The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-18

must commend itself 20 those who have
confidence in the intelligence, and patriot
Ism OF the masses.
1.-The. platform indorses the principle of
direct legislation. This Is already applied
Ia the more important questions In nation.
state and city. IL rests upon the sound
theory that the peopse can be trusted, and
that the more responsive the government
Is TO the viii of the people,, the more free
II Will be from misuse and abuse.
THE LABOR QUESTION.
Several planks of the labor platform are
devoted to questions In which the laboring
classes have an immediate interest. but
which more remotely affect our entire pop
ulation. While what is generally known
as government by injunction is at present
directed chiefly against the employees Of
corporations. when there is a disagreement
between them and their employer. it in
wolves a principle which concerns every
one. The purpose Of the injunction 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 pro-
lection Of the reputation OF the court as
IL Is for the security of the citizen. Black
stone. in defending trial by jury. says:
The impartial administration Of jus
tice, which secures both our persons and
our properties is the great end of civil So
ciety. but IL that be intrusted entirely 10
the magistracy, a select bOdy OF men, and
those selected by the primes such as enjoy
cisions I'm spite OF their natural integrity,
will have frequently an involuntary bias
toward those of their own rank and dig
nifty. 1t is not to be expected from human
nature that the few should be always at
tentive to the interests and good of the
many
s.To 49,
for the protection of property. they can
be made more severe, but a citizen charged
with crime must have his case tried before
a jury OF his peers.
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 cannot only discharge him,
but prevent his securing any similar en-
ployment. The blacklist enables employers
to secure. by mutual agreement, that con-
troll over the wage-earners which a private
monopoly exercises without contract.
THE platform renews the demand for ar
bitration between corporations and their
employees. No one who has observed the
friction which arises between great cor
porations and their numerous employees can
doubt the wisdom of establishing an i'm
partial court for the just and equitable
settlement Of disputes. The demand for
arbitration ought TO be supported as heart
lily by, the public, which suffers inconven,
@sN0 (o1 ia OAAA OShOON1 '&a%
by the employers themselves, as by the en-
ployes. The establishment 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.
II cannot too strongly emphasize the i'm
portance of the platform recommendation
of the establishment of a department Of
Labor uy;tH m -,o,1Ho- 80 tbo Cokf,ot NJ ftc
head. When we remember how important
a position the laborer fills in our economic.
social and political fabric. it is hard to
conceive of a valid objection being made
to this recognition of his services. Agri-
culture is already represented in the Presi-
dents Official household; the army and
navy lave their representatives there; the
State Department, with its consular serv-
ice. 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.
THE Chinese exclusion act has proven an
advantage to the country, and its continue
ance and strict enforcement, as we'll as its
extension to other similar races, are i'm
peratively necessary. The Asiatic Is so es-
Sentially different from the American tndt
he cannot be assimilated with our popula-
ton. and Is, therefore. not desirable as a
permanent citizen. His presence as a tenn
porary laborer, preserving his national
identity and maintaining a foreign scale of
wages and living, must ever prove an IN
justice to American producers, as well as
a perpetual source of irritation.
1.-The party expresses its pride in the SOL
diers and sailors of all our wars. and de-
clareS its purpose TO deal generously with
them and their dependents. A liberal pol
icy is natural and necessary in a govern
ment which depends upon a citizen soldiery.
instead of a large standing army. Self-in-
terest, as well as gratitude, compels the
government to make bountiful provision for
those who, in the hour of danger and at
great sacrifice of business, health and life,
tender their services to their country. The
pension laws should be construed accord
ing to the generous spirit which prompted
their passage. The platform very properly
reiterates the position taken in 1896, that
the fact of enlistment shall be deemed con-
elusive evidence that the soldier was sound
when the government accepted him. A
certificate given now to the health OF a
person forty years ago, even IL easily OBJ
tainable, should not nave as much weight
as the certificate of the medical officer who
examined the volunteer with a view of as
certaining his fitness for army service.
THE NICARAGUA CANAL.
1.-The Democratic party is in favor Of
the immediate construction, ownership and
control of the Nicaragua ANAL by the