The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-16

bines that are plundering the wage
earners and producers of this country
manifestly dominate the Republican
party. Its conventions and committees
are largely made up of corporation at
torneyS and tools. It is no secret that
for years the trusts and corporations
have uniformly and powerfully sup
ported that party, contributing fabu-
ious sums to its campaign and coerc-
ing their employees into it's service.
Their ample reward has come in the
form of the enactment, Interpretation,
and execution of laws, federal and
state, in their interests. The Republic
can party claims credit for every good
thing under the sum. When wheat
sells at a good price, and hogs and cat
tie are low, Republican leaders VOcifer-
ously call attention to wheat and Tor
get to mention live stock. 1t is re-
sponsible for high priced wheat. but
not cheap wheat. So with everything:
We have had a seven year period of
good crops and war prices; of I'M
precedented output of gold, and an in
crease in national bank circulation;
the sale of 5000. 100000 of bonds, ETC.,
altogether largely increasing the vol
ume of money. AS a result business
has increased, labor has found employ
ment, and there has been an improve
ment in the general conditions as COM
pared with the period of poor crops
prior to 1887
1.-The trusts and corporations have not
been slow to seize the opportunity at
forded them by these better conditions.
By preventing the increase of wages
commensurate with the increased cost
of living; by manipulating the prices of
farm products, including live stock, and
of manufactured products; by extor-
tiOnate freight rates; by exploiting the
nome market so as to secure from it
prices third higher than those received
from foreign markets for the same
goods, and by every other device known
to the great -'financierS' of the times,
Mt h9V fat
tened upon the people until forbearance
has ceased to be a virtue. So complete
ly have they turned to their own ac-
count comparatively good conditions
that the country has been in the verge
of a panic once or twice in the past
two years; labor troubles are more acute
than ever before and the decline has
already set in that must sooner or later
end in the complete collapse of indus
trial and financial interests. And all
this under Republican policies and ad-
In fact every period of
hard times in the last forty years has
been under Republican party policies,
and all but that of 1898 under Republic
can party administration. In 1893, during
the debate on the pending banking and
currency bill Senators Allison and Aid
rich the acknowledged Republican
leaders in the senate, stated that this
country has been under the gold STAN |
dard since 1873 The country mas been
under Republican tariff since 1861, ex-
cept from August, 1894, to July, 1897, |
during which period the Wilson-Gor- |
man law was operative. 1t will thus |
be observed that even the great panic |
Of 1893 occurred under the gold STAN |
dard, and under the Mckinley tariff |
law, as we'll as under the Republican, |
ICED Democratic administration of |
Grover Cleveland. The good Book says. |
Can the Ethiopian change his skin, |
orthe leopard his spots? Then may We |
also do good that are accustomed to do |
evil The Republican party does not
propose to change it's skin or its spots. |
It points with pride to its record. 1t /
ylories in it's achievements on the line |
IF class legislation and administration.
Why then, should men sincerely striv-
ing to establish a government of the
people, by the people and for the peo-
ole' think for a moment of casting his
ot with such party?
And every consideration that would
prevent true reformer from support
ng the Republican party applies with
equal force against the support of Par