The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-10-13
Mr.. PEII|GREu' Sp)gTON
UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM
SOUTH DAKOTA HAs NOT
CHANGED VIEWS
PARTY CAPTURED BY TRUSTS
Its Course Now Directed by the PIu-
tOcracy Regardless of the In
terNsts of the Common
People

i
letter to DR.. C.fsss5J. Lavery.
Fort Pierre, 8. D., states his political
views as follows: 1 fenclose here-
with copies of the platforms
adopted at Sioux Tails and
Kansas City. They flute the new
Declaration of Independence. IT is upon
| these platforms that / am now running
for reelection to the United States SEN
ate. 1 have heen twice elected to the
senate from South Dakota, receiving tho
united support of the Republicans Of
The state, ami in both instances also of
very May of the Democrats and Popu-
lists.
1 am now candidate for reelection
upon these platforms which 1 enclose.
because 1 think they embrace the best
settlement OF the great principles in
yofved in the coming political contest
that I have seen I am not. therefore.
a candidate for reelection as !, Repub-
lican, for the reason that I believe this
contest is not one between political par
ties. but is a contest waged by those who
wish to preserve Republican institutions
in this country and prevent the republic
from becoming an aristocracy. It is a
battle between the man aid the dollar:
between concentrated wealth III the
hen6s of a few people and the great mass
Of the people who have Produced the
wealth but who are unable, owing to a
rerniCiouS system of transportation and
combination of capital to enjoy that
which they produce.
The Republican party has been captured
by the evil elements, by the great trans
portation companies, the great money
trusts, and the great com binations of
capital which have gained control of our
manufacturing industries. 1t is therefore
fnJ- b. {1,-fo1 Of I,o r
to perpetuate that legislation which has
produced the condition in regard to the
distribution of wealth in this country,
against which / protest.
I have not changed my Views upon
these great issues since / ceased to act
with the Republican party politically
My votes in the senate on all these ques-
tons have been the same during the past
four years as they were during the previ-
Gus seven years. If I had changed nv
position on these questions my enemies
would have ample proof of the fact in
the record CT the senate; but the votes
which I have recorded show that my
position has not been changed, but the
position Of tie Republican party has
changed completely-so much so that
when l offered an amendment 10 the last
Republican tariff BILL. refusing protec-
ton to articles controlled, by the trusts
unless they dissolved tie trusts, and al
! lowed free competition within our own
country, every Republican senator voted
against it and defeated the measure.
When the war revenue BILL to pay the
! expenses of carrying on the war with
Spain, was under consderat ton 1 offered
an amendment to tax the products of the
| trusts as a means Of raising revenue, or
compelling the dissolution of the trusts
and every Republican senator voted
against my amendment.
We offered an amendment to levy a
tax upon incomes to support our armies
in the contest with Spain, all the Repuh-
lican members of the senate voted against
it, and the bill was so framed as to Law
the entire burden Of taxation upon the
individual = upon consQmption--so that
the poor man would pay just as much as
the man of enormous wealth.
Against this unequal and unfair distri-
button of the burdens of taxation ] pro-
tested, on the ground that it tended to
the unequal distribution of wealth; and
that where the wealth of country was
once gathered into the hands of a few
men the manhood of the masses was de-
stroyed and the institutions OF our coun-
! try endangered! But the Republican
party, controlled by evil influences and
headed by Mark Hanna. persisted in their
policy, which has made it impossible for
l left the Republican party in 1896 for
the reason that 1 felt that that party
had left the side of the people in its
abandonment of bimetallism; but above
all, because Of the fact that 1t omitted
from its platform at st. Louis all allusion
whatever to the trusts. Since that time
its course has been more and more in
the direction Of plutocracy, more and
more in the direction of the government
OF the few to the disregard of the many
and their interests; and It has eliminated
III. an effort TO conquer people living in
the tropics, and to annex to this coun-
try territory that will never be organ
lied into states, and in the establishment
OF colonial policy In violation of the
constitution of the United States and of
the Declaration of Independence and OF
every theory Of government we have ad-
Vocated as a people
L believe that coloniol possession means
a standing army of great proportions,
and vast horde of officeholders serv-
ing a long distance from home, govern
ing an unwilling peoples which must re-
suit In constant conflict and end in the
curtaillnent Of the right to vote among
our people. and a suppression of all pro-
tests by the armed forces assembled and
equipped, in the first instance for the
purpose OF conquering these distant pos
sessions.
Under these circumstances, no matter
what may be the consequences TO me
personally, feel it my duty to do every
thlng In my power to overthrow at the
polis the dominion and control of the
republican party, and thus restore this
country in letter and spirit, back to
! the principles and doctrines of its found
ers' SO that it may continue to be an
example to all people who believe in the
doctrine of self-government, and that
governments derive their Just powers
from the consent of the governed