The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-07-03

lZlng and OF further lowering the
rates of interest we favor such
monetary legislation as will enable
the varying needs of the season and
of all sections to be promptly met in
order that trade may be evenly sus-
tanned, labor steadily employed and
commerce enlarged. The volume of
money in circulation was never so
great per capita, as it is today. We
declare our steadfast opposition to
the free and unlimited coinage of
silver. No measure to that end
could be considered which was with
out the support of our leading com
mercial countries of the world.
However firmly Republican legisla-
ton may seem to have secured the
country against the peril of base
and d~iscredited currency, the cleo
ton of a Democratic President could
not fail to impair the country's credit
and to bring once more into question
the intention of the American people
to maintain upon the gold standard
the parity of their money circula-
ton. The Democratic party must
be convinced that the American peo-
pie will never tolerate the Chicago
platform.
ON THE TRUSTS.
We recognize the necessity and
prosperity of the honest cooperation
of capital to meet new business con
ditions and especially to extend our
rapidly increasing foreign trade, but
we condemn all conspiracies and
combinations intended to restrict
business, to create mOnOpOlies, to
limit production, or to control prices,
and favor such legislation as will
effectively restrain and prevent all
such abuses, protect and promote
competition and secure the rights of
producers, laborers and all who are
engaged in the industry and COM
merce.
THE PLANK.
We renew our faith in tn policy of
protection to American labor. In
that policy industries have been
established, diversified and main
tanned. By protecting the home
market competition has been stimu-
lated and production cheapened. We
favor the associated policy of reel
procity so directed as to open our
markets on favorable terms for
what we do not ourselves produce in
return for free foreign markets. In
the further interest of American
workmen we favor a more effective
restriction of the immigration of
cheap labor from foreign lands, the
extension of opportunities of educa-
ton for children, the raising of the
age limit for child labor, the protec-
ton of free labaor as against con
tract convict labor and an effective
system of labor insurance.
RESTORATION OF THE TRADE-CARRYING
FLEETS.
Our present dependence upon
foreign shipping for nine-tenths of
foreign carrying is a great loss to the
industry of this country. It is also
a serious danger TO trade, for its
sudden withdrawal in the event of
European war, would seriously Grip
pie our expanding foreign commerce.
The national defense and naval
efficiency of this country, moreover,
supply a compelling reason for
legislation which will enable us to
recover our former place among the
trade carrying fleets of the world.
LIBERAL PENSION LAWS.
The pension laws should be liberal
and should be literally administered
and preferences should be given
wherever practicable with respect to
employment in the public service to
soldiers and sailors and to their
widows and orphans.
CIVIL SERVICE.
We commend the policy of the Re
publican party in maintaining the
efficiency of the civil service. The
administration has acted wisely in
its effort to secure for public service
in Cuba, Porto Rico, Hawaii and the
Philippine Islands, only those whose
fitness has been determined by train
ing and experience. We believe that
employment in the public service in
these territories should be confined
as far as practicable to their inhabi-
tants.