The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-09-18
ADVOCATES A LIBERAL PENSION POLICY.
Fact of Enlistment Should Be Sufficient Evidence of App-
cants Condition at Enlistment
Makes Direct Reply Mckinley on the Subject of the
Philippines.

Hon. James D. Richardson, Chairman,
and Others of the Notification Com
mittee of the Democratic National
Convention:
Gentlemen:-In accepting the nominal
ton rendered by you on behalf of the
Democratic party, beg to assure you Of
my appreciation of the great honor con-
ferred upon me by the delegates in con-
vention assembled. and by the voters
who gave instruction TO the delegates
am sensible OF the respOnsib ilities
which rest upon the chief magistrate of
so great a nation. and realize the far
reaching effect Of the questions involved
In the present contest
In my letter of acceptance of 1896, 1
made the following pledge:
SO deeply am impressed with the
magnitude Of the power vested by the
Constitution in the chief executive of
the nation and with the enormous in
nuence which he can yield for the ben
eft or injury of the people, that 1 wish
to enter the Office, if elected, free from
any personal desire except the
desire to prove worthy of the
man judgment is fallible enough when
unbiased by selfish considerations, and,
in order that I may not be tempted to
use the patronage of the Office to advance
any perOnal ambition, I hereby an
nounce, with all the emphasis which
words can express, my fixed determine
ton not, under any circumstances, to be
a candidate for reelection, in case this
campaign results in my election
Further reflection and observation
conStrain me to renew this pledge
The platform adopted at Kansas City
commands my cordial and unqualified
approval It courageously meets the is
sues now before the country, and states
clearly and without ambiguity the
party's position on every question con-
sidered- Adopted by a convention which
assembled on the anniversary of the
signing of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence, il breathes the spirit of candor,
independence and patriotism which
characterizss those who, at Philadelphia
in 1875, promulgated the creed of the re-
public
Having in my notification speech, dis
cussed somewhat at length the para
mount issue, imperialism, and added
some observations on militarism and the
Boer war, it is sufficient at this time to
review the remaining planks of the plat
form
TRUSTS.
The platform very properly gives
prominence to the trust question The
appalling growth of combinations in
restraint of trade during the present ad-
Inlnlstration, proves -conclusively that
the Republican party lacks either the
desire or the ability to deal with the
question effectively If as may be fair
y assumed from the speeches and con-
duct Of the Republican leaders that
party does not intend to take the peo-
PIES SIDE against these organizations,
then the weak and qualified condemna-
Iion OF trusts to be found in the Repub-
lean platform is designed to distract
attention while Industrial despotism is
completing its work A private rnonop-
oily has always been an outlaw No de-
Tense can be made Of an industrial sys-
tenn in which one. or a few men can
control for their own profit the output
or price Of any article of merchandise.
Under such a system the consumer suf-
fers extortion. the producer of raw ma
ter1al has but one purchaser, and must
sell at the arbitrary price fixed the
labOrer has but one employer. and is
powerless to protest against injustice,
either in wages or in conditions of labor:
the small stockholder is at the mercy
OF the speculator, while the travelling
salesman contributes his salary to the
Overgrown profits of the trust Since but
a small proportion of the people can
share in the advantages secured by
private monopoly. it follows that the
remainder of the people are not only
excluded from the benefits. but are the
helpless victims Of every monopoly or
gained 1t is difficult to overestimate
the immediate injustice that may be
done, or TO calculate the ultimate effect
OF this injustice upon the social and
political welfare OF the people. Our
platform, after suggesting certain specf-
f7c remedies; pledges the party to an IN
ceasing warfare against private nonop-
oily in nation, state and city. / heartily
approve of this promise: If elected it
shall be my earnest and constant en-
6eavor to fulfill the promise in letter and