Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-08-11
The VETERAN EDITOR TALKS OF
NATIONAL POLITICS.
WHAT REPUBLICANS SHOULD DO
SHOILD WORK FOR THE CONTROL
or TRUSTS AND COMBINES.
Nert in Importancc II CiViI Service
Recommendations and Fee Sys-
tems Need ReNiSiOn-FnVors
thoosing All Officers by
Direct Vote.

Tarezs Nas.. Aug IU-tSpecIalJ Major
J X Hudson will leave iu a few days FOR
Alaska. on tho eve OF his departure. ne
talks eutsrt4iuiEEly Of the future policy OF
the Republican party in the state and ma
-fon. In ar-ver 20 a query as to what the
policy q the party should be IN the coming
campaigns he said.
N l. too early 10 more than express an
individual opinion that may have to be
changed especially in our state affairs, by
new conditions that ii year may bring iortn.
The wisdom or the blunders of the state
and national administrations now in power
may change the issues. There are some SUB
5rr1s however. that deeply concern the
futgr, Of the republic that properly engage
the attention Of serious and thouGhuul CIT
iz.ns Il seems 10 me apparent that the alb
s0rhiuE money question Of the last national
campaign is solving itself in a natural
Ny in spite Of all the theories of the
roI.ff,al doctors The great discoveries OF
gold throughout the world. from Africa TO
Alaska and the refusal OF the great nations
Of the earth TO increase their silver issues
d-sfroy. the demand for silver and the sur
plus on hand and being produced brings
-hy the incxorabie law Of supply and de-
maud' thc reduction now taking place IN
the market price Of silver. The Republican
party will. no doubt give the country, as Il
yiS.-d. sound monetary system, based upon
the gold standard. Already the country be-
gins 10 feel the business improvement OF a
settled tariff policy. The tariff ana iree
silver. il may be safely said. will very nat
urally be eliminated from the next national
campaign
which parties will divide and national
uuiicies be uader To my mind the RepuD-
Hcan party. always taking advanced posi-
in hs1 int of "
should adopt as the leading idea OF the
rext national platform the control by law
national and state. oi comblnes' synglcatss q N,
and corporations. The menace OF the no
critics and rights Of the mass Of the peo-
pIe from the above sources contrOllln2. as
they do the working capital Of the ma
ton Debating in their combined strength
to congress the judiciary and state legis-
latures Is tenfold more dangerous 10 the
life OF the republic than a half dozen ior-
Next in importance for the Republican
partv TO adopt is civil service reform. ms
means taking public patronage oui OF poll
tics. making merit. character and comPe-
fenre the standard Of pubhc service
Against this governmental pohcy mere
will be the united opposition OF pontlclans,
who look upon the Offices to be nlied 5y
appointment state ana federal. as tne
'Spoils' belonging to the V1ctors. All the
large and small bosses in the state and
nation will object to having the chief
means Of maintaining themselves IN power
taken away. The people Of the nauon OUT
side OF those seeking ONCE are lillritsttu
in having the public service performed by
honest and competent men. United states
senators and congressman from This ana
an other states are besieged from the day
OF their election by an army of of1ceseek-
ers and their recommendations and thelr
differences and guarrels harass and con-
sumo all the time and strength OF senators
and congressman that they should give 10
the higher and more important duties OF
legislation
.-There never was more corrupt idea in
politics than the 'spctls theory IL IS
libel On American citizenship to say that
s-anpsigns for political principles cannot
~ made without the hope Of dividing the
Offices as nav for campaign services II the
uarty iS Eu ssful. and vet this Is the one
and only himsy argument against civil
service reform.
Another question which directly affects
every citizen Is taxation The reduction OF
taxes i within the reach of the people IN
every state A. least one-third OF all prop
erty values escapes taxation, for the lack
Of penalties for fraud.
-Another source OF direct loss to the
people f. the eXtravagant Zee system. Which
has grown uu IN all the courts from jus
firex u the peace 10 the supreme courts.
The settlements Of estates often amount to
rn-fsqasion Lawyers ana court officers are
tens which amount to nothing less than
iaCalizad robbery and the political party
that has the courage to attaCk this mon
sfeT evil viii sind the mass Of the people
supporting H.
rf1-S % national importance. such a. re-
i1rfrfvc the Frequency Of elections. increaS-
iuC the length OF terms Of Office. electing
ell important officers from president TO
postmaster By direct note Of the people.
,iarv in M the federal courts not longer
than ton