Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1902-08-29
DEMOCRATIC platform.

LhN'oIul, u-OIe eSptCihlS tnOSt reiutlnH
to the monetary question, imperialism.
militarism and the trusts.
THE SILVER QUESTION.
We rejoice in the improved business
conditions which now prevail, and agree
with many OF our leading political OPP
p~Onents in the view that the change Tor
the better Is the result of increased
gold production which has afforded d
larger money supply for the transaction
Of business. THIS is straight in line
with the basic argument in favor OF the
free coinage of Silver. proving con.
clusively that we were right in our con.
%tcntiUr, and the advocates of the gold
standard wrong. We believe that tho
free coinage Of silver would have pro.
duced a still higher degree of prosperity
than now exists, besides being advantage
to the silver mining interests OF this
State. We reject utteralIy the specious
plea Of our Rspubli ;an opponents that
the silver issue is dead. Free coiba
Is just in principle. sound in economies,
and there Is no reason Why we should
not continue our efforts ut all reuson-
able times to secure it. But apart from
the qlcs ion ot Free Coinage, upon
every other phase OF the money issue we
know that the Republican party is nd
verse to our interests, and the D6mo-
cratic Party favorable lac retO. I'm prolf
OF this NO point to the Till Bill which re-
Gently passed the lion ac at representa-.
tlves by an almost IMAM.
imous vote Of the Republican majority,
the Democrats and Independents Of that
bod! beng a INIT IN opposition. This
infamous measure, directly Mt variance
with past pledges, will, ii it he ONE IA
law. end all purchases of silver for COIN
age i'll this country for many decades,
ana perhaps forever. II might easily
close all but the richest OF our silver
mines, put an end to prospecting Tor
hat metal, and materially check tho
tide OF prosperity win III is rising in our
State, despite the almost paralS zinp
blows struck by the Republican purity
ut Il industry when it WAS nearly all
wv i''' ~ NCpcit upbI.
TIE FOWLER BILL.
We ]denounce the Fowler Currency Bill.
reported to the HOUSE by IA unanimous
vote Of the Republican members Of the
Committee on banking and Currency.
as Il scheme to give a few great banking
institutions 20 np,e'c 30 ltrOl ~ our
paper currency, thereby enabling the
banks to Xix the aggregate volume O!
our money supply. This would put it
in their power to regulate prices to suit
themselves, and place all business at
their mercy. We believe hat the Re
publican party will enact this or some
similar measure into law just rs soon MS
It dares TO do so. unless the power of
..at party Is so restrain d that il il
unable To carry ont The be tests Of the
great mOnied interests which now dom
mate it's policy.
II TARIFF.
We regard the enormous growth of
the trusts under the operation OF the
Dmgley tariff lis an evil of the first
magnitude. Recent disclosures prove
bcyonG all question that large quantities
OF American manufactures are export.
cd Pnd sold to for iignerI ut prices fro II
% to 10 per cent below the prices chang
cd in the home market. We submit
that Il system winch compcls the con.
sIncra Vt this country to pay vas ~
more for an article than the price
charged 10y the American manufacturer
in other countries is not protection at
all, but oppression aud robbery, which
cannot be defended by any person nav.
ing IA just appreciation Of !he difference
between right and wrong. Therefore
wo demand that all protective duties be
removed from articles the production OF
which ia controlled by trusis, and from
such articles as are cold more cheaply
abroad than to The American conaumer.
la all cases whore the duties on
imports serve as rneass Of oppression OF
and oxtortion from tho American
customer, the duty should be reduced
to Il fair revenue basis.
We also demand such further lcg.
~islatioD as may he necessary To curb the
growth and check the %cXactions Of tliesC
giant monoplics. For thls Legislation
we look to the Democratic PARTY and IL
independent allies, woil knowing TINT
the Republican party cannot reform
thcse abuses IL It would, aud would not
II it could.