The Saint Paul globe., 1900-06-02

to trifle with evil. The trusts have come
some as the product of industrial eVolu-
tlon, from the fact that great comblna-
tlons have made possible the Introduction
OF economies in production; some as the
product of special legislation, largely the
granting of franchises exclusive by their
nature; some as the result of railroad
determinations forbidden by the law but
which the law has been poweress to
prevent. And so arising the trusts must
be treated with some regard to the man.
ner In which they have arisen Those
that have arisen in the third way, in
railroad Determinations can be dealt with
effectively, properly, by the government
taxing possession of the railroads and
putting an end to the evil of freight
dlscFlmlnatlon, so destructive of the first
right Of the American peOple-the right
TO an equality of opportunity.
Those that have arisen in the second
way can be successfully treated only by
the national, state and municipal govern
ments taking back the public franchises
they have given away. and which they
nave a common law right to do: those
that have arisen in the first way and that
abuse their power. the power that comes
with concentration and that ought to ben
et1t the general public. must be taken by
the people as they see the necessity and
that they may enjoy the benefits of the
industrial evolution going on around
them. That men should contrib
ute to the costs of government in pro-
portion to their means we hold to Be a
self-evident truth But In the raising
not been followed. One per cent Of our
people own one-half of the national
wealth. and while they pay approximate
ly one-haf of the local taxation they pay
but an insignificant part of the national
revenues. For these revenues are largely
raised from taxes on articles Of general
consumption. articles Of which the rich
consume no more than the Door. As a
consequence we have the dollar of the
Door man taxed more heavily than the
dollar of the rich. Indeed such taxes on
antNsa
With such taxes we have a taxing of the
man and not the dollar. 1t is not eQu-
table. it is not fair We have the poorer
of the nations citizens required to pay
a larger percentage Of their earnings
than the richer citizens are required to
pay of their income from accumula IONS.
1t is not right. We should tax the dol
lar. not the man. Justice demands this.
we stand for it. The usJrpations
of our courts have recently been SO pro
nOunced in the conflicts between labor
permitted to pass unnoticed. The func-
tion of the courts is to INTERPRET laws,
not to make laws vet we have seen
them enforcing self-made law, seen Judges
sit as prosecuting attorney Judge and
Jury. all in one. Their function is Judi ial.
not executive much less legislative. The
lesson of their usurpatiOnS. of their en-
CrOaChmentS on the rights Of the people.
we must discontinue the system Of life
tenure of office. either elective or ap-
pOintive. in our judiciary. and make our
Judges elective, and their tenure Of Office
short, so that they may be held to ac-
countability by the people. u favO-
election Of senators by direct vote, ard
oppose occupation Of the Philippines. Be
tween Porto Rico and the United States.
as between Hawaii and the United States.
free trade ought of right to be estab-
lished. With highest regards, remain,
gentlemen, very respectfully,
wharton Barker"
Philadelphia. June l. 1900.