Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-07-16


inspiring history, should consider our
unsullied reputation as a great and
faithful democratic republic. Our
splendid realities should be their no.
bic ideals. And pointing to our flag
as the beautiful symbol of it all, they
should eXplain-as at times in the past
liberty loving men of other uands have
exclaimed--"By this sign we conquer"
With such foreign policy, this for
eign policy of the democracy, the Uni
ted States would grow in true republic
an strength and true democratic equal
ity. And as it grew, it would make
that conquest with which no grasping
of territory can compare, that con-
quest which military conquerors have
never known and sanguinary swords
can never achieve-the conquest of
the confidence and affection of the
masses of mankind.
Taxes.
Without detracting from those great
questions, there are in this campaign
in Ohio questions of such transcend
ent Importance to the people of the
state that they overwhelm all other
issues, and foremost of all is the adop-
ton of an equitable system of assess
ing and collecting tax burdens. If we
can win for the people of Ohio at this
election relief from the inequalities
of steam railroad taxation alone, it
will be lasting blessing. The steam
railroads are paying less than fifth
of their just share Of taxation by COM
parison with the owners of farms and
other small properties. Every county
in the state loses greatly by this
scheme of injustice and through it
every citizen in every county in Ohio
is paying more than his just share Of
taxes.
Purely Local.
Much of the inequality could be cor
rected by the fidelity of the county
auditors. 1t has developed largely
| from the favors distributed by rail
road to state and county officials. Not
only this convention but every coun-
ty in the state should rise in arms
against this iniquity and install as aud
/ itors men who will respect their oath
of Office and stand for truth and jus.
tice in the assessing of railroad prop
erty.
| The whole taxation scheme is foul
with inequalities. 1t vitiates public
|
of justice. Can we do the people of
Ohio any greater service than to cor
rect these inequalities? Can we do
more for our party than to earn tho
gratitude of the people for destroying
such abuses?
Five hundred million dollars of
steam railroad property in Ohio today
escapes taxation. 1t is not on the du-
plicate. The home, the farm, the little
/ industry hopelessly struggling against
the privileged trusts are there, listed
frequently above their salable values.
You who own them have no favors to
offer. You have not learned the art
of bribery. Your protest is unheeded.
You must pay the tribute to injustice
or lose your home. You must simply
endure.
The republican convention, while
/ trying to deduct this campaign on ma.
tional issues and avoid all state ques-
tons, still was forced to make a
vague reference to this issue. If the
republicans are successful the peo-
pie may expect legislation as vague
and unsatisfactory as their platform
Let our declaration be so clear that
the people may realize it's meaning.
Let us not. as many democratic con-
ventions have done, merely meet and
parcel among individuals a few nomi-
nations. Let us by decisive action
start the movement that will ultimate
ly lift the worst burdens from the
poor, that will establish reign OF
Justice in our civilization that will
among the masses substitute content.
ment of despair and love for hatred
The Platform.
The platform introduced says in
part:
THE democrats of Ohio reaffirm their
belief in the equity of taxation and 9th.
er public burdens, their advocacy OF
equal rights for all people, with spec
iai privileges to none; their hostility
to monopolization of industry with its
tendency on one hand to crush out in
i dividuel enterprise, and on the other
to promote a socialistic spirit among
the people as the only refuge from op
preston; and their faith in that theory
and practice of constitutional govern
!. ment which brought the nation into ex
istence, and has preserved it to the
present generation"
Reform in Granting Franchises.
The platform calls for radical re
form in municipal government, advo
, eating the submission to vote of the
people of extensions and renewals O.
all franchises; says the republican ma
jority in the state legislatures contend
ed for RECKLESS extravaganza, and the
creation of useless Offices"
: National Issues.
On national issues the platform de
mands the abolition of the so-called pro
tective system and the substitution o
tariff for revenue; the suppression o
all trusts and the return to industrial
: freedom and "as means to that enc
all trust products should be placed Oh
} the free list; the government SHOULD
} exercise more rigid supervision O
transportation lines and abolish al
: discrimination in rates.
Favors Merchant Marine.
The platform demands the restora
ton of the merchant marine, but NJ
subsidies for favored ship owners; tn
, maintainence of the Monroe doctrine
= wider application of the civil service
nrinc inleS. the election of Senators h