Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1904-09-02
viduals. We say again, the taxes of

viduals. We say again, the taxes OF
the government should not be laid
upon the necessities of life. but there
should be an income tax to pay the
enormous expenses Of this national
government. (Applause.) IL you
levy the income tax according to the
Jeffersonian method, you lay 1t on the
richest people who are the most able
to bear 1t. II you take an income tax
you will put it upon the people who
get the greatest benefits out OF this
government and who should pay the
most And if you lay it upon the
rich, on the great capitalists, you will
lay it upon the people who stayed at
home during the war and speculated
upon the necessities of the country
and filled their pockets while the SOL
der was at the from, ngnting for his
country's cause. III you put IL on the
rich man you will have an economi-
cal government, because while the
rich man is little care.ess Of how
your money is spent. he is careful
about how his money is spent. When
you make him foot the bills he Will
make the government become econom-
ical. Furthermore, we say that labor
should receive the wealth which 1t
produces by more equitable system
of distribution than we now have.
1t looks to us like an outrage that
the men who toll and produce, should
be those who suffer most and enjoy
less, while those who work less
enjoy most and have the most. 1t
seems to me horrible proposition
that thousands Of people should be
born into the world every year with
out a place on Gods foOtstool where
on to place their feet. and without a
single industry in which they can be
master of their own muscle, with the
right to earn livelihood, with equal
ity to all. We say our system of f.
nance should be exactly what the con-
stitution prescribes, and that no bank
ing system can stand between the gov
eminent and the people, arrogatinG to
themselves the sovereign right TO
make money, and using that privilege
to enrich themselves, and entrench
themselves in their powers over the
poor. We say further, in order to
keep the government in the hands OF
the people, they ought to have the
right to initiate Legislation, to have
legislation referred to them; to have
the imperative mandate in orde, that
the democratic will and power should
always he living force to control
our government in the way OF right
and justice.
Now, fellow citizens, wnlie there is
much more that | could say. would
say. but my physician powers are not
equal to the task. Bear with me just
q moment.
or course, you will understand that
hereafter in letter which will write,
will elaborate our principles and ell
deavor to make them more forcible,
clearer of comprehension to the aver
age person. Nothing that | have said
today have | intended to stir up ill
feeling. AS far as the republicans can
see that we are right, would like
for them to come with us; as far as
the democrats can see that We are
with us. / believe with the hosts,
the great mass of people on the re-
publican and democratic sides want to
be right, mean to be honest, and will
vote their conviction if they knew
what was the justice of their case
Men have been misled, and neil will
be misled in the future.
Speaker here takes a seat and con-
tinues.)
II were looking oniy to immcdi-
ate results l would not be here today
ro ri OF i'm IF
ing toward the campaign OF 1908. 1t
seemed to me that this country did
not need two republican parties. ZAP
plause.) 1t seems to me that the peo-
pie ought to have one party. If this
republic is to be redeemed from its
plutocartic tendencies We nave got no
time to lose. The grip of the financial
king is getting stronger on us every
day. Our power of resistance is grow
H. less every day. If we are to keep
is nation true to the principles of its
founders, it is high time we realized
that We must be up and doing. We
have commenced this campaign. not
because we expect to win, but because
we want to unfold the colors of the
right of people of common humanity
and establish recruiting station
for all those who want to come. Gap
plause) Somebody has got to do it.
We had just as well do it as to wait
for anybody else. Somebody has got
to take the risk; We had just as well
take it as wait for some one else.
Somebody has got to take hard knocks,
and abuse. and we can stand it as
we'll as any one else.
One coward, breaking the ranks
and crying out, save himself who
can" may stampede company, which
will demoralize regiment whose de-
will bring defeat to an
army. (Applause.) Whereas. one
brave man may catch up the fallen
colors, wave them high above the
smoke of battle and say to the heroes
follow me" and thus may become the
neuclcus of an invincible army Gap
plause.) Populists, the time was when
you loved me and believed in me.
Voice: You bet. Applanse.) 1t Is my
purpose to arouse the old army as it
Gnce followed me (applause) and to
pledge their honors again to the sac
red cause that was dear to us in 1896
applause and cheering. Voices: Hur-
rah for Watson.)
| know that our papers are dead.
l know that my brave cohorts have
disbanded. I know the fl,..:s has been
furled and laid away in thousand
l..