The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1904-07-14


and in the legislative departments can
complete expos re- punishment and cor .
rection be obtained.
Government Contract With Trusts.
We condemn the action OF the Repub-
lican party In congress In refusing tn
prohibit an executive department from
entering into contracts with convicted
trusts or unlawful combinations In re-
stralnt Of interstate trade. We believe
that one OF the hest methods of procur-
ing economy and honesy in the public
service is to have public officials. from
the occupant OF the White House down
TO the lowest of them, returned as nearly
MS may be, to Jeffersonian simplicity cf
living.
Executive Usurpation.
We favor the nomination of and cleo
tion Of president imbued with the prin-
ciples OF the constitution, who will set
his face steinly against executive usurpa-
tion OF legislative and judicial functions,
whether that usurpation be vciled under
the guise Of executive construction OF ex-
listing laws or whether II take refuge in
the tyrant's pleas OF necessity OF superior
wisdom.
Imperialism.
We favor the preservation, so far as
we can. of an open door for the worlds
commerce in the Orient, without an un-
European affairs, and without arbitrary
unlimited. irresponsible and absolute
government anywhere within our juris-
diction. We oppose. as fervently as did
George Washington himself, an in
definite. irresponsible, discretionary and
vague absolutism and a policy of colo
nial exploitation, no matter where or by
whom invoked or exercised we be-
lieve with Thomas Jefferson and John
Adams. that no government has n right
to make one set of laws for those lat
home and another and a different set
OF laws, absolute In their character for
those 'in the colonies All men un-
der the American flag are entitled to the
protection Of the institutions whose en-
blem the flag Is; II they are inherently
unfit for those institutions. thon the?
are Inherently unfit to be members OF the
American body polite. Wherever there
may exist people incapable OF being
governed under American laws, in con-
sonanoe with the American constitution,
that people ought not to be part Of the
American domain.
We insist that we ought to do for the
Filipinos what we have done already for
the Cubans, and 1t is our duty to mako
that promise now, and upon suitable
guarantees OF protection to citizens of
our own and other countries resident
tnero AT the uine OF our WltnuThWai
set the Filipino people upon their feet
free and Independent to work out their
own destiny.
The endeayor Of the secretary OF war;
by pledging tho governments indorse-
ment for promoters in the Philippine
islands to make the United States a
partner in speculative legislation of the
archipelago. which was only temporarily
held up by the objection of the Demo-
t. t., To- xx,ln
II successful, lead to entanglements from
which 1t will be difficult to escape.
The Democratic party has been and
will continue to be the consistent oppo-
nent Of that class Of tariff legislation by
which certain interests have been per-
mitted, through congressional favor, to
draw heavy tribute from the American
people. This monstrous perverslon of
those equal opportunities which our po-
litical institutions were established to
secure. has caused what may once have
been infant Industries to become the
greatest combinations OF capital that
the world has ever known. These es-
pecial favorites OF the government have
through trust methods been converted
into monopies, thus bringing to an end
domestic competition, which was the only
alleged check upon the extravagant pro-
fits made possible by the protective sys-
tenn. These Industrial combinations. by
the financial assistance they can give.
now control the policy OF the Republican
party.
We denounce protection az a robbery
OF the many to enrich the few, and we
favor a tariff limited to the needs OF tine
government economically administered.
and so levied as not to discriminate
against any industry, class or section to
the end that the burdens of taxation shall
be distributed as equally as possible.
We favor a revision and a gradual
reduction OF the tariff by the friends OF
the masses and for the common veal
and not by the friends of it's abuses. its
extortions and Its Determinations, keep
Ing in view the ultimate ends OF equal
ity OF burdens and equality OF opportun-
tiles" and the constitutional purpose OF
raising a revenue by taxation. to-wit:
the support Of the federal government
in all its integrity and virility, but in
simplicity.
Trusts ard Unlawful Combinations.
We recognize that the gigantic trusts
and combinations. designed to enable
capital to secure more than its just
share OF the joint products of capital
and labor, ana which have been fostered
and promoted under Republican rule. are
menace to beneficial competition and
an obstacle to permanent business pros
perity.
A private monopoly is indefensible and
intolerable.
Individual equality Of opportunity and
free competition are essential to a
healthy and permanent commercial pros
perity and any trust, combination or
monopoly tending to destroy these by
controlling production. restricting compe-
tition or fixing prices, should be prohib-
tied and punished by law. We especially
denounce rebates and discrimination by,
transportation companies as the most
potent agency in promoting and strength
ening these unlawful conspiracies against
trade.
We demand an enlargement OF tho
powers Of the interstate commerce COM
mission, to the end that the travelling
public and shippers of this country may
have prompt and adequate relief for thu
abuses to which they are subjected In
the matter Of transportation. We demand
strict enforcement OF existing civil and
criminal statutes against all such trusts,
combinations and monopolies: and we de-
mand the enactment of such further leg
islation as may be necessary to effect
ually suppress them.
Any trust or unlawful combination en-
gagged In interstate commerce which IN
monopolizing any branch of business or
production should not be permitted to
transact business outside OF the state
of its origin. Whenever 1t shall be es-
tablished in any court OF competent 1ur-
isdiction that such monopolization exists,
such prohibition should be enforced
through comprehensive laws TO be enacted
on the subject.
RecIa nation OF Arid Lands.
We congratulate our western citizens
upon the passing Of the law known az
the Newlands irrigation act for the irri-
cation and reclamation OF the arid lands
of the Wes', measure framed by
Democrat, passed In the senate by nom
partisan vote and passed In the house
ng INST the opposition OF almost all the