The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-09-22


issued and controlled in volume by the Govern
ment and a national bank note currency issued by
banks and controlled in their interests. If the
national bank notes to be secured by bonds the
currency system now supported by the Republican
party involves permanent and increasing debt,
and, SO long this system stands, the financial
classes will be tempted to throw their powerful in
fuence upon the side of any measure which will
contribute to the size and permareney of ma
tional debt. 1t is hardly conceivable thit the
American people will deliberately turn from the
btpaying policy of the past TO the dangerous
doctrine of perpetual bonds.
ELECTION OF SENATORS BY THE PEOPLE.
''1 he demand for constitutional amendment
providing for the election of Senators by direct vote
of the peobe appears for the first time in Demo-
cratic national platform. buta resolution proposing
such an amendment has three times passed the |
House of Representatives, and that, too practically
without opposition.
"whatever may have been the reasons which Sc |
cured the adoption of the present plan century |
ago. new conditions have made it imperative that |
the pcope be permitted to speak directly in the Sc
lection OF their representatives in the senate. A |
Senator less the representative of the state be-
cause he receives his commission from the people
themselves rather than from the members of the
State Legislature. II voter is competent TO vote
for a member of Congress, for state officers and for
President. he lS competent 10 ctoSr MS tRtesSht
tive in the Senate. A system which makes the Sen
ator.responsible for his election to the people RS
whole and amenable TO them If he misrepresents
them must commend itself to those who have con-
fidence in the intelligence and patriotism OF the
masses.
'eThe platform indorses the principle of direct
legislation This is already applied to the more
important questions in ration, State and city II
rests upon the sound theory that the people can be
.tNgftr tt,af orr
ment is TO the viii of the people the more free it
will be from misuse and abuse.
GOVERNMENT INJUNCTION.
several planks of the platform.are devoted to
questions in which the laboring classes have an i'm
| mediate interest but which more remotely affect
| our entire population While what is generally
| known as government by injunction isat present
directed chief against the employees ofcorporatioas
| when there is disagreement between them and
| their employers it involves principle which con-
| Germs everyone The purpose of the injunction in
such cases substitute trial by judge for trial by
| jury and is covert blow at the jury system. The
abolition of government by injunction is as neces-
| sary for the protection of the reputation of the
court it is for the security of the ctiz Black
stone, in defending trail by jury, says
1.-The impartial administration of justice, which
secures both our persons and our properties. IS the
great end of civil society but If that be inLrnsted
entirely to the magistracy. select body of men,
and those selected by the Prince, such enjoy the
of their natural integrity will have frequently
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.
IF the criminal laws are not sufficient for the
protection of property they can be made more Sc
vere but citizen charged with crime must have
his case tried before jury of his peers.
''The blacklist now employed in some places
| enables the employer to place the employe under
practical duress, for the skilled aborer loses his
independence when the employers cannot ly dis
charge him, but prevent his securing any similar
employment. The blacklist enables employers to
secure by mutual agreement that control over the
| wage-earners which "A private monopoly exercises
| without contract.
ARBITRATION IN LABOR DISPUTES.
"The platform reuews the demand for arbitration
between corporations and their employees No one
who has observed the friction which arises between
| great corporations and their numerous employees
can doubt the wisdom of establishing an impartial
court for the just and equitable settlement of dis
putes. 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 themselves as by the employees.
.'The establishment of arbitration will insure
| friendly relations between labor and capital and
render obsolete the growing practice of calling in
the army to settle labor troubles.
FOR DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
81 cannot too strongly emphasize the importance
of the platform recommendation of the establish
ment of a Department of Labor, with a member of
| the Cabinet at its head. When We remem ber how
important position the laborer fills in our eeono-
mic socal and political fabric it is hard to conceive
of valid objection being made to this recognition
of his services Agriculture is already represented
L in off hansnhod the ARMY and
Navy have their representatives there, the State
Department, with its consular service, and the
Treasury Department, with its close connection
with fiscal affairs, keep the Executive i'll louch
with the business and commercial interests
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 ad
vantage to the country and its continuance and
strict enforcement well its extension to other
similar races, are imperatively necessary. The
Asiatic is so essentially different from the American
that he cinnot be assimilated with population.
and is therefore, not desirable as a permanent
citizen. His presence as temporary laborer, pre-
serving his national identity and maintaining |
foreign scale of wages and living, must prove
an injustice 10 American producers, as well as a
perpetual source of irritation.
PENSIONS To SOLDIERS.
1.-The party expresses its pride in the soldiers |
and sailors of all wars, and declares its purpose
to deal generously with them and their dependents
A liberal policy is natural and necessary in Gov |
ernment which depends upon citizen sodery in |
stead of large standing army. selfinterest, as
well as gratitude compes the Government to make |
bountiful provision for those who. in the hour of
danger, and at great sacrifc of business health |
and life, tender their services to their country.
"The pension laws should be construed accord |
ing 10 the generous spirit which prompted their |
passage. The platform very properly reitentes the
position taken in 1896, that the fact of enlistment
shall be deemed conclusive evidence that the SOL
dier was sound when the Government accepted |
him. A certificate given now TO the health of a |
person 10 years ago, If obtainable, should not
have as much weight as the certificate of the medi-
cal officer who examined the volunteer with view |
of fascertaning his fitness for army service.
NICARAGUA CANAL.
"The Democratic party is in favor of the inn
mediate construction. ownership and control |
of the Nicaraguan canal by the United States. |
The failure of the Republican party to make |
any progress in carrying out pledge con-
taned in its platform four years ago together with
the substitution in its latest platform of plank |
favoring an isthmian canal for specific decara-
ton in favor of the Nicaraguan canal. would indi-
that the Republican leaders either do not ap-
preciate the importance of this great waterway to
the maritime strength and commercial interests of |
the country, that they give too much considers-
ton the interested opposition OF tanscontinental
lines
"The Hay-Pauncefote treaty, now before the |
Senate, would, if ratified. greatly lessen the value
OF the canai If it would indeed convert 1t into
a positive menace in time of war The paramount |
interests of the United States in the Western Hemi
sphere, together with the obligations to defend the
republics to the south of makes it necessary that
against any hostile power.
TERRITORIES FOR STATEHOOD.
ARIZONA, New Mexico and Oklahoma have long
been ready to assume the responsibilities and enjoy
the privileges of statehood and it will be pleas