The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1901-08-30
DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES.
ABLY Set Forth by r.. VI. sharon mt
the Iowa state Con-
Nention.

The democrats OF Iowa. in conven-
ton at Des Moines, Wednesday. Aug
ust p. by a vote of COL to 5js rea ttirmed
the Kansas City platform after one of
the most bitter struggles ever known
in an Iowa state convention. Much TO
the surprise of Bryan leaders. the OPP
position captured the committee on
resolutions and submitted a ajority
report with the signatures of eight
out of eleven members, but the minor
ity report, presented by eN-Congress-
man Walter II. Butler. of Polk county,
was forced through, after an exciting
contest. The most noticeable feature
of the meeting was the opening adj
dress of Temporary Chairman +. VI.
Sharon, who spoke in part as follows:
The democratic party must not be
negative party-a party Of mere opposition.
1t cannot be party of calamity which
draws vitality and success from Industrial
or financial depression.
1T will merit success because II grapples
the problems of the present ard brings to
their solution wise craftsmanship. the Wis
dom that comes from democratic prirci-
pies because IL Is guided by the compass
OF the constitution. ever pointing to the
the fathers proClaimo d at the beginning
and fixed in the armament of our national
life. From that guide and that object we
get our cardinal principles of equality Of
all men-natural and corporate--to enjoy
the rights and bear the burdens of govern
meHt
while It remedies the wrongs of special
legislation for favored classes il will labor
Tor the upbuilding Of right Industrial ard
commercial progress. for real expansion
from within that will make our country
the great political and commercial power
OF the world, while all of our people will
share in its prosperity. while they enjoy
the blessings of free government and the
noblest citizenship.
We are facing to-day conditions that
are momentous, destructive to our In
dustries, our commerce and the welfare
OF our people-conditions that have been
created by the republican party in viola
ton of the democratic doctrine of equal
rights to all and special privileges to none
that 1t was the destiny of the United
States to be the great American power,
the dominant power of the western hemis-
phere
imperialism and trusts are the two
great dominant evils of our national life.
They produce the two great issues which
the democratic party must meet.
The colonial policy of the admiuistra-
tion had its inspiration and its demand
from place hunters, concession gra bbers,
from those who have or seek special privI-
Ieges in our acquired possessions. If the
administration had said to those who
sought concessions in Havana and Manila
tnal It's policy was equal rights to all and
special privileges to none We would have
had no war in the Philippines and our army
OF occupation would long ago have left
Cuba
There can be no solution Of the trust
problem. there can be no breaking down
OF monopoly until government favor IS
Withdrawn from them. Destroy monopoly
and special class privileges and you Kill
the trusts. Commence in the patent office
the fountain head of legaliZed monopoly
If the government at Washington would
demand that the stock of every corpora
ton licensed by 1t represents money or
property at its actual worth-if 1t will
take care that it gets no undue advantage
from transportation companies, that IL
uses no unfair means to destroy legitimate
competition, that ii sells its products for
a fair price, that it treats its employees
honestly and pays fair wages for fair
days work, ii it will oblige il to pay an
Income tax upon its possible earnings, we
would find a great many Napoleons of
finance losing interest in what are now
the vast mOnOpolies and trusts of the
world ard honest business men could use
their methods of operation for the benefit
of our industries.
IF congress persists in refusing to sub
NIT necessary amendments to the con-
stitution of the United States II is the
duty of the states to call a convention
for that purpose and revise the constltu-
ton by adding TO it the grants necessary
to enable congress to control the trusts,
destroy monopoly, provide for the cleo
ton of United States senators by the peo-
pie and provide for an income tax on per
sons and corporations sufficient in times
of peace to pay the greater part of all the
EXPENSES Of the national goYernment-n