New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-30
THEFT OF MEN AND IDEAS.
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY GREAT APPRo-
PRIATOR OF BOTH.

PRIAToR OF BOTH.
To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: The Democratic party is IN negative way
exceedingly rapid. but IN affirmative way It is
rather slow. It seems lack courage a pioneer.
a reforner, originator. II is good
appropriation OF ideas and OF men Of ideas. but
otherwise II is rather barren of both 1t eats up
the pasture in front Indifferent to what 1t leaves
behind Its latest appropriation among men of
ideas is its appropriation of Abraham Lincoln. It's
latest appropriation of ideas will be found in its
last Saratoga Convention.
For instance a Republican Senator in the last
Legislature conceived the idea that it would be
good thing TO tax public franchises; that it would
be a source of considerable revenue, and that g
such franchises of great value and required
police protection they ought of right to contribute
TO the support of the Government TO the relief OF
the other taxpayers and especially of the owners Of
real estate This Republican Senator therefore in
troduced bill franchises and by his efforts,
and the efforts of a Republican Legislature and
Republican Governor act passed taxing pub
lie franchises. The idea had become popular, and
therefore the Democrats at Saratoga declared
themselves 10 be in favor Of the principle of taxing
public franchises. and pledged their party TO the
prompt enactment of just and equitable methods
Of taxing such franchises" In this instance.
usual, the Democrats. ignoring the act of the Re-
publicans claim their idea They ready for that
idea now, though 1t had never occurred TO them
before.
So in the Republican Legislature Of 1897 the Re
publcans conceived the idea that 1t would be
good thing to enact a statute which should make
unlawful and void every contract agreement, ar
rangement combination whereby monopoly in
the manufacture. production and sale in this State
Of any article commodity of common should
be created established maintained, whereby
competition in this State in the supply price of
any such article or commodity should be restrained
or prevented, whereby for the purpose of Great
ing establishing or maintaining a monopoly within
yfac 1,,OAgc
of any such article or commodity the free pursuit
In this State Of any lawful business, trade
cupation should be restricted prevented" and
the further idea that such a statute should
provisions making any viola tons of it Grim
inal and punishable by fines and penalties. Having
conceived these ideas, the Republican Legislature
Of that year caused such statute TO be passed.
and the Republican Governor approved it, and it
became a law. At Saratoga three years later the
Democrats began to appreciate this statute and the
idea of It, and thereupon, little late perhaps de-
nounced their "Ice Trust" The Republicans
having shown them the road, they appropriated
1t great Democratic macadamzed highway on
which they might possibly attain to Pennsylvania
ave and the Capitol.
Again, in the Constitutional Convention of 1884,
the Republicans thought 1t would be a good thing
TO put up all the safeguards possible against the
preparation of frauds the enactment of statutes
mitted to the people Section Is of Article III of the
Constitution, afterward ratified by the people,
though voted against by the Democrats. IN spite of
such provision. however. fraud was committed.
or attempted, in the last session of the Legis-
lature. whereupon the Republican Governor hav-
cover the perpetrator of the fraud with a view to
his punishment, the Democratic party at Sara
to the Importance of the idea and announces that
1t is in favor of such reform in legislative meth
future" 1t is refreshing to think that since the
have thus finally reached the point where they
dare to assert themselves in favor of such re-
form. Republicans will await with much pleasure
their cooperation in their future efforts that
Iection.
So, Republican Legislatures having passed GER
tain laws in the interests of labor and labor or
Hour law" and the so-called prevailing Rate of
Wages law" the law limiting hours of labor on
The in soi,e+ Jtf AZ ne i OF
the payments of wages in cash and prohibiting pay
aent IN scrip the law requiring weekly payment
effective the law compelling preferences to citi-
zens Of the United States and of the State of New
providing that stone used in state and mnn f nav
works snail be worked and carved within the State
by labor organizations the law directing establish
relating to convict made goods the factory in
spection law, the law relating to tenement made
etc; the law creating State Board of Mediation
ment Of amo sd chG law relating to employ
lishments and the Republicans in the Constitution
al Convention having proposed, adopted and caused
TO be ratified amendment to the Constitution 70
Pr eeit conYict prison labor from coming in
Democratic; and ever since the first National sue
! party having +persistenty advocated the pocv nf
| protection in the interest Of American labor al
ways opposed by the Democrats and now being
earnestly in favor of building up the home market
and opening up new markets for American goods
made by American labor, also opposed nv the
| Democrats-the Democrats at Saratoga catch the
idea and therefore proclaim the Democratic Marty
! TO have been in State and Nation the consistent
| friend and champion of labor"
And the Republican party Throughout the pariod
! OF It's existence having always provided honest
! payment for honest toll honest dollar FOR a
honest dollars worth work and having asserted
that enforced payment I'm silver freely coined al
the ratio OF l6 to l. cannot be honest PAYMENT the
| Democratic party at Saratoga again catches the
! idea and therefore demands honest pay for hon
| toll" - - i''"
But the Democratic party in the State of New
YORK IS Affirmative In two directions swift
as a bullet in it's flight from a Mauser rifle n
favors always the retention OF the supervision NJ
the liquor traffic in the city of New-Yor1 and its
own unauestioned conduct of all the elections
New-York, Sept. g. 1900. LAWYER
EXPORT TRADE A SAFETY VALVE.
! To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: There is one important element in the pres