Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1904-09-29

. maximum, from which the federal gov
eminent was empowered TO offer reduce
tton. In return for an equivalent concession
dent mckinley undertook honestly to carry
out the purpose OF the act. A number
OF reciprocity agreements were negotiated,
which. IL ratified. would have had the two:
fold result OF cheapening many imported
products for American consumers, and OF
opening and enlarging foreign markets
to American producers. Not one OF
those agreements has met with the APP
proval of the republican masters OF the
senate. Indeed. they did not even permit
their consideration. In view OF the atti-
tude OF the present executive no new
agreement need be expected from him.
Nor does the republican platform contain
pended treaties. The reciprocity clauses
Of the Dingley act seem destined to re-
main monument OF legislative cozenage
and political bad faith, unless the peo-
at the ballot box and command reduction
OF duties In return for reciprocity con-
cessions."
Independence for the Filipinos.
'In some quarters II has been assumed
that In the discussion OF the Philippine
question In my response. the phrase
something less than independence. II
was not intended that It should be under
stood to mean, nor do ] think as used 1t
does mean less than independence. How
ever. to eliminate all possibility for con-
lecture, now state that am In hearty
accord with that plank In our platform
that favors doing for the Filipinos what
we have already done for the Cubnns
and j favor making the promise to them
soon as they are reasonably prepared for
II. II independence. such as the Cubans
enjoy. cannot be prudently granted to
the Filipinos at this time, the promise
thnt oh fhn thnu N
capable OF receiving II Will tend to stimu-
late rather than hinder their develop
ment. And this should be done not only
In Justice to the Filipinos, but to pre-
cannot withhold freedom from another
people and themselves remain free. The
liberation OF tyranny over others Will
soon breed contempt for freedom and
OF resistance to insidous usurpation OF
our constitutional rights.
THE statute relating to civil service
Is the outcome OF the efforts OF thought
full unselfsh and publlc-spirlted citi-
zens. Operation under II has frequently
been OF such character as TO offend
against the spirit OF the statute, but the
results achieved. even under a partial
enforcement OF the law. have been such
as to both deserve and command the
utterance OF the democratic party that
II stands committed to the principle OF
civil service reform and demands Its
just and Impartial enforcement.
Panama Canal.
IAN Isthmian canal has long been the
hope of our statesmen. and the avowed
aim of the two great parties, as their
platforms in the past ,.s show s.,so The
the building OF the canal should be
pressed to completion with all reason
able expedition.
In pn npnn
rights are a source OF regret TO many.
To them. the statement that thereby
n great public work was assured to the
profit of our peoDle 10 not a sufficient
that the principles and healthy con-
victions which in their working out
have made us free and great, stand
ton that we shall be blind to the nature
OF the means employed TO promote our
welfare. They hold that adherence TO
principle. whether 1t works for our good
or Ill, will have more beneticent infiu-
ence on our future destiny than all our
material upbulidng. and that We should
ever remember that the idea OF doing a
wrong 10 smaller weaker nation that
We. or even all mankind. may have
resultant good is repugnant to the prin-
ciples upon which our government was
founded.
Under the laws Of the United States
the duty Is imposed on the executive TO
proceed with due diligence In the work
OF constructing the canal. That duty
should be promptly performed
Pensions for Our Soldiers and Sailors.
''The national democracy favors liberal
pensions to the surviving soldiers and
sailors and their dependents. on the
ground that they deserve liberal treat eat
quate legislation to that end. But 1t
denies the right of the executive to
usurp the power OF congress to legislate
on that subject. Such usurpation was
attempted by pension order No. Is, and
effect has been given to 1t by congress
that dared not resent the usurpation. II
$ said that this order was made In the
performance Of duty imposed upon the
provision making the imposition is not
pointed out. The act TO which the order
refers, which Is the one relating to PEN
sions to civil war veterans. does not au-
thorize pensions on the ground OF age.
t does grant pensions to those suffering
rom any mental or physical disability,
IT disabilities OF a permanent character,
not the result OF their own vicious hab-
is. which so incapacitates them from
the performance Of manual labor as to
render them unable to earn a support
This specified requirement Of incapacity
Is In effect set aside by order No. rs as
to all persons over 81.
''The war closed nearly 40 years ago.
and sailors long survived the age OF
G.. and passed away without receiving
any pension. Skllful pension attorneys
hunting through the statute failed to
find there n provision giving PEN
sion to all who had reached G.. Many
prominent veterans urged the Justice or
congressional action giving service
pension 10 all veterans. Bills to that
effect were introduced In congress. And
not until March OF this year did any
one ever claim to have made the dis
covery that the president had power to
treat the statute as II II read that when
a claimant had passed the age OF g. years
he is necessarily disabled one-half In
ability to perform manual labor and
therefore entitled to a pension.
The present pension commissioner in
dicated his view OF the order when In
a recent address he thanked the presi-
dent for what he had done. and advised
his hearers to use their influence that
a law might be passed to the same ef-
feet. Full confidence after all seems not
to have been placed on the defense OF
justifica lion. for II Is pleaded In mitiga.
ton that a former democratic president
did something looking In that direction.
Even II that were so-which Is not ad-
mitted-our present duty would be none
the less plain and imperative. Our peo-
pie must never tolerate the citation OF
one act Of usurpation of power as an
excuse for another. The FIRST may pos
sibly be due to mistake; the second. be-
ing based on the first. cannot be. In
explanation, however, II should be said
that the order relied on simply provided
that the age Of rs years should be re-
garded as evidence OF inability to per-
form manual labor. Few men are able
to perform manual labor at that age,
but nearly all men are at g.. The tirst