The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-06-23
Special Privilege.

somewhat, | take the liberty of out
lining my views on reforms, though
| am a socialist
The free coinage of either gold or
silver, under present circumstances, is
special privilege. Privilege in finance
may be abolished (a) by money issued
directly by the government, all green
backs or similar currency full legal
tender, and allowing no private par
ties to profit by it's issue. 1t might
be got into circulation by the build
ing of railroads to be owned and OPP
Grated by the government, and care
being taken to keep the volume from
| fuctuating. The bills being received
| by the government itself for taxes
| (b) BY an honest specie basis, govern
ment ownership of all gold and silver
mines, and no mine owners to make
profit on the gold or silver to be
coined.
The metals could be coined and is
sued or placed in vaults and certifi-
Gates issued on them dollar for dollar,
or combination of both (a) and o..
To begin with, government to take
hold of all new gold fields found in
Alaska or elsewhere and give out no
more to private parties, but run them
for public benefit.
The land question should not be
lodged. Collective ownership of land
is what is wanted. The populist plat
forms | think are general on that and
lead nowhere. They do not declare for
single tax and, of course, will not.
Neither do they declare for collective
ownership. The single tax takes a
matter of policy course on the sub
ject, but socialism is better. Mr. C.
F. Sherman, of Dousman, Wis. had a
discussion some years since with r.
G. Horr, of the New York Tribune,
| which failed to publish some of Mr..
Sherman's articles, being radical
greenback or "fiat money" doctrine
and to say the least, as good at debat-
ing as Horr, and telling more truth.
The Tribune shut OFF the debate at
last, as it had other things to attend
to, but Mr.. Sherman printed the whole
thing in book form some years since,
and | think it would make good read
ing If more are to be had.
But be that as it may, it brings me
| to another point not to be neglected in
a peoples movement. In line with the
tricks of the Tribune may be men
toned The People of New York, a So
cialist labor party paper.
Some seven or eight years since
sent to that paper criticism of a
statement in the socialist labor plat
| form to the effect that our capital
istic system of industry was the di-
rect opposite of our democratic sys-
tenn of politics." My criticism was
from the standpoint of proportional
representation, and was printed, and
replied to the following week In the
paper, whereupon l answered again.
1 A companion to whom | read the re-
ply said | had done him up" but the
answer was not printed.
/ Now what's the difference between
the socialist labor paper in New York
and the Tribune? Neither will allow
a fair discussion.
The United States senate ought to
be abolished, or shipped to England
and the house of representatives elect
ed by proportional representation
State senates also should be abolished
and the assembly in each state elected
proportionally.
The veto power should be taken
from the president and all executive
officers, and put into the hands of all
the voters where it belongs, through
the initiative and referendum. The
business men, bankers and monarch
lists, who wrote the constitution (ses
lecture on direct legislation by Rev
]. c. Hogan of Baltimore) century
ago made IAN admirable system o.
checks" for their time. But reform
ers of today should make system
of checks suitable to the present time
and adapted to the correct principles
or a peoples government. Any mill
. and water reform. such as election o
senator's by the people, only delays
real reform.
, We have ut present. not demo
cEatic system OF politics." as the 8. l.
r. wanted ms To believe. but system
of politics Of the same piece with thu
system OF industry. Those who arr
familiar with proportional representa-
ton know that az present In eacl
election about four-hfths Of the voter
arc unrepresented In congress, anl