The leader., 1900-07-11


Corporations should be protected in all
their rights and their legitimate interests
should be respected: but any attempt ny
corporations to interfere with the p1uno
affairs of the people, or TO conro, tn5 ~ ~,
ereirnty which creates them snoulG o.
forbidden under such penalties as VIII
make such attempts Impossible:
We condemn the Dingley tarin law AS as
a trust-breeding measure skilliuly ue
yised to give the few favors which tney
do not deserve and to place upon tne
many burdens which they shoulu no,
of the scope of the interstate commeree
law as will enable the commission 70
protect individuals and COMMUNITIES 70
discrimination and the pubic from uh-
lust and unfair transportation rates.
The Financial Plank
We reafirm and indorse the principles
OF the national democratic platform adop-
Al at Chicago in 1896, and we reiteratc the
demand of that platform for an American
financial system made by the American
people for themselves, which shali re.
level. and as part OF such system, the res
toration of the free and unlimited colhase
of silver and gold at the present legai IA Ia,
tito Of l6 to l. without wa1s aiien ior '"e anu
National Bank Currency.
We denounce the currency bill enacted
at the last session of congress as step
forward in the republican policy wnicL
aims to discredit the sovereign right ~
money, whatever, coin or paper, and 10 De-
stow upon national banks the power 10
issue and control the volume OF paper
money for their own benefit. permanent
national bank currency. secured by gov
eminent bonds must have permanent
debt to rest upon. and If the bank curren-
cy Is to increase with population ana pusi-
ness the debt must also increase.
The republican currency schemo rs
therefore a scheme for fastening upon the
taxpayers a perpetual and growing dtpt
for the benefit of the banks. We are OPP
posed to this private corporation paper
circulated as money, but without Iegai
ment of the national bank notes as fast as
government paper or silver certificates
can be substituted for them.
We favor an amendment to the federal
constitution providing for the election OF
United States senators by direct vote OF
the people, and we favor direct legislation
wherever practicable.
In Behalf of Labor.
We are opposed to government by in
junction; we denounce the black Ist ana
favor arbitration as n means OF setting
disputes between corporations ana their
employees.
the upbuilding of the workingman as a
cornerstone of the prosperity of our coun-
try, we recommend that congress create
a department of labor, In charge OF
secretary, with seat in the cbainet, pc
lieving that the elevation of the American
laborer will bring with 1t increased pro-
country at home and to our commerce
abroad
American soldiers and sailors in all our
wars; we favor liberal pensions to them
| and their dependents, and we reiteTate
the postion taken In the Chicago plat
and service shall be deemed conclusive
evidence against disease and disability be-
| fore enlistement.
The Nicaragua Canal.
We favor the immediate construction,
ownership and control of the Nicaraguan
canal by the United States and we de-
| nounce the insincerity of the plank in
| the republican national platform Tor an
sthmian canal in the face of the failure
of the republican majority to pass the
bill pending in congress.
| We condemn the -Pauncefote treaty
as n surrender of American rights and
| interests, not to be tolerated by the
American people.
Territories and Statehood.
We denounce the failure of the repub-
| lican party to carry out its pledges to
grant statehood to the territories of Ari-
| IONA, New Mexico and Oklahoma, and we
promise the people of those territories the
statehood and home rule during their con-
ditions as territories and we afvor home
| rule and territorial form of government
| for Alaska and Porto Rico.
We favor an intelligent system of i'm
proving the arid lands of the west, stor-
| ing the waters for purposes of irrigation
| and the holding of such lands for actual
settlers
We favor the continuance and strict en-
| forcement of the Chinese exclusion law
| and its application to the same classes of
| all Asiatic races.
Jefferson said: Peace, commerce and
| honest. friendship with all nations; en-
| tangling alliances with none"
We approve this wholesome doctrine,
and earnestly protest against the repub-
| lican departure, which has involved US in
| so-called world politics, including the
| diplomacy of Europe and the intrigue
and land-grabbing of Asia, and we espe-
| cially condemn the ill-concealed republic.
| an alliance with England, which must
| mean discrimination against other friend
| ly nations, and which has already stified
| the nations voice, while liberty is being
| stifed in Africa.
| The Boer Republics.
| Believing in the principles of seif-gov-
| eminent and rejecting, as did our forefa-
| theirs the claim of monarchy, we view
with indignation the purpose of England
| can republicans. Speaking, as we believe,
| for the entire American nation, except the
republican officeholders. and for all free
| men everywhere, we extend our sympa-
| thies to the heroic burghers in their I'M
| equal struggle to maintain their liberty
| and Independence.
| Lavish Appropriations.
| We denounce the lavish appropriations
| have kept taxes high and which threaten
| the perpetuation of the oppressive war
| levies. We oppose the accumulation of a
| surplus to be squandered in such bare
| faced frauds upon the taxpayers as the
| shipping subsidy bill, which, under the
| false pretense of prospecting American
| shipbuilding, would put unearned millions
| into the pockets of favorite contributors
| to the republican campaign fund. We
| favor the reduction and speedy repeal OF
lne war taxes and return to the time
honored democratic policy of strict econ
| omy in governmental expenditures.
| Institutions in Peril.
| Relieving that our most cherished in
| situations are in great peril, that the very
| existence of our constitutional republic Is
| at stake and that the decision now to be
| rendered will determine whether or not
our children are to enjoy these blessed
privileges of free government which have
made the United States great, prosperous
and honored, we earnestly ask for the
foregoing declaration of principles, the
hearty support of the liberty-loving Amer.
| lean people, regardless of previous party
| affilia tons.