Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-10-24
HILL ON PROSPERITY
New York Statesman Discusses In
dustrial Conditions.
treats the Coal Question Foremost
Issue of Present Campaign-Re-
news Demand for Tariff
Reform.

The democratic state campaign
was formally opened in New York
October II with a rousing mass
meeting at the Brooklyn Academy of
Music. Following his custom for
many years, ex-Gov. David b. Hill
fired The Opening gun" there. He
made long speech, full of vigorous
utterances, the feature of which was
an elaborate defense of the plank in
the state platform demanding gov
eminent control and operation of the
coal mines.
Mr.. Hill treated the coal situation
as the foremost issue of the present
campaign. He renewed his demand
for a tariff for revenue only and
charged the republicans with sole re-
sponsioility for the high cost of l1v-
ing in this country to-day
Cost of Living Increased.
Mr.. Hill was warmly welcomed
when ne arose to speak. Discussing
the industrial conditions in the coun-
try he said:
Certain conditions as we'll as theories
confront the American people at this hour.
At time of abundant harvests, with no
pestilence affecting the people, ano In the
enjoyment of their ordinary health, they
find themselves confronted with unusual
dangers which threaten their welfare and
imperil their happiness. The average cit
izen discovers that Notwithstanding the al
legged prosperity of the times which has
been so vociferously proclaimed by our
political opponents, the fact remains that
the accumula lions of wealth have accrued
to the Golfers of the few rather than to
the pockets Of the many, and that the IN
creased cost of 1iving-especially the en-
HANGED prices of the necessaries of life
have rendered the problem of existence a
more difficult one TO solve.
1.-The republican party is in undisputeo
control of the state and nation 1t can
enact or it can refuse to enact whatever
legislation it pleases. If present evils are
traceable to vicious legislation and un-
wise public policies, the responsibility there
for is easily fixed. If the government In re-
cent years has been used to build up private
fortunes for the benefit of few at the
expense of many millions; if the public func-
lions of taxation have been abused to sub
serve personal and corporate interests; II
vast combinations of capital have been per-
mitted to stifle competition anG dictate gov
ernmental measures for selfish purposes, the
responsibility must be assumed by the re-
publican party, which has either sanctioned
or tolera te6 such conditions and refused or
omitted, to remedy them.
1.-The democratic party wages no war upor
capital. Neither is it inimical to corpora
lions lawfully engaged in legitimate enter
prises. 1t respects vested rights and does
not regards the possession Of wealth hoR-
estly acquired as a crime, nor does 1t con-
slider poverty ASA virtue or as a disgrace.
"In common with all good citizens it views
with alarm the organization in the past few
years of those vast corporate combinations
which have for their real, though not os-
tensible object, the creation of monopoly
by rendering competition practically impos-
sible through the immensely of the cap
ftal employed and, the almost unlimited ex-
tent of their powers and operations. 1t Is
holt h Of III
character are in the public interest or are
productive of public good
Demands Tariff Revision.
Referring to the question of tariff
revision, Mr. Hill said:
with over $500, o00.GGO of surplus revenue
in the treasury of the United States it is
folly-aye it is almost criminal-to further
resist a modification of the present
orbitant tariff rates. No good reason car
be urged: why such revision should not be
Immediately undertaken"
Favors Government Control.
Of the plank of the state platform
demanding government ownership OF
the anthracite mines, he said:
1.-THE proposition is neither startling, rev.
dictionary, socialistic nor paternal, but is
Institutional, necessary, expe0ient, and,
above all. it is right. 1t is simply a reason
able and necessary extension OF the gen.
eral policy of public ownership already
the country. This proposition q oes not COM
nit the party to any other projects of pub
lie ownership, whatever their merit, If any
there may be.
1.-The coal question is a national one If
it is not, why did the president himself re-
Gently intervene ard summon private cit
liens to the white house for conference and
exercise his official influence in regard to
a matter over which he had no jurisdiction?
He was not acting under any statute He had
no authority for any legal interference on
his part. He himself has made it a ma
tional question and he and his party are
now estopped from otherwise regarding 1t.
1t is a national question because the i'm
pending coal famine involves the welfare of
the whole people of the United States, and
such a famine should be prevented from
ever occurring again, which cannot be as
sured under private ownership and con-
troll. It is the province of wise statesman
ship to provide against just such emer
gencies in the future. There is 10 permanent
remedy proposed by anybody except that
suggested in the democratic PLATFORM
BRYAN HITS SHAW.