Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-09-28

House OF Representatives. and that.
too. practically without opposition.
Whatever may have been the reasons
which secured the adoption of the pres
ent plan. century ago. new conditions
nave made it imperative that the peo-
pie 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 peo-
pie themselves. rather than from the
members of the State legislature. IT
voter is competent to vote for MEM
Der of Congress, for State officers and
for President, ha is competent to
choose his representative in the Sem
ate. A system which makes the Sen
ator responsible for his election to the
people, as a whole. and amenable to
them if he misrepresents them, must
commend itself to those who have con-
ism of the masses.
Direct Legislation.
The platform indorses the princi-
pie Of direct legislation. This is al
ready applied to the more important
questions in nation. state and city. It
rests upon the sound theory that the
people can be trusted, and that the
more responsive the government is to
the will of the people, the more free
it will be from misuse and abuse.
Labor Question.
Several planks of the labor plat
form are devoted to questions in which
the laboring classes have an immediate
interest, but which more remotely eff
feet our entire population. While what
is generally known as government by
injunction Is at present directed chief
ly against the employees of corpora
tons, when there is disagreement be-
tween them and their employer. it in
wolves principle which concerns
every one. The purpose of the in
| junction 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:
| 1.-THE impartial administration OF
justice, which secures both our persons.
and our properties is the great end OF
civil society. but If that be entrusted
entirely to the magistracy. 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 criminals laws are not sufficient
! for the protection of property, they
can be made more severe. but a citi-
! zen charged with crime must have his
case tried before jury Of his peers.
The Blacklist.
| The blacklist IS now employed in
! some places enables the employer t.
place the employee under practical
duress, for the skilled 1aborer loses his
independence when the employers car
not only discharge him, but prevent hi:
securing any similar employment
The blacklist enables employers to Sc
cure, by mutual agreement, that con
troll over the wage earners which {
private monopoly exercises withou
contract.
Arbitration.
The platform renews the demant
for arbitration between corporation
and their employees. No one who ha
e.:1 l.
tween great corporations and thei
numerous employees can doubt tn
wisdom of establishing an impartia
court for the just and equitable set
Element of disputes. The demand 70
arbitration ought to be supported a
heartily by the public, which suffer
inconvenience because Of strikes an
lockouts, and by the employers them
selves, as by the employees. The estah
lishment of arbitration will insur
friendly relations between labor an
capital, and render obsolete the grow
: ing practice of calling in the army
settle labor troubles.
Department of Labor.
1 cannot too strongly emphasize tn
Importance of the platform recon
mendation of the establishment of
department of labor, with membe
:. of the cabinet at it's head. When "
, remember how important positio
the laborer fills in our economic, sc
cial and political fabric. it is hard I
, conceive of valid objection bein
made to this recognition OF his ser,
ices. Agriculture is already represent
ed in the presidents official household
the army and navy have their repr,
, sentatives there; the state department
, i with its consular service, and tt