Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-07-06

ana OF the nnlsDeO pTouuctt 1uuo To-"
bling both producer and consumer. They
lesson the employment of labor and az
bitrarily fix the terms and conditions
thereof and deprive individual energy
and small capital Of the opportunity for
bel terment.
They are the most efficient yet devils
ed for spproprlating the fruits OF the In
dustry TO the benefit of the few at the
expense OF the many, and unless their
Unsuitable greed is checked, all wealth
will be aggregated in few hands and
the republic destroyed. The dishonest
paltering with the trust evil by the re-
pub lean party in State and nation
al platforms is conclusive proof OF the
truth of the charge that trusts are the
legitimate product of republican poll
cies, that they are fostered by republl-
Can laws, and that they are protected
by the republican Administration 10
return for campaign subscriptions and
political support.
We pledge the democratic party to
an unceasing warfare 10 nation, State,
and city against private monopoly 10
every form. Existing laws against
trusts must be enforced, and more strn.
gent ones must be enacted providing
for publicity as to the affairs OF corpora
tions engaged in interstate commerce,
and requiring all corporations to show,
before doing business outside OF the
State of their origin, that they have no
water 10 their stock, and that they have
not attempted, and are not attempting,
to monopolize any branch OF business OF
the production OF any articles OF mer-
chandise. And the whole coDstitu-
tioual power of Congress oyer interstate
commerce, the mails, and all modes OF
interstate communication shall be ex-
ercised by an enactment OF compre-
hensive laws upon the subject OF trusts.
Tariff laws should be amended by
putting the products of trusts upon the
free list to prevent monopoly under the
plea of protection. The failure of the
republican administration, with en-
an absolute control over all the branches
of the national government, to ensci
any legislation designed to prevent or
even curtail the absorbing power OF
trusts and illegal combinations, or to
enforce the antitrust laws already on
the statute books, prove the insincerity
of the high-sounding phrases OF the re-
publican platform.
Corporations should be protected in
all their rights and their legitimate ip-
terests should be respected, but any at
tempt by corporations to interfere With
the public affairs of the people or to
control the sovereignty which Greats
them should be forbidden under such
penalties as will make such attempts
impossible.
We condemn the Dingley tariff
as a trust-breeding measure skillfully
devised to give to the few favors whicl
they do not deserve, and to place upoo
the many burdens which they should
not bear. We favor such az enlarge
ment of the scope of the Interstate
Commerce law as will enable the Com
mission to protect individuals and COM
munities from determinations and the
public from unjust and unfair transpor
tation rates.
We reaffirm and endorse the priDci-
Piles of the national democratic plat
form adopted at Chicago in 1896, and
we reiterate the demand OF that plat
form for an American financial system
made by the American people for them
selves which shall restore and maintain
bimetallic price level; and as part OF
such system, the immediate restoration
OF the free, Unlimited coinage of silver
and gold at the present legal ratio OF 16
to l, without waiting for the aid or con-
sent OF any other nation.
We denounce the currency bill enact
ed at the last session OF Congress as a
step forward in the republican policy
which aims to discredit the sovereign
right OF the national government to is
sue all money, whether coin or paper,
and to bestow upon national banks the
power to issue aud control the volume
of paper money for their own benefit.
A permanent national bank currency,
secured by government bonds, must
have a permanent debt to rest upon,
and If the bank currency is to increase
with population and business, the debt
must also increase. The republican
currency statement ia therefore a state
ment for fastening upon the taxpayers
perpetual and growing debt for tn
benefit of the banks. We are opposed
to this private corporation paper circu-
lated as money, but without legal ten
der qualities. and demand the retire
ment of the national bank notes as fast
as government paper or silver certifi-
Gates can be substituted for them.
We favor an amendment to the fede-
raj constitution providing for the cleo
ton of United States Senators by the
direct vote Of the people, and we favor
direct legislation wherever practicable. |
We are opposed to government by
Injunction, and we denounce the black
list and favor arbitration as means Of
settling disputes between corporations
and their employees.
Ia the interest of American labor and
the upbuilding Of the workingman, az
the cornerstone OF the prosperity OF our
country, we recommend that Congress
create department OF labor, in charge
of secretary, with seat in the Cabi- |
net, believing that the elevation OF the
American laborer will bring with it in
creased production and Increased pros.
perity to our country at home aud to
our commerce abroad.
We are proud of the courage and
fidelity of the American soldiers and |
sailors In all our wars. We favor lib
eral pensions for them and their de- |
pendents, and we reiterate the position
taken In the Chicago platform in 1896,
that the fact of enlistment and service
shall be deemed conclusive evidence |
against disease and disability before en-
listment.
We favor the immediate cons.ruc-
ton, ownership and control of the |
Nicaragua canal by the Usited States,
and we denounce the insincerity of the |
plank in the republican national plat |