The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-11
DOSTER TO QUIT.
Says He Doesn't Want to Stand
For Reelection.
Therefore Has Not Been Active
in Shaping Party Policy.
FAVORS NO SURRENDER
But Thinks Populists Should
Fuse With Democrats.
Does Not Want Party OrganiZa-
tion to Be Abandoned.
Gives His Ideas ON the Issues
of the Day.
FAVORS NO SURRENDER

Chief Justice Doster is in favor of
maintaining the Peoples party organi-
zation, but for the present he is in fa-
vor of voting with the Democrats, pro-
viding the Democrats will adopt the
kind of platform that Populists can
stand upon.
Judge Doster rarely submits to a
newspaper interview, but when he does
he says something that is worth read
ing AT the instance of reporter for
the State Journal he has defined his po-
sition with regard to the question of
combining the Populist and Democratic
parties under the name of the latter.
To start with Judge Doster makes the
statement that he is aVerSe to again be-
coming candidate for chief justice of
the supreme court. This in itself is
something of a surprise, because it is
universally admitted that a better judge
never occupied the supreme bench of
Kansas and if the election were left to
those who are most deeply interested in
the supreme court, except in a political
way, Judge DOSter would be reelected.
Judge DoSter also intimateS that he
sees little use in trying to destroy trusts
by legislation, as they are the result of
economic evolution. Judge Doster says:
You ask me whether 1 favor the Peo-
pies party going over to the Democrats
Asked in that way, L answer no. do,
however, favor proposition of terms
on which we will cooperate with them
and aid the election of their ticket The
matter has been much discussed OF late,
but / have not felt like expressing a
view for two or three reasons. one of
which is l feel disinclined to be can
didate again, and l did not wish to be
active in shaping a policy for those who
might be principally called on to carry
out when once entered upon.
The Democratic party has been most
nearly in accord with us in recent years
and several times has generously en-
dorsed and voted for our ticket, and it
would be only a fair return for us now
70 do likewise, provided that party viii
declare a platform in accord with our
views and will nominate acceptable
candidates So far, however, as aban-
doning our own organization to become
Democra tS,. 1 de not favor it, but L do
not see any objection to agreeing to co
operate with them and under their
name they have done with us and
under our name in several recent cam
paigns. There should be, however, an
understanding as to the terms on which
such action may be taken.
principally, if not as the only con-
dition the fundamental doctrines of the
Peoples party must be approved They
are direct legislation by the people;
that is the submission to popular vote
of such legislation as vitality affects the
masses in their economic and social
life That is already done in special
cases and works well. There is no sense
in refusing, for instance. to allow the
people to vote on a general scheme of
taxation such as is to be brought be-
them to vote on a constitutional amend
ment, or Il whole constitution, or allow
ing them to vote on railroad aid or
waterworks tax proposition.
Another one of our principles is the
public ownership of the public service
Industries, or public utilities = as they
are called. Everybody but the poll
ticians and they. too, in secret I i'm
aginc. is beginning to approve public
ownership. Besides the public owned
institutions we already have, the pro-
posed Isthmian canal, the proposed Pa
ciiC cable, President RooSeVeltS pro-
posed system of national irriga ton, are
illustrations of what we stand for, and
the Democratic party should not only
auDl owe the particular instances in
which they occur, but should approve
the abstract principle which justifies
them.
In this connection I wish to say that
l care hut little for platform which
expends itself in matchmaking the
trusts and the tariff l don't like the
trusts any more than other people do,
but L recognize in them economic ten
6tncies, against which it is futile to try
to do any thing more than to neutralize
as far as possible their present evil eff
feets, while they grow into the ripened
state of general ownership and Coop
Grafton.
"A protective tariff is not specially
obnoxious to US of. the Peoples party,
and u hue and cry against it will not
suffice us as a full declaration of prin-
ciple. / believe in tariff protection
that is, OF such things as need it, and I
am not informed as to all the things
thai do DO not need it. | think, how
ever, We can agree with the Democrats
on the proposition of free trade with
cur island possessions and reciprocity
of trade " it'll those countries which pro-
duce what we do not, and we ought to
agree with them in their opposition to
the Undemocratic and hitherto unheard-
of idea OF congressional government of
the territories out from under the pro-
lection of the constitution. Except Sc
cession that is the widest and most
dangerous political heresy ever preach
ed in this country.
1.-The currency questions are settled
perhaps wrongly, but nevertheless set
tIed-and settled for a long time; so it
is not worth while to pass resolutions
about them.
Now I'm not debating a platform,
nor will l quibble about non-essentials
to- be put in or left out I am only sug-
gesting some fundamentals about which
there is OF ought to be agreement be-
tween Populists and Democrats. / see
no reason why we may not unite, in the
way I first mentioned, for the advance
nent of principles which we hold more
resrly in common than do with any
other party