The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1900-09-20

Direct Legislation.
The platform indorSes the principle o
| direct legislation. This Is already appie'
| 10 ne noe important qut- ions - ia
| ton. state and city. II rests upon III,
| sound theory that the people can b.
| trusted. and that the more responsive th'
| the more free il will be from misuse anC
abuse
| Several planks of the labor platform
devoted to questions in which the
laboring classes have an immediate inter
est. out which more remotely affect oH7
entire population. While what is general
~ known government by injunction
Is at present directed chiefly against the
employees Of corporations. when there Is
d disagreement between them and their
employer, il involves principle which
concerns everyone. The purpose Of the in
junction in such cases Is to substitute tTiai
by judge for trial by jury, and Is a covert
blow at the jury system. The abolition
of government by Injunction Is as n"ces-
sary for the protection of the reputation
or the court 1t IS for the security OF
the citizen Blackstone in defending trial
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 intrusted 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 integ-
rity, will have frequently an involuntary
bias toward those OF their own rank and
dignity. 1t is not to be expected from
human nature that the few should be al
ways attentive to the interests and good
of the many"
If the criminal laws are not sufficient
for the protection of property, they can
charged with crime must have his case
tried before jury of his peers.
Arbitration.
The platform renews the demand for
arbitration between corporations and
their employees. No one who has observed
fri nm uTh iph ri hat
corporations and their numerous en-
ployes can doubt the wisdom of estab-
and equitable settlement of disputes. The
demand for arbitration ought to be sup
ported as heartily by the public, which
suffers Inconvenience because of strikes
and lockouts. and by the employers them
selves, as BY the employes, The estab-
lishment of arbitration will insure friend
~ relations between labor and capital,
and render obsolete the growing practice
of calling in the army to settle labor
troubles.
Department of Labor.
cannot too strongly emphasize the i'm
portance of the platform recommends ton
of the establishment of a department of
labor, with a member of the cabinet at
its head When we remember how i'm
portanCa position the laborer fills in our
economic. social and political fabric, it
being made to this recognition of his
services. Agriculture is already repre-
sented in the presidents official house
resentative there; the state department.
with its consular service and the treas
with fiscal affairs. keep the executive in
touch with the business and commercial
interests. A cabinet officer truly repre-
sentative of the wage earning class would
be of invaluable aid. not only to the
toilers. but to the president
Pensions.
The party expresses its pride in the SOL
diers and sailors of all our wars. and de
a. IN Agai DaT1 ,YSIt-
them and their dependents. A liberal
policy is natural and necessary in a gov
eminent which depends upon a citizen
soldiery. instead of large standing army
Self-tnterest, as well as gratitude. com
pels the government to make bountiful
provision for those who, in the hour of
danger. and at great sacrifice of business
health and lifs tender their services to
their country.
Nicaragua.
The democratic party is in favor of the
immediate construction. ownership and |
control OF the Nicaraguan canal by the
United States. The failure of the repub- |
lican party to make any progress in car
rying out pledge contained In its plat |
form four years ago together with the |
plank favoring an isthmian canal for a |
specific declaration in faVor of the Near |
aguan canal, would indicate that the re- |
publican leaders either do not appreciate |
the Importance of this great waterway |
to the maritime strength and CONNIE rciaI |
interests of the country, or that they give |
too much consideration to the interested |
opposition of transcOntinental lines The |
HAYS Pauncefote treaty. now before the
senate. would, If ratified. greatly lessen |
the value OF the canal. if it would not
indeed convert it into positive menace |
In time of war. The paramount interests
Of the United States in the western hem
sphere, together with the obligations to
defend the republics to the south of |
Us. make 1T necessary that our govern
ment shall be able to close the canal |
against any hostile power.
Cuba,
The recognition contained in both the
lemoeratic and republican platforms of
,emoVes the general principle involved |
rom the domain of partisan politics. 1t
5 proper, however. to consider whether
he accomplishment of this purpose can |
'e safely intrusted TO the republican par |
y after IT has yielded to the allurements
II the colonial idea. and abandoned its |
earlier faith in the natural and inalien-
lble rights of man.
Foreign Alliances
The reasons given by Washington. JEFF
erson and the other statesmen of the
We should maintain friendly relations
With all nations. but enter into entan-
T to-day than they We're a hundred years
go Our commerce Is rapidly increas |
ng. and we are brought into constant
COMMUNICATION with all parts OF the
world, Even If We desired to do So we {
ould not AFFORD to ALLEVIATE many nations
~ culuvaung unnecessary intimacy with |
few. Our strength and standing are
uch that it is less necessary than ever |
'etore to lean for aid upon the friendii- |
less OF foreign power.
Income Tax.
By tnadvertence the income tax plank |
greed upon 10y the resolutions coh1nit- |
ee, was omitted from the platform as ,
cad and adopted The subject. however | ,
covered by the reaff1rEnation of the
,hicago platform, and l take this occa- {
ION 10 reasSert my belief in the nrtn- | ,
iple which underlies the income tax
congress should have authority 10 lew | !
nd collect an income tax whenever nee | :
sSary, and an amendment To the federal !
institution specifically cunferring such {
ought to be supported BY ever ,
nose VINO may think the tax unnecessary | I
this time II the hour OF danger rms ! ,
oVernment can draft the citizen: il
ught to be able to draft the pockethook
s we'll. Unless money is more prcrious
han blood. We cannot afford TO give
reater protection to the incomes of the .
ch than 10 the lives OF the poor
imperialism. c
4S