Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-08-09

PAoo INV III SiiS u Oeioul
should remain in the pockets of the
people. To this end the democratic
party demands reduction of war
taxes to the actual needs of the gov
eminent, and return to the policy of
strict economy in all governmental
expenditures.
In apt words the Dingley tariff law
is condemned. 1t is tersely character
lied as legislation skillfully devised in
th. interest of class, and to impose
upon the many, burdens which they
should not bear. Adhering to the time
honored doctrine of the democratic
party, we oppose all tariff
Legislation the necessary cousa.
puense of. which, is at the expense Of
tho consumer, to secure unjust adj
vantage to the favored few. Exper.
fence has demonstrated that unjust
tariff laws have deprived the gov
eminent of needed revenue, secured
to favored beneficiaries colossal for
tunes, and largely increased to the
people the cost of the necessaries of
life. The baleful, but logical result
of the tariff law condemned by our
platform is seen in the sudden
growth of giant monopolies, combi-
nations in retraint of lawful trade,
| and TRUSTS" more threatening than
foreign foe to the existence of popular
government. Believing that wherever
there is wrong, there must be a
remedy" the democratic party will
favor such legislation as will curb the
spirit of monopoly, and place an eff
| fective barrier against the unlawful
combinations of capital which now
prove an insuperable obstacle TO ie-
! Ultimate enterprise and investment.
The deadly power of the trusts is felt
| in all channels of trade. This is but
the beginning. Is it too much to say
| that unless restrained by wholesome
laws, wisely and efficiently admins
tered, the danger becomes appalling?
Fostered by the Dingley tariff law, the
| trusts, during the present republican
administration, have enormously in
creased in number and in power. A
determined effort for their suppress
sion must now be made. Delay would
still further endanger every lawful
business interest of the country. The
! imperative necessity for remedy
being conceded, the question arises:
Into whose hands shall be committed
the work of formulating laws looking
to the suppression of Trusts? To
whom shall be intrusted the execution
OF such laws? Shall it be to the vic
TINS or to the beneficiaries of the
overshadowing evil? If to the latter,
then further lease of power to the
present administration is all that is
needed. Can any sane man believe
that. the Trust evil is one that will
cure itself, or that it's destruction will
be comprised by those to whom it has
brought princely fortunes? If so, let
him point to a single honest attempt
of republican officials to enforce the
| law now upon our statute books
against the most stupendous CONNER
| cial evil known to any period of our
| history. The democratic party stands
pledged to- an unceasing warfare
against private monopoly in every
form. 1t demands. the enforcement Of
| existing laws against Trusts, and the
enactment of laws yet more stringent.
/ 1t wisely demands publicity as TO the
| affairs of corporations engaged in in
\ er-statencommerce. AS one. means to
thesimportant end Of curtailing the
power of Trusts we favor such
amendments to our tariff laws as
| will2place the products of trusts upon
the free list and thereby prevent mo-
nopoly under the plea of protection.
During almost four years of absolute
republican control of all departments
of the government, the trust evil has
grown to its present overshadowing
proportions. What finger has been
lifted for, its suppression? With it's
| friends again entrenched in power,
what hope is held out for the fu-
tue?
At this hour, l can but allude in
brief words to other needed reforms,
to which the attention of the country
| is called by the democratic platform.
Prominent among these is such en-
largement of the scope of the inter-
state commerce law as will protect
the public from unjust transportation
| laws.
Our platform favors the creation of
a department Of labor, whose chief Of
! ficers shall take rank with other con-
stitutional advisers of the president.
This is in the interest of justice, and
will prove an important step looking
to the proper recognition and encour-
agement of the producers of wealth.
In explicit terms it favors liberal
| pensions W our SOlQlSrS anu sailors
and to those dependent upon them.
With equal justice it reiterates the
demands of former democratic plat
form for bimetallism; the restoration
of silver to it's proper function in our
monetary system.
For the protection of the home la
borer it demands the enforcement of
the Chinese exclusion act.
And in the interest of an enlarged
commerce it favors the immediate
construction of the Nicaraguan canal.
This, however, with the provision that
it shall remain forever under the ex-
elusive ownership and control of the
United States. The pending Hay
Pauncefote treaty is condemned as a
surrender Of American rights, not to
be tolerated by the American people.
In the construction and control of
this great work, there can be no con-
| cession of right to any European pow
err Commercial interest, and nation
al safety in time of war, alike demand
it's permanent ownership by our gov
eminent.
A question is yet to be discussed, to
which all of these are of secondary i'm