Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1900-07-13

the enactment OF comprehensive laws upon tine
subject OF trusts. Tariff laws should be amend
ed by putting products OF trusts upon the free
list to prevent monopoly under the plea Of pro-
lection.
Corporations and the Tariff.
The failure Of the present Republican admin
istration with absolute control over all the
branches OF the national government, to enact
any legislation designed 10 prevent or even cur
tail the absorbing power Of trusts and illegal
combinations. or to enforce the antitrust laws
already on the statute books, prove the insin-
certify Of the high sounding phrases OF the Re-
publican platform. Corporations should be pro-
tected in all their rights and all Of their legiti-
mate interests should be respected, but any at
tempt by corporations to interfere with the pub
lie affairs Of the people or to control the SOW
erignty which creates Them should be forbidden
under such penalties as will make such attempts
impossible.
We condemn the Dingey tariff law as trust
breeding measure, skillfully devised to give the
few favors which they do not deserve, and to
place upon the many burdens which they should
not bear.
We favor such an enlargement OF the scope Of
the interstate commerce law as will enable the
commission to protect individuals and commun-
tiles from determinations and the public from
unjust and unfair transportation rates.
Free Coinage at 10 to I.
We reaffirm and indorse the principles Of the
national Democratic platform adopted at Chi
cago in 1896, and we reiterate the demand OF
that platform for an American financial system,
made by the American people for themselves,
which shall restore and maintain bimetalllc
price level, and as part OF such system the i'm
mediate restoration Of the free and unlimited
coinage of silver and gold at the present legal
ratio of 16 to /, without waiting for the aid or
consent of any other nation.
We denounce the currency bill enacted at the
last session Of Congress as step forward in
the Republican policy which aims TO discredit
the sovereign right OF the national government
to issue all money, whether coin or paper, and
to bestow upon national banks the power to
issue and control the volume OF paper money
for their own benefit A permanent national
bank currency, secured by government bonds,
must have permanent debt to rest upon, and
IL the bank currency is to increase with popula-
tion and business, the debt must also increase.
The Republican currency scheme is therefore,
scheme for fastening upon the taxpayers o
perpetual and growing debt for the benefit u
banks.
We are opposed to this private corporation
paper circulating as money, but without legal
tender qualities and demand the retirement Of
the national bank notes as fast as government
paper or silver certificates can be substituted
for them.
We favor an amendment to the federal con.
stituton providing for the election of United
States senators by direct vote of the people,
and we favor direct legislation wherever prac-
ticable.
InjunctiOns and the Black List.
We are opposed to government by injunction
We denounce the black list, and favor arbitra.
tion as q means Of settling disputes between
corporations and their employees.
In the interest of American labor and the up
building Of the working man, as the corner stone
of the prosperity OF our country, we recommend
that congress create department of labor, in
charge of secretary with seat in the cabinet,
believing that the elevation of the American Ia
borer will bring with 1t increased production
and increased prosperity to our country at home
and TO our commerce abroad
Liberal Pensions.
We are proud OF the courage and fidelity OF
the American soldiers and sailors In all our
wars; we favor liberal pensions to them and
their dependents, and we reterate the position
taken in the Chicago platform in 1895 that the
fact of enlistment and service shall be deemed
conclusive evidence against disease and disa-
bility before enlistment.
We favor the immediate construction owner.
ship and control Of the Nicaraguan canal by
the United States, and we denounce
the insincerity of the plank in the
canal in the face of the failure of the Republican
majority to pass the bill pending in Congress.
We condemn the Hay-P auncefote treaty as
surrender of American rights and interests,
not to be tolerated by the American people.
Statehood for Territories.
We denounce the failure Of the Republican
party to carry out its pledges to grant state
hood to the territories of Arizona New Mexico
and Oklahoma, and we promise the people OF
those territories immediate statehood and
home rule during their condition as territories,
and we favor home rule and territorial form
of government for Alaska and Porto Rico.
We favor an intelligent system OF improving
the arid lands Of the West, storing the waters
for purposes of irrigation and the holding OF
such lands for actual settlers.
We favor the continuance and strict enforce
ment of the Chinese exclusion law and its APP
plication to the same classes of oil Asiatic
races.
South African War.
Believing in the principles Of selfgoverE-
ment and rejecting did our forefathers the
claim of monarchy, we view with Indignation
the purpose of England to overwhelm with
force the South African republics. Speaking,
us we believe, for the entire republican nation,
except its republican Office holders, and for all
free men everywhere, we extend our sympa-
thies to the heroic burghers in their unequal