The Leon reporter., 1900-09-20

! ism Of the masses.
Direct Legislation.
The platform indorses the princi-
pie OF direct legislation. This is al
ready appied to the more important
questions in nation, state and city. It
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
1T will be from misuse and abuse.
Labor Question.
Several planks of the labor plat
form are devoted to questions in which
the laboring classes have an immediate
interest, but which more remotely ef-
! feet our entire population. While what
is generally known as government by
] injunction Is at present directed chief
| ly against the employees Of corpora
| tions, when there is disagreement be-
tween them and their employer, it in
wolves principle which concerns
every one. The purpose Of the in
junction 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 injunction
is as necessary for the protection Of
the reputation Of the court, as it is for
the security OF the citizen. Blackstone
in defending trial by jury, says:
"The impartial administration of
justice. which secures both our persons,
and our properties is the great end Of
civil society. but II 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 integrity, 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 and
good of the many"
II the criminal laws are not sufficient
for the protection of property, they
can lie made more severe. but citi-
zen charged with crime must have his
case tried before jury Of his peers.
The Blacklist.
The blacklist as now employed in
some places enables the employer to
place the employe under practical,
duress, for the skilled laborer loses his|
independence when the employers can
not only discharge him. but prevent his
securing any similar employment.
The blacklist enables employers to Sc
cure, by mutual agreement, that con-
troll over the wage earners which
private monopoly exercises without
contract.
Arbitration.
The platform renews the demand
for arbitration between corporations
and their employees. No one who has
observed the friction which arises be-
tween great corporations and their
numerous employees can doubt the
wisdom of establishing an impartial
court for the just and equitable set
tlement of disputes. The demand for
arbitration ought to be. supported as
heartily by the public, which suffers
inconvenience because of strikes and
lockouts, 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 grow
ing practice Of calling in the army to
settle labor troubles.
Department of Labor
I cannot too strongly emphasize the
Importance of the platform recon-
mendation of the establishment of
department of labor, with member
OF the cabinet at its head. When we
remember how important position
the laborer fills in our economic. So
clal and political fabric, it is hard to
conceive of a valid objection being
made to this recognition of his serv-
ices. Agriculture is already represent
ed in the presidents official household;
tie army and navy have their repre-
sentatives there; the state department,
With its consular service, and the
treasury department, with its close
connection with fiscal affairs, keep the
executive 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
continuance and strict enforcement, as
well as its extension to other similar
races, are imperatively necessary. The
ASiatlc is so essentially different from
the American that he cannot be as
simulated with our population, and is,
therefore, not desirable as permanent
citizen. His presence as a temporary
laborer, preserving his national identi-
ty, and maintaining foreign scale Of
wages and living, must ever prove an
injustice to American producers, as
we'll as perpetual source of irrita.
ton.
Pensions
The party expresses its pride in the
soldiers and sailors of all our wars,
and declares it's purpose to deal gen.
erously with them and their depend
ents. A liberal policy is natural and
necessary in government which de-
pends upon citizen soldiery, instead
Of large standing army. Self-inter-
est, as well as gratitude, compels the
government to make bountiful pro-
vision for those who, in the hour OF