The Van Buren press., 1900-07-14


of business or the production OF any .a ar,a
cles of merchandise; and the whole coa
stitutional power of congress over in,a
state commerce, the mails and all mods.
of interstate communication shall be az
ercised by the enactment of comprebsaa'
sive laws upon the subjects of trust Tss
iff la ws should be amended by putting ~.
products of trusts upon the free liz, ~ ~
prevent monopoly under the plea Of nro nv
lection.
The failurs Of the present admins
tration, with an absolute contrcI
ernment, to enact any legislation ds.
signed to prevent or even curtai the Az
sorbing power Of trusts and illegal com,
binations, or to enforce the antitrust law,
already on the statute books, prove, lbs
insincerity of the high-sounding phIaSa.s
Of the republican platform
Corporations should be protected In ali
their rights and their legitimate Interest,"
should be respected: but any attempt hs
corporations to interfere with the publis
affairs of the people, or to control the soy'
erciCnty which creates them, shoud \.
forbidden under such penalties as viii
make such attempts impossible.
We condemn the Dingey tariff law a,
trust-breeding measure skillfully ds'
vised to give the few favors which thsv
do not deserve and to place upon m,
many burdens which they should No,
of the scope of the interstate commer".
law as will enable the commission "a
protect individuals and communities IA
discrimination and the public from IN.
just and unfair transportation rates.
The Financial Plank.
We reafiirm and indorse the prIncips,
of the national democratic platform a,lon.
ed at Chicago In 1896 and we reiterato ii.
demand of that platform. for an American
a ,taI Ia k1yt hA A
people for themselves, which shall IA
store and maintain a bimetallic prize
level and as part of such system, the res
toration OF the free and unlimited coInap,
of silver and gold at the present legal ra
Ito OF l6 to l. without waiting for the aH
or consent Of any other nation
National Bank Currency.
We denounce the currency bill enacted
at the last session of congress as stem
forward In the republican policy winch
aims to discredit the sovereign right Of
the national government to issue aI
money, whatever, coin or paper, and TO be
stow 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 GOV.
ernment bonds must have a permanent
debt to rest upon, and II the bank curren.
cy is to increase with population and busl.
ness. the debt must also increase,
The republican currency scheme d
therefore "A scheme for fastening upon hs
taxpayers a perpetual and growing debt
for the benefit of the banks. We are Cd.
posed to this private corporation plpe,
circulated as money, but without loga
tender qualities and demand the retire.
ment Of the national bank notes as FAST a.
government paper or silver certificate
can be substituted for them.
We favor an amendment to the fedora
constitution providing for the election oil
United States senators by direct vote olI
the people and we favor direct Legislation
wherever practicable.
In Behalf of Labor.
We are opposed to government Ny III.
junction: we denounce the black lisi md
favor arbitration as a means OF settling
disputes between corporations and the.
employees.
In the interest OF American labor and
the upbuiding OF the workingman as II
cornerstone of the prosperity of our coun
try, we recommend that congress creai
department OF labor, IN charge Of II
secretary, with seat In the cbainet, BE-
lleving that the elevation of the America
laborer will bring with II increased pro |
ducton ana increased prosperity 70 ou
country at home and to our commero
abroad.
American soldiers and sailors In all ou |
wars; we favor liberal pensions to then
and their dependents, and we reitefau
the position taken In the Chicago plat
form in lS96--that the fact Of enlismet
and service shall be deemed concusu|
evidence against disease and disability BE-
fore enlstement.
The Nicaragua Canal.
We favor the immediate constructed
ownership and control OF the Nicaragua,
canal by the United States and we DEL
nounce the insincerity of the plank b
the republican national platform for a;
isthmian canal In the face OF the faiur'
of the republican majority to pass "a,
bill pending In congress.
We condemn the -Pauncefote treat
as "A surrender of American rights and
interests, not to be tolerated by M'
American people.
Territories ana statehood.
We denounce the failure OF the repueI
llcan party to carry out It's pledges
grant statehood to the territories OF AM
zona, New Mexico and Oklahoma, and vi
promise the people OF those territories IN
| statehood and home rule during their con
ditions as territories and we afvor hom,I
rule and "A territorial form of goyernmet
| for Alaska and Porto Rico.
We favor an intelligent system OF In
proving the arid lands OF the west, slor
| Ing the waters for purposes OF irrigaua
and the holding OF such lands for aelSa
| settlers.
We favor the continuance and strict et
| forcement of the Chinese exclusion M
| and It's application to the same CLASSES
| all Asiatic races.
Jefferson said. Peace, commerce All
| honest, friendship with all nations @
tangling alliances with none"
We approve this wholesome dootrIr,
| and earnestly protest against the repue
| lican departure, which has involved US
| so.calcd world politics, including W|
| "A m nf Hnrnnn
| and land-grabbing OF Asia, and we esptI
| cIally condemn the ill-concealcd repubn
an alliance with England, which muN|
mean discrimination against other trlee|
| ly nations, and which has already stlhN|
| the nations voice, while liberty Is benz
| stiicd In Africa,
The BOer Republics.
Believing In the principles OF self.gg9r,
| ornmont ana rejecting, as did our fofelsI
| theirs the claim OF monarchy, we ylw
with Indignation the purpose OF Englann
| to ovorwholm with force the South AIT
| can republicans, Speaking as we belleN,
| for the entire American nation, except WI
| republican ofiicchodcrs, and for all ilu.
men everywhere, we extend our symps
| thics to the heroic burghers IN their w
| equal struggle to maintain their llpeV
and Independence.
Lavish Appropriations.
We dcnouncc the lavish appropratlon
| OF recent republican congresses, whn
| have kept taxes high and which threaNu.
| the pcrpetuation OF the oppressive va.
lcyies, We oppose the accumulation o.
| surplus to be squandcred In such pa'v
| faced frauds upon the Taxpayers as
| shipping subsidy bill, which, under w
| false protonso OF prosporng America
| shlpbuiding, would put unearnod mllog
into the pockets OF favorlte contrlbuSSn
| to the republican campaign fund
favor the reduction and speedy repeal
me war taxes and return to the ume
honored democratic policy OF strict eoVH
omy In governmental expenditures
Institutions In Peril.
| Believing that our most cherished ~
stitutions are In great peril that the WI
existence OF our constitutional ropupllc
ut stake and that the decision now 10
rendered Will determine whether or IJ
our children are to enjoy these plt@su
privileges Of FREQ government when naa
made the United States great prospery@s
ana honored, we earnestly ask for
foregoing declaration OF principles, wy
hearty support OF the lIberty-lovlng Am%
| lean people, regardless OF previous paw