The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-18

Democratic party. on the contrary. re-
mains the steadfast advocate of the
gold and silver coinage or the constitu-
ton, and is not willing that other ma
tons shall determine for US the time
and manner of restoring silver to its an
Gent place as a standard money The
ratio of 16 TO 1 is not orly the ratio now
existing between all the gold and silver
dollars in circulation in this country,
ratio which even the Republican admin
1StratlOn has not attempted to change,
but it is the only ratio advocated by
those who are seeking to reopen the
mints- Whether the senate, now hos
tile to bimetallism, can be changed dur
Ing this campaign or the campaign of
1902 can only be determined after the
votes are counted, but neither the pres
ent nor the future political complexion
or congress has prevented or should
prevent an announcement of the party's
position upon this subject in unequivo-
cal terms
The currency bill, which received the
sanction of the executive and the Re
publican members of the house and SEN
ate, 5ustifles the warning given by the
Democratic party in 1896 It was then
predicted that the Republican party
would attempt to retire the greenbacks
although the party and its leaders stu
diously concealed their intentions That
purpose is now plain and the people
must choose between the retention of
the greenbacks, issued and controlled
IN volume by the government, and ma
banks and controlled in their own inter-
estS- IT the national bank notes are TO
be secured by bonds, the currency sys-
TEN now supported by the Republican
party involves a permanent and in
creaSlng debt, and, so long as this sys-
tenn stands, the financial classes will be
tempted to throw their powerful influ-
ence upon the side of any measure
which will contribute to the size and
permanency of a national debt It is
haroly conceivable THAI the American
people will deliberately turn from the
deDI-pay1ng policy of the past, to the
dangerous doctrine of perpetual bonds
ELECTION OF SENATORS BY THE
PEOPLE.
The demand for a constitutional
amendment providing for the election of
senators by direct vote of the people
appears for the first time in a Demo-
cratic national platform but a resoIu-
ton proposing such an amendment, has
three times passed the house of repre-
sentativeS, and that, too, practically
without opposition. Whatever may have
been the reasons which secured the
adoption OF the present plan a century
ago. new conditions have made it i'm
perative that the people be permitted to
speak directly in the selection of their
representatives in the senate. A senator
IS no less the representative of the state
because he receives his commission from
the people themselves, rather than from
the members of the state legislature If
a voter is competent to vote for mem
Der of congress, for state officers and for
president, he is competent to choose his
representative in the senate A system
which makes the senator responsible for
his action to the people as a whole and
amenable to them If he misrepresents
them, must commend itself to those who
have confidence in the intelligence. and
patriotism of the masses
DIRECT LEGISLATION
The platform indorses the principle of
direct legislation This is already ap-
phed 10 the more important questions
IN nation. state and city 1t rests upon
the sound theory that the peopIa can he |
trusted, and that the more Responsive
the government is to the will of the peo-
pie. the more free it will be from misuse
and abuse.
LABOR QUESTION.
Several planks of the labor platform |
are devoted to questions in which the
laboring classes have an Immediate in |
terest, but which more remotely effect |
our entire population While what is |
generally known as government by in |
junction is at present directed chiefly |
against the employees of corporations
when there is disagreement between |
tnem and their employer, it involves a /
principle which concerns every one. The |
purpose of the injunction in such cases |
is to substitute trial by judge for trial |
by jury, and is covert blow at the jury |
system The abolition of government |
by injunction is as necessary for the |
protection of the reputation of the |
court, as it is for the security of the /
citizen Blackstone in defending trial /
by jury, says:
THE impartial administration of JUS
tice, which secures both our persons,
and our properties is the great end of
civil society. but if that be entrusted /
entirely to the magistracy, a select body
Of men, and those selected by the prince /
such as enjoy the highest Offices of the /
state their decisions in spite of their
natural integrity, will have frequently
an involuntary bias toward those of |
their own rank, and dignity. It is not to
be expected from human nature that
the few should be always attentive to
the interests and good of the many"
If the criminal laws are not sufficient I
for the protection of property, they can
be made more severe, but a citizen
charged with crime must have his case
tried before a jury of his peers.
THE BLACKLIST.
The blacklist as now employed in
some places enables the employer to
place the employee under practical du-
-ess, for the skilled laborer loses his in
when the employers can not
1nly discharge him. but prevent his Sc
curing any similar employment The
blacklist enables employers to secure,
" mutual agreement, that control over
he wage earnerS which a private mon
poly exercises without contract.
ARBITRATION.
The platform renews the demand for
arbitration between corporations and
heir employees. No one who has OBJ
erved the friction which arises between
treat corporations and their numerous
employees can doubt the wisdom of es-
abIishing an impartial court for the
ust and equitable settlement of dis
lutes The demand for arbitration
ught to be supported as heartily by the
,ublic, which suffers inconvenience
because of strikes and 1ockouts and by
he employers themselves, as by the en-
lOyeS. The establishment Of arbitra-
ion will insure friendly relations be-
ween labor and capital, and render OBJ
oIete the growing practice of calling in
he army to settle labor troubles
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
1 cannot too strongly emphasize the
Importance of the platform recommend
ton of the establishment OF a depart