The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-10
Opposed to the Reorganization.

1
| middle ground
| Opposed to the Reorganization
Mr.. Bryan says he did what he
could to prevent the reorganization of
| the Democratic party; when he failed
| in this he did what he could to aid
| Parker and Davis in order to secure
| such reforms-and there were some
| vital ones-promised by their election.
| Now that the campaign is over, he will
assist those who desire to put the
Democratic party once more on a
fighting basis; he will assist in organ
izing for the campaign of 1908 1t
| does not matter SO much who the
nominee may be. During the next
| into the arena some man especially
| fitted to carry the standard. Contin-
| uing, he says: ut will be time enough
| to nominate a candidate when we are
measure the relative availability of
| those worthy to be considered; but
we ought to begin now to lay our
| plans for the next national campaign,
and to form the line of battle
! The party must continue to pro-
| test against a large army, against a
large navy, and to stand for the in
| dependence of the ilipinOS, for i'm
perialism adds the menace of mill
| tarism to the corrupting influence of
commercialiSm, and yet experience has
shown that however righteous the
party'S position in this subject, the
| issue does not arouse the people as
they can be warned by a question
which touches them Immediately and
Individually. The injustice done to
the FilipinOS is not reached as it
should be or as we resent a wrong
to ourselves, and the coStlineSS of
Imperialism is hidden by the statis-
tics and by our indirect system of tax
alton. While the party must maintain
its position on this subject, it cannot
present this as the only issue.
The party must also maintain its
position on the tariff question. No
answer has been made to the indict-
ment against the high tariff, and yet,
here too. the burden of the tariff sys-
tenn is concealed by the method in
which the taxes are collected. 1t can
not be made the sole issue in a cam
pafgn.
1.-The party must renew its demand
for an income tax, to be secured
through constitutional amendment,
In order that wealth may be made to
pay its share of the expense of the
government. Today we are collecting
practically all of our federal revenue
from taxes upon consumption, and
these bear heaviest upon the poor and
light upon the rich.
The party must maintain its posi-
ton in favor of bimetalism. 1t can
not surrender its demand for the use
of both gold and silver as the stand
question must remain in allegiance
until conditions so change as to bring
the public again face to face with
falling prices and a rising dollar
This, therefore. cannot be made the
controlling issue of the contest upon
which we are entering
The trust question presents the most
acute phase of the contest between De-
macracy and plutocracy, so far as eco
nomic issues are concerned. The presi-
dent virtually admit that the trusts con-
tr1buted to his campaign fund, but he de-
mics that they received any promises of
aid or immunity. No well-informed per
large tons
have furnished the Republican calnpaian
fund during the campaign of 1896 and
the logic of Judge Parker's arraignment
OF trusts contribution: The trusts are
run on business principle. They do
not subscribe millions of dollars to cam
pa1gn unless they are paying for faVors
future delivery. The weakness of Judge
Parker's position was that the charge was
m at the ciose OF the campaign wren
The trusts can not be fought successfully
by any party that depends upon trusts
funds to win the election.
THE Democratic party must make its
attack upon the trusts so vehement that
no one will suspect of secret aid from
them. It will be to its advantage if it will
begin the next campaign with an an
nouncement that no trust contributions
will be accepted and then prove its sin
certify by giving the public access to its
contribution list. In public enterprises
made public in order to denote the char
acter and purpose of the work.
which to make good his declaration that
no obliga tions were incurred by the ac-
ceptance of trust funds. He will disap-
point either the contributors or the
voters. If he disappoints the contributors
the trust question may be put in the pro-
cess of settlement. II he disappoints the
people they will have a chance to settle
with his party four years hence. Death
to every private monopoly must be the
slogan of the party in this question, any
other position is surrender. The plat
forms of 1900 and 1904 declare that a pri-
vate monopoly is indefensible and intol-
cradle, and this declaration presents the
issue upon the trust question.
Ihe party must continue Its defense of
protect them from the encroa chments of
capital The fact that the 1aboring men
have not always shown their apprecia-
ton OF the partyS position ought not to
deter the party from doing it's duty in re-
gard to them. The labor question is not
one that concerns employers and en-
munity, and the people at large have an
interest in the just settlement OF labor
controversies: for that reason they must
insist upon remedial legislation in regard
to hours and arbitration: and they must
limit the authority of the courts in
contempt cases as to overthrow what is
known as government by injunction.
The party must continue its opposition
to national banks of issue and must insist
upon divorcing the treasury department
from Wall street.
the popular election of senators and for
direct legislation whereby the principle
can be applied. 1t must not only maintain
its position on the old issues, but it must
advance to the consideration of new ques-
tiorS as they arise.
1T takes time to direct attention to an
sentiment in favor of a remedy, and Mr..
Bryan is not sanguine enough to believe