The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-05-23

| the state and such changes in the law
as Will reach the trusts and nonopolies
and give 10 municipalities the right Ic
determine as TO methods Of taxation re-
srecting local matters. provided that No
law shall authorize any violation OF the
1 constitution
We stand for the ownership and oper-
| alton Of all public service functions by
and in the interest Of the people. Wher-
ever municipal corporations inausurate
efforts to own and operate their Owl
water or light plants or transportation
! facilities. we commend 70 the voters OF
our party the support of such measures
a. being in line with the principles OF
/ Democracy. and we viii welcome the day
when the entire interstate transporta-
/ ton system OF our country can be &C
CURED and operated By the people. thus
doing away with these giant monopolies
| in private hands which discriminate un-
| justly between trade centers ana consti-
trte the real basis for the greatest trusts
ever organized.
In the interest OF the people, we plead
for state administration and for a
legislature free from railroad DONNA
ton. The proposed Republican tax law.
which Will be adopted # the next lesis-
lature is Republican. leaves. BY com
mand of the railroads. the valuation Of
all railroad property IN the hands of a
subservient state administration. Atten-
ucn is called TO the fact, in this cOnnec-
ton. that in Democratic Missouri. the
Burlington road pays taxes on Z valua-
ton of Sl5,%25 per mile while in Repub-
lican Kansas it pays taxes on q vaIua-
ton of 5000 per mile; the Missouri Pa
cihc, Sl9el1 in Missouri. S7f92 in Kan
sas; the Rock Island. s15.794 in Missouri.
064 In Kansas; and the Santa re s17.-
" IN -
and that the general valuation OF rail-
road property in Missouri for the purpose
OF taxation is 90 per cent higher than
the same property is valued In Kansas.
Of all the evils OF railway discrimna-
ton, none are so insiduOus. 50 constant
and SO powerful as the free or compli-
mentary pass and other like discrimi-
nations among the travelling public
There can never be any progress made
toward correcting the abuses practiced
by the transportation companies until
all discrimination in passenger travel
is absolutely abolished. We therefore
demand the immediate abolition OF the
free pass and all like devices.
We endorse the position taken by the
Democratic members of the national con
gress with respect 10 the duty of the
government OF the United States toward
the Philippine islands and their people
In the interest Of the government by
the people. we stand for direct legislation
and for minority representation in our
legislature
We congratulate the republic Of Cuba
upon her admission to the sisterhood Of
republics. and we congratulate the United
states upon the same suspicious event
We condemn the official action and
hypocrisy OF the Republican state adj
ministration for cowardly lodging the
prohibitory question TO satisfy the I'M
reasonable demands of radical prohi-
bltionists and in making no effort to en-
force this law for the purpose Of draw
ing to their support the liquor power out
side OF Kansas. and those who violate the
law within the state in order 10 perpe-
trate themselves in political and official
power.
We. therefore. believing in the princf-
pies of the initiative and referendum
in a republican form of government. and
trusting in the wisdom and patriotism
OF the voters of the state of Kansas.
and knowing that a large number OF
the voters Of the state wish the oppOr-
tunity Of expressing their sentiments at
the ballot box on what is known as the
liquor law. we. therefore. are
in favor of submitting the question TO the
voters OF the state at such time as Will
insure full vote and thereby settle
the mooted question beyond caviI
We cordially endorse the course of Sen
ator W \. Harris and recommend that
every legislator elected in harmony with
this platform support him for reelection.
We also commend the public service of
Congressman A Nj. Jackson and hope
for his reelection.
Mr. Martin had no sooner moved the adj
option of the report than Samuel Smith
of Baxter Springs came rushing TO the
platform and announced that he had
minority report 10 submit to the conven-
ton II was as follows:
The undersigned, members Of the COM
mittee on resolutions submit the follow
ing minority report;
We recommend that all of the resoiu-
ton relating to the initiative and refer
endum beginning with the words we
therefore believe in the principle Of the
and referendum be stricken out"
SAMUEL SMITH
H. : HART
W. S. WILLIAMSON.
When the report had been read Tom
Fitch rose and addressed the chair and
made a strong appeal 70 the delegates TO
adopt the report Of the majority and he
seconded the motion Of Mr. Martin Mr.
10 his feet and seconded the motion to
adopt the minority report. The chair had
no sooner stated the question than the
convention was plunged into a warm pro-
fight
The debate was started by Mr.. Smith.
who brought in the minority report. lie
stated that he did not object 10 the prin-
ciple Of the initiative and referendum. Ia
fact he was heartily in favor Of il. But.
he said, the Democratic party is in favor
Of resUbmission of the prohibitorv amend
ment. In the resolutions OF the majority
Of this committee there are statements
relating to this feature # the party that
would tend 70 antagogize the members Of
the popuiist party and they would under
no consideration support any of the NOM
inees of this convention. Ii Is essential,
il we wish success to have the entire sup
port Of the Populist party and we cannot
at this time afford Ia 90. anything that
would tend 10 autsgonize them IS on or
ganization of any II its members.
The Popuiist party IS IN favor 81 re-
or the enforcement ef the
prchibitory law and the Democrats must
stand bysthem through thick and thin u
we wish the support this fan ard We are
not doing this when Ne adopt such res
olutiou Is fhe one have referred 20 and
which the minority cf the committee de-
sire stricken ont
When he had finished Sir. billiard n
Bourbon county. asked i fhe in.ilatiFe
and referendum applied 70 the cnustitl-
ton Of the state and III saith stated
that this urinciule I'D rot 50 apply but.
he added Won can accomplish the same
aad by simply declaring Tor the Initiative
and referendum and not 81 nfo detail
ana thrs make il Impossible Tor che Pcpu-
lists 10 vote fhs Democratic t.cEet cor
sctentiousir
Henry M1Miilan arose ara stated tnat
4. 49, ~. a. r---r~ q 2 IT, --e-- rra MAJ