The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-08-27
THE TWO DAVlDS CLASH
David Overmyer's Reply to Sem
atOr David B. Hill
On "The Future of the Demo
cratic Organization"
Says the Party Can No Longer Do
Business on the Strength of the
Cry: 81 am a Democrat"

The Forum of February, 1897. contains
article by Senator David B. Hill of
New York. under the title The Future
of the Democratic Organization In the
current number of the Arena David Over
myer of this city replies to MIR. Hill in
his wel1-known and vigorous style. Mr..
Oyermyer says:
LAS organization is only a means to an
end. it would seem that the end sought
by the great mass of the Democratic peo-
pie must necessarily determine the flu
ture of the organization.
ITO ascertain the course likely to be
taken by the Democratic party. it will
be necessary to consider the conditions,
economic and social, which exist in this
country, and how such conditions are re-
garded, and how they will be treated by
the people And yet. if we except
slight reference to sumptuary laws, Sena-
tor Hill utterly ignores the existence of
any condition in this country requiring
the attention of wise craftsmanship, or
even OF sagacious political leadership.
within the lifetime of the senator him
self such vast changes have taken place
in this country, as never before occurred
in the world at any period of ten times
the same duration He has seen the
population increase from 100000 to TO-
10000 of souls. The aggregate wealth of
the nation has grown to $4,000 600, 600
three-fourths of which is owned by less
than two hundred thousand persons. All
business, trade, commerce, in short, all
enterprise has been Incorporated.
He has seen the Independent, self re-
specting mechanic pass away; in his
place is the operative of machinery of
marvellous power, propelled by steam and
electricity, and owned and operated by
capital without other human agency than
that of hired men. He has seen thu ma
chine take the place of the man; and
money take the place of manhood. He
has seen the production of every staple
monopolized, and the profits arising
from the united endeavor of all.
concentrated year by year in fewer and
fewer hands, while transportation pooled
and combined, plumbers the public baf-
files the law and mocks at justice: and
department stores devour competition.
Mining, manufacturing, indeed all staple
production, save that of the fields, being
absolutely controlled by trusts, a hand
full of men are enabled to limit the out
put and thus to control the supply and
dictate the price to the consumer. 1t be-
ing impossible for farmers to combine. by
reason of their numbers and wide disper-
sion, the amount of their production is
not susceptible of arbitrary limitation.
The land pirates have. therefore. seized
the great marts to which the farmer
produce must go. and thus monopolizing
the avenues through which his produce
must reach the consumer; cornering OPP
portunity, fencing in the fountain and be-
striding the stream, they dismiss the be
wildered farmer with petty pittance and
with the bland assurance that all things
go by the great law of supply and de-
mand; and proceed to reap such profits as
the wants of world will afford
Then there is the gold standard. the
monopoly of money! and the fact that
the land is now owned largely by land
lords, and titled by tenants, while the ma