bill
providing for trial by jury of certain
contempt cases will meet with general
approval.
The Democratic party is opposed
to the trusts. 1t would be recreant to
its duty to the people of the country if
it recognized either the moral or legal
right OF these great aggregations CT
wealth to stihe competition, bankrupt
rivals and then prey upon society.
Corporations are the creatures of law,
and they must not be permitted to
pass from under the control of the
power which created them. They are
permitted to exist upon the theory
that they advance the public veal,
and they must not be permitted to
use their powers for the public in
jury.
RAILROADS.
The right of the United States
government to regulate interstate
commerce cannot be questioned and
the necessity for the vigorous exercise
of that right is becoming more and
more imperative. The interests Of
the whole people require such an en-
largement of the powers of the in
ter-State Commerce Commission as
will enable it to prevent discrimlna-
ton between persons and places, and
protect patrons from unreasonable
charges.
PACIFIC RAILROADS.
The government cannot afford to
discriminate between its debtors and
must, therefore, prosecute its legal
claims against the Pacific railroads.
Such a policy is necessary for the pro-
lection of the rights of the patrons as
we'll as for the interests of the govern
ment
The people of the United States,
happy in the enjoyment of the bless
ings of free government, feel a gen.
erous sympathy towards all who are
endeavoring to secure: like blessings
for themselves This sympathy while
respecting all treaty obligations, is
especially active and earnest when
excited by the struggling of neighbor-
ing people who, like the Cubans are
near enough to observe the workings
! of government which derives all Its
authority from the consent of the
governed.
! THE CIVIL SERVICE.
That the American people are not
in favor Of life tenure in the civil SER
vice is evident from the fact that they,
as ,ule, making frequent changes IN
their official representatives when those
representatives are chosen by ballot.
A permanent office holding class is
not in harmony with our institutions.
A fixed term in appointive offices, ex'
cept where the Federal constitution
now provides otherwise, would open
the public service 10 larger number
of citizens without impairing its ettlc
iency.
THE TERRITORIES.
The territorial form of government
is temporary in its nature and should
give way as soon as the territory is ad
vanced to take its place among tht
States. New Mexico, Oklahoma anc
Arizona are entitled to Statehood anc
their early admission is demanded by
their material and political interests
The demand of the platform that ottlc