Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1900-08-02

siShes iuhhiuS VI tuIcC ecpdi dtC dut
distinct platforms. Two Of these
platforms, the Populist and Demo
cratic, deserve some attention. The
third, called the Silver Republican
is oil no moment whatever. II wa.
the product of half dozen sorehead'
ed politicians meeting in hotel bed
room, and no stretch OF the imagina.
ton will conceive it TO be represents
tive Of anything else.
After indorsing the Kansas City
platform, the Kansas Democratic
platform puts forth as its paramount
state issue a law to regulate railways.
In a general way this plank differs in
no manner from a similar one in the
Republican state platform. Both
call for tribunal with power to ad.
Just the difference between the rail-
roads and their patrons, Both con-
denim the Populist tribunal known as
the "ccurt Of visitation" though the
Democrat platform goes further and
condemns all previous railroad legis-
lation, including the Click measure
which hitherto has been a source Of
Democratic pride. As matter Of
fact, then, the ticket nominated, at
least insofar IS it may be considered
representative OF the Democratic par
ty, stands for the same character OF
railroad legislation as that represent
ed in the Republican ticket, and there
is no real issue between the two
parties.
But in the Populist platform we
find flat contradiction Of this Demo-
cratic policy. 1t declares that the
people have nothing to hope for from
any railroad law that may be placed
upon the statute book. 1t repudiates
not only the Legislation that it has at.
in the past, but frankly ad-
mits that it can offer no effective leg
islation in the future. 1t looks, it
says, for no "relief except in govern
ment ownership Of railroads.
The Democrats OF Kansas do not
believe in government ownership Of
railroads or Of any other industries.
We may note a tone to this effect all
through their platform. They de-
mand that all the trusts shall be des-
troyed, and that all business shall be
open to competition. With respect
to the Kansas oil fields, their plat
form demands that the Standard Oil
shall be prevented from
sitting private competition. On the
other hand, the Populist platform de-
mands that the Kansas oil fields shall
be made state monopoly, along with
the insurance business, stock yards,
and other quasi-public enterprises.
In principle no two utterances could
be further apart than these Demo-
cratic and Populist platforms. One
stands for the rights Of the individ-
aal; the other is purely socialistic in
It's character.
1t is plain enough that a state ad-
cannot stand for diamet-
really opposite principles and policies
1t one and the same time. Then
what will this fusion ticket running
IN contradictory platforms stand for
n event OF its electionp 1t is pledged
10 socialistic doctrines In one plat
orm and anti-socialistic doctrines in
mother. In one Of its attitudes be.
ore the people it declares that whole
'ome and effective railroad legislation
nay be enacted into law. In another
t coolly declares that such legislation,
s hopeless. No candidate for office
IAN successfully defend both Of these
declarations at the same time. The
most superficial comparison Of these
platforms shows that they are
nockery and a fraud in one direction
n the other. Mr.. Breidenthal, the
candidate for governor, we know to
,e almost a fanatic in the direction Of
ocialism. We have before us an ar
icle over his own signature in which
le argues for the extreme socialistic
tate. He says he believes in the
'ublic ownership Of all the means of
reduction and distribution, which
means the public ownership of almost
verything. Yet he is introduced to
he people Of Kansas by the Demo-
ratio platform as one who does not
'elieve in these things at all. He is
,ledped bv this platform to oppose