Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-06-30
THE PLATFORM,

glance to the principles of the renewed
democracy which found expression in
the democratic national platform of
1896. We stand today for every prin-
ciple therein enumerated. and especial
ly for the free and unlimited coinage of
! silver and gold at the ratio of 10 to 1.
without waiting for the consent of for
eign nations. We take special pleasure
IN recording our appreciation and en-
dorsement of the splendid campaign
waged in behalf of the peoples rights
by their intrepid champion, who stands
in merit and esteem with the historic
leaders of democracy. VIM. ]. Bryan.
Second.-We are against the McKin-
ley and DINGHY system of taxation for
the expenses of the government. 1t is
wrong IN principle, being a tax on con-
sumption instead Of on property, AMI a
breeder of trusts and monopolies, and
it is disastrous in practice, as the pres
ent Soc. 900, 900 deficit illustrates, and
we renew our protest against it and in
sist upon federal taxation being levied
| IN such a manner as will reach the in
comes and property of the rich men
and corporations, and thus to some ex.
tent. exempt the necessities of the COM
mon people. We wage no WAT upon
the rich. but insist that the rich and
poor alike must stand in equality before
the law, and that unjust privileges and
| the aggressions of wealth upon the
rights of man must cease. We, there
fore. favor an amendment to the con-
stitution of the United States, If the
same be necessary, such as will author
ize congress to levy direct taxes upon
incomes, corporations. estates and all
forms of aggregated wealth.
Thlrd.-We are in favor of a vigor.
Gus prosecution of the war with Spain,
and see i'll it not only the passing of
Cuba from despotism to freedom, but
for ourselves more advanced place
among the nations of the world and a
broader commercial horizon. The
American navy should be greatly en-.
| larged, and in its wake our merchant
marine, under new tariff laws should
open the Worlds markets to American
buyers and sellers; and rights should
be reserved in all territory conquered
| during the war to facilitate and protect
such extended commercial interests;
but with no view to territorial agran-
dizment nor the establishment of a
colonial policy for this government.
| We congratulate our state that she was
the first to respond to the Presidents
call with her full quota of volunteers,
| and assure our Kansas soldiers that in
this righteous battle for human rights
they will be followed through the march,
the bivouac and the battlefield by the
hopes and prayers of their fellow citi.
zens at home.
| Fourth.-We are in favor of the re.
submission of the prohibition amend
ment to the state constitution to a vote
OF the electors of the state. When it
was adopted it failed to secure a major
ity OF our votes, and since it has been
in operation there has been no time
when 1t commanded the respect or sup.
port OF majority of our people and
today 1t IS not enforced throughout the
state, and we are in favor of its repeal
and the substitution in its place of a
license system under local option and
strict regulations, one half the money
derived therefrom to be expended on
the public country roads; or in lieu of
such resubmission of said amendment
we favor constitutional convention.
Ftth.-We denounce the metropoli-
tan police law as undemocratic ana un-
American. and contrary to the princi-
pies upon which our government is
founded; and demand its repeal. be.
lieving that home rule should prevail
in local affairs.
| Sixth.-We commend the course of
Senotor w. A. Harris in preventing
the loss of millions of dollars to the
people through the Vaccinations of the
Wall Street operators interested in the
| purchase of the Union Pacific railroad;
and we commend him and those Kan
sas congressman who voted against the
issuance of further interest-bearing
bonds at this time, holding that such
| issue Is only device to cover up and
| tide over deficiencies in revenue pro-
duced by the Dingley bill, and to some
degree palliate business prostration
due to the gold standard, and to perpet-
uate the national banking system; and
we protest against bonding this nation
for such purposes.
Seventh.-We heartily endorse the
present state administration. elected
by democratic votes, in ITS successful
efforts looking to substantial retrench-
ment and reform and in the many mer-
itorious laws the last legislature passed,
and which have been faithfully and
conscientiously enforced by our state