Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1900-08-04
FORT SCOTT PLATFORM.
The Following Platform Vas Adopt
ed by the Democratic State
Convention.

Section 1.-The democrats of Kansas.
in state convention a5sembled, hereby
endorse the Kansas City platform We
regard this platform as a second De
c1aration of independence and point to
it as the hope of the liberty loving peo-
pie of this country and of the world.
Sec. 2.-Railways are public high
ways. Railway companies are common
carriers and public servants They are
given franchises and great power with
the agreement on their part that they
will serve the public impartially for
just compensation. Our state has
never had an efficient system of rail
way legislation, and present conditions
call for comprehensive, intelligent and
courageous railway legislation. We
believe the first step in an efficient sys-
tenn of railway regulation is to secure
publicity of railway affairs. and we
therefore favor the creation of state
officer to be known as railway auditor.
with full powers to examine. copy. du-
plicate and keep for public use all
books. records papers and accounts of
the railway companies and to be the
public auditor and accountant of all
the affairs of railway companies of the
state.
There should be created by law
public tribunal clothed with all power
regulation and control of the railways
of the state in their relations to the
public and to their agents, servants
and employees and to all persons whom
soever and in all of their conduct and
actions in the operation of their roads
and in the prosecution of their bust
ness in all things at all times.
Among the matters requiring the
special attention of the legislature as
raj TO laf nd fro of
railroads may be mentioned the fixing
of passenger fares and freight rates
and the absolute prohibition of all dis
ordinations as to either. The gross
est and most offensive and in furious
form of passenger discrimination is the
free pass, which in addition to its cor
rupting influence upon legislators,
courts and all public officials, is an in
sidious means of securing the favor of
influential personages and is the fruit
full parent of every other discrimina-
ton and of all abuses practiced by
railway companies upon persons and
the public. We therefore demand its
total abolition by making the issuance
or acceptance of the same, as likewise
of any discriminating favor, public
offense.
The Indifference of some of the rail
way companies to the safety ard lives
est condemnation of all humane per-
sons. And we condemn the practice of
using what are known as double-head-
ers, or two engines to one train OF
twice the ordinary size, as likewise all
| practices and methods of railway COM
panies which unnecessarily endanger
| the lives and limbs of employees and of
| the public.
Sec. 3.-Whi1e conceding to railroads
Io full - Ioxx fhea
| spirit OF justice, yet we submit that the
public interests require to be jealousy
guarded and the peoples nights con-
stantly defended against their abuses
and wrongs.
Sec. 4.-The present republic state
administration is weak, vacillating and
| insincere, and we submit that the par
ty responsible therefor is unfit to be
| charged with the duty of enacting a
system Of railway legislation for the
| people of this state.
Sec. 5.-The recent unparalleled
growth of trusts and monopolies has
brought the American people face to
face with the greatest industrial ques-
ton of any age. Monopoly in private
hands is wholly bad. There are no
| good trusts and we hold that they
must be destroyed by proper legisla-
ton. This can be accomplished only
| by honest cooperation between the
state and national governments, and
| we pledge ourselves in case we succeed
at the polls in November to employ
the full powers of our state government
] in an effort to relieve the people from
| the burdens and expressions of monoP-
oily.
The inexhaustible supply of petro-
leum which the creator has placed
| within our borders, for the benefit of
our people, has been appropriated by
the Standard Oil company. until our
citizens cannot light a lamp or oil
machine without paying tribute. This
monopoly controls the trade in petrO-
leum and in petroleum products of this
country, arbitrarily fixing the price
which it pays for crude oil and also the
| price which it charges for the finished
| product. Its wealth is so staggering
| and its power so invincible that we
can have no hope of relief from it's
greedy exactions, except such relief
| come from the state and we therefore
demand such legislation as will most
surely relieve us from the oppression
| of this monopoly.
Sec. 6.-That the defeat of useful and
needed legislation and the passage OF
/ clumsy and abortive laws, which will
not stand in courts. have been the
work of professional lobbyists. These
| malefactors should be summarily dealt
| with, their business should be defined
and declared a public offense and as
such punished by the law.
Sec. Each day adds fresh proof OF
the wisdom of the Democratic position
upon the question of prohibition and
we renew our oft repeated demand
that the question of prohibition be sub
mitted TO the people.
Sec. s-Believing that the public
health and the public convenience and
interests would be best conserved by
the public control of municipal utilities,
we favor the public ownership OF all
such utilities as the best means OF such
control.
Women Warriors.
According to report which has Just
come through one of the imprisoned
officers at Pretoria, there are over SOC
| Ianar women in the artillery service