The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-18

the selection of their representatives in
the Senate A Senator is no less the
representative of the State because he
receives his commission from the peo-
pie themselves, rather than from the
members of the State legislature. Ii a
voter is competent to vote for member
of Congress- fer State officers and for
President, he is competent to choose his
representative in the Senate. system
which makes the Senator responsible Tor
his election to the people, as a whole
and amenable to them if he m1srepfe-
sents them, must commend itself to those
who have confidence in the intelligence,
and patriotism of the masses.
DIRECT LEGISLATION.
The platform Endorses the principle of
direct legislation. This is already APP
piled to the more important questions in
nation, State and city. 1t rests upon
the sound theory that the people can be
trusted, and that the more responsive
the government is to the will of the
people, the more free it will be from
misuse and abuse.
LABOR QUESTION.
Several planks of the labor platform
are devoted to questions in which the
laboring classes have an immediate inter-
est, but which more remotely effect our
entire population. While what is gen.
orally known as government by injunc-
tion is at present directed chiefly against
the employees of corporations, when there
is a disagreement between them and
their, employer it involves principle
which concerns every one. The purpose
of the injunction in such cases is to
substitute trial by judge for trial by jury
and is a covert blow at the jury system.
The abolition of government by injunc7
tion is as necessary for the protection
of the reputation of the court as 1t is
for the security of the citizen. Black
stone in defining trial by jury, says:
1.-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 entrusted 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
always attentive to the interests GGd
good of the many
If the criminal laws are not sufficient
for the protection of property, they can
be made more severe, but a citizen
charged with crime must have his case
tried before a jury of his peers.
THE BLACKLIST.
The blacklist as now employed in some
places enables the employer to place
the employee under practical duresS, for
the skilled laborer loses his independence
when the employers can not only dis
charge him, but prevent his securing
any similar employment The blacklist
enables employers to secure, by mutual
agreement that control over the wage
earners which a private monopoly eXer-
cises without contract.
ARBITRATION.
The platform renews the demand for
arbitration between corporations and
their employees. No one who has observ-
ed the friction which arises between
great corporations and their numerous
employers can doubt the wisdom of es-
tablshing an impartial court for the just
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 lcckouts, and by the employers them
| selves, as by the employees. The estab-
| lishment of arbitration will insure
friendly relations between labor and
capital, and render obsolete the growing
practice of calling in the army to settle
| labor troubles.
DEPARTMENT. OF LABOR.
| 1 cannot too strongly emphasize the inn
| portance of the platform recommendation
| OF the establishment of a department of
labor. with member of the Cabinet at
/ it's head. When we remember how i'm
| portant p position the loborer fills in
| our economic, social and political fabric
| it is hard to conceive of a valid objection
| being made to this recognition of his
| services. Agriculture is already repre-
scented IN the Presidents official house
| hold the army and navy have their
| representatives there; the State Depart
mcnt with it's consular service. and the
Treasury Department, with its close con-
| neetion with fiscal affairs keep the exc
cutive In touch with the business and
commercial interests. A Cabinet officer
| truly representative of the wage earning
class would be of Invaluable aid, not only
to the toilers. but to the President.
CHINESE EXCLUSION.
The Chinese exclusion act has proven
an advantage to the country, and its con-
| tinuaace and strict enforcement, as we'll
as its extension to other similar races,
are imperatively necessary. The Asiatc
| is so essentially different from the Ameri-
can that he cannot be assimilated with
our population, and is, therefore, not de-
sirabe as q permanent citizen. His
presence as a temporary laborer, preserv-
| ing his national identity, and maintaining
| foreign scale of wages and living, must
| ever prove an injustice to American pro-
ducers, as we'll as perpetual source of
| irritation.
PENSIONS.
The party expresses its pride in the
soldiers and sailors of all our wars. and
declares it's purpose to deal generously
with them and their dependents. lib
eral policy is natural and necessary in
government which depends upon citizeA
soldiery instead of a large standing
army Self-interest, as well as gratitude,
compels the Government to make bounti-
full provision for those who. in the hour
of danger, and at great sacrifice of bust