The Van Buren press., 1900-07-14

eDrated, and the Dlue ana the gray
have become forever blended in the
red, white and blue,
4. We endorse and ratify the plat
form of principles promulgated at
Philadelphia in June last, by the re-
publican party of America, and the
nomination of William Mckinley and
Theodore Roosevelt for president
and vice president of the United
States.
5, We favor railroads, the prolific
mother Of all forms Of state develop
ment; manufactures, the greatest
source of wealth to state, with
which Arkansas would at once leap
to very high position in the galaxy
of states; the improvement of high
ways, enabling the farmer to trans
port to market the product of his
farm at greatly reduced expense; the
encouragement of capital to invest
in our zinc and other mines; high
degree of efficiency for our public
school system, the main hope of the
state, and especially of the child Of
the poor man, and such generous
maintenance of the University of Ar
kansas as shall place it on n plane
with the best institutions in the
land.
8. Our state should have a reform
school, where children who have
taken the first steps in crime may be
rescued from the contagious fellow
ship of hardened criminals and re-
stored to virtuous life.
7. The extension of southern agri-
culture and the opening of new mar
kets for southern products should in
spire the earnest efforts of southern
men. To this end we favor the early
construction of the Nicaragua canal,
to be owned, controlled and protected
by our government; we welcome the
open door in China as one of the
greatest benefits which the present
administration has conferred, and
consider that its advantages will be
chiefly enjoyed by the people of the
south.
8. As there is no middle ground
between the decision of human con-
troversies by the law and by the
sword, we stand by the courts, and
are of the opinion that an independ-
ent judiciary, as incorruptible as it
is fearless. is the main prop OF the
state. In any community demorali-
zation keeps equal step with con-
tempt for the courts.
0. We demand that the courts
alone shall punish crime. None but
these tribunals are fitted to investi-
gate charges, detect guilt and rescue
innocence; while mobs are aggrega-
tions of law-breakers, and lynching
is simple savagery.
10. The state house. more than
sixty years old, is an eiIete relic Of a
by-gone age, and is in every way in
convenient, unsanitary, antiquated
and unworthy of the Arkansas of the
new century, We approve the action
of the state legislature and the pres
ent governor in wisely laying the
foundation for n splendid new cnpi-
tol. We favor its completion through
the appropriation of the proceeds of
forfeited lands, and such other
means as shall be least burdensome
to the people.
II. We oppose convict labor when
brought into competition. with the
labor Of honest freemen In such a
manner as to lessen the demand for
such labor or so as to curtail Its
reward.
49, The constitution OF the state
should be so amended as TO permit,
under safe restrictions, cities and in
corporated towns TO borrow money
for the exclusive purposes of improv-
ing streets, securing sewers, water,
light and such like necessities. The
burden of costly public improve
ments, Of which many generations
will enjoy the benefit, ssould not be
wholly borne by the present one
10. We favor the determination OF
all questions that may arise between
employers and employees by u system
of impartial arbitration to be pro-
vided by law and TO be compulsory,
believing that by such a policy the
just rights OF the employed will be
best subscryed.
Il. We dcnouncc the practice Of
constituting the charitable and cdu.
catonal boards Of the state on u
strictly partisan basis, and demand
that both parties shall be represent
cd thereon.
IS. As the holding OF the state and
national elections In this state at diff.
ferent dates entails additional cost to
the state and unnecessary expense
and annoyance TO the voters, sub
serves no useful purpose, and Is not
required where fair elections nre In
tended, we rcitcratc our demand for
the consolidation OF the elections.
10. We are unalterably opposed to
every form OF trust, monopoly or
combination contrlycd 70 stiAe conf
petition, raise prices, corner markets
or IN any way TO interfere with the
legitimate operation Of trade and
commerce. and we nrc also opposed
VO UNIV NuI'NN VI N'HlNR'kN Nh''"
schemes 20 life itself into high places
by fcigning hostility TO trusts, while
refusing TO employ ready means TO
restrain them by coarse abuse of the
courts, and by affected sollcitude for
the people
II. We recommend that the state
ticket shall consist solely of the NOM
inec for governor.
IS. Therefore all men who favor
the Advancement Of the true interests,
rather than the gross flattery OF the
people, and who have respect for the
respectable courts OF the land; who
favor law, order, enterprise and en-
lightenment and the development OF
the the great material resources Of
the state, nrc, without regard TO
party affiliations, cordially invited to
cooperate with us IN the support Of
the nominee Of this convention.