Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-07-13

SSoi 10 Ills countryS DeSt defender.
The native guard of the United States
should ever be cherished in the patriOtic
hearts OF free people. Such orpaniza-
d TONS are ever an element of strength and
safety. For the first time in our history
and eoevil with the Philippine contest,
| from our ime-hohored and anDroved
system of volunteer organization. We
uenounce 1t AS un American undemo
cratic and unrepubiican and as a suhyer.
SION OF ancient and fixed principles of a
free people.
The Trust Evil.
Private monopolies are indefensible
and intolerable. They destroy competi-
ton, control the price of alt materials
AND finished product, thus robbing both
producers and consumers. They lessen
the employment of labor and arbitrarily
III the terms and conditions thereof and
deprive individual energy and small cap
ital of their opportunity for betIerment
They are the most efficient means vet de-
vISed Tor apprOpriating the fruits of in
dustry to the benefit of the few at the ex-
pense OF the many, and unless their in
satlate greed Is checked al wealth will be
aggregated In a few hands and the Re-
public destroyed. The dishonest palter-
ing with the trust evil by the Republican
party IN State and national platforms is
cone elusive proof of the truth of the
charge that trusts are the legitimate pro-
Nbcs Va AsOPuDiiCdL pOilCltS, lUdL tD6V
fostered 10y Republican laws and that
they are protected by the Republican adj.
inlniStratl0n IN return for campaign sinh.
scrlptions and political support.
We pledge the Democratic party to an
unceasing warfare in nation, state and
CITY, against private monopoly in every
form. Existing laws against trusts must
DE enforced and more stringent ones
must be- enacted providing tor publicity
as to the affairs OF corporations engaged
In Interstate commerce, and requiring all
corporations to show, before doing bust.
ness outside of the State of their origin.
that they have no water in their stock,
and that they have not attempted, and
are not attempting TO mOnOpOlize any
business or the production of any articles
or merchandise. and the whole constitu-
tlonal power of Congress over interest ate
commerce and the mails, and all modes
or interstate communication, shall be ex-
erclsed 10y the enactment of com prehen-
sive laws upon the subject of trusts.
Tariff laws should be amended by put-
ting the products of trusts upon the free
list TO prevent monopoly under the plea
of protection.
The failure of the present Republican
administration, with an absolute control
over all the branches of the national gov
eminent, to enact any legislation de.
signed to prevent or even curtail the alb
sorbing power of trusts aud illegal com.
Dlliatlons, or to enforce the antitrust
laws already on the statute books, proves
the insincerity of the high-sOunding
phrases OF the Republican platform.
Corporations should be- protected in
all their rights, and their legitimate in
terestS should be respected. but any at.
tempt by corporations to interfere with
the public affairs of the people, or to con-
troll the sovereignty which created thepr,
should be forbidden under such penalties
as Will make such attempts impossible.
Dingley Tariff Law.
We condemn the Dingley tariff law as
a trust-breeding measure. skillfully de.
vised 10 give the few favors which thew
do not deserve, and to place upon the
many burdens which they should not
bear.
We favor such an enlargement of the
scope of the Interstate tariff as will en-
able the commission to protect individu-
ais ana communities from discrimination
and the public from unjust and unfair
transportation rates.
Financial Platform.
We reaffirm and indOrse the PRINCIPLES
OF the national Democratic piatf,,rm
adopted at Chicago in 1896, and we reiter.
ate the demand of that platform for an
American financial policy adopted by
which shall restore and maintain a BIZ
metallic price level, and as part of such
system the immediate restoration of the
free aud unlimited coinage of silver and
gold at the present legal ratio Of l6 to |
without waiting for the aid or consent OF
any other nation.
We denOunce the currency bill enacted
at the last session Of Co ngress as q step |
forward in the Republican policy which |
attempts TO discredit the sovereign right |
OF the national government to issue ali |
bestow upon national banks the power to |
issue and control the volume Of paper |
money for their own benefit. A pernla- |
nent national bank currency, secured by |
government bonds, must have q perma. |
nent debt to rest upon, and If the bank |
currency is to increase with population |
and business the debt must also increase. |
The Republican currency scheme is, |
therefore, scheme for fastening upon |
the taxpayers perpetual and growing |
debt for the benefit OF the banks. We are |
opposed TO this private corporation paper, |
circulated as money, but without legal |
tender qualities, and demand the retire. |
ment OF national bank notes as fast as the |
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 legisla. |
ton wherever practicable.
Recommends Department of Labor.
We are opposed to government by in
junction.; we denounce the blacklist and |
favor arbitration as means of settling |
disputes between corporations and their |
employees.
In the interest of American labor and |
the upbuilding of the workingman. as |
the cornerstone of the prosperity of our
country, we recommend that Congress |
create department of labor in charge of |
secretary, with seat in the Cabinet. |
believing that the elevation Of the Amer
lean laborer will bring with il increased |
production and increased prosperity TO |
our country at home and to our com. |
merce abroad.
Soldiers and Sail ors.
We are proud OF the couraOe and Adal