The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-10-13


the hundreds of monopolies ana trists
that the individual citizen IS reducf'l to
a state OF indignant but reiaediless I'M
potence.
From a republican Nominee one dots
not expect grea. dea, upon the labor
question; and would lie disappointed
ii he did expect it. B Il FROM demo-
cratic nominee one naturally hopes
for deilverance. Judge Parker's for
NAL letter does not recognize that such
a thing as the labor question exists.
He offers no solution OF the trouble;
and upon the calm tide Of his smooth
rhetoric there is no suggestion that
civil war shoulders in many region
of our Christian republic, where cap
ital and labor have taken each other
by the throat. Ii is true that Judge
Parker thinks mat tariff and reform
would benefit the Wage-earner. So 1t
would, ii it were OF the right sort But
Cleveland, once upon time, sounded
the slogan of tariff reform" and, after
one defeat, was elected to do the work.
Arthur German was the master-builder
who framed the measure which was
to lessen the burdens Of the oppressed
and when Arthur German got through
with The job the burdens OF the OPP
pressed had merely been shifted from
one shoulder to the other. We great
warm-hearted senator from Missouri,
G .orge G. Ves,, wanted coal PIT
upon the free list, in order that
cheaper fuel could be had by the peo-
pie; Arthur German opposed the meas
LIZ G stuhhornly in Che senate. When
the sugar trusts WsasssSt a better rate
than the Dingley bill was about to give
them. Senator Elkins brought Have
meyer and German together in per-
Sonal conference; and the trust got
what Hayemeyer came for.
And Arthur German is Parker's
manager!
The tariff reform, Of the demo-
cratic nominee mus, therefore, be TAX
en- with care, and to The Parker letter
of acceptance should be attached the
German tariff act of 1894 as Exhibit
A. and the speech OF General Joe
Wheeler against that measure as Elk
hibit b.
Ii / were president. J would recog-
nize that capital and labor have
reached a dangerous ant6Sonlsm. My
utmost influence would be used to es-
tablish national bureau OF arbitra-
ton would ask combined capital
to choose one man; union labor tc
choose another; and | would, myself
as chief magistrate, chose a third
Such board of arbitration should
have jurisdiction over labor troubles
and would become a power for good.
That something must be done, ano
done soon, should be clear to all. A
few more Colorado situations would
precipitate the rule of the soldier, paic
by the corporation, or by the taxpayers
whose state officials are owned by cor.
poratiens.
Majority Rule
peoples party advocates the in
itiatlve, o. Il sE.rs.sif~ sWhichm PEG,
pie can originate and pass sucn law law
as they desire, the referendum, BIZ
means of which they can veto such
legislation as they disapproye; and the
right to cancel the commission of such
public officials as have given dissatis-
faction.
One of the evils of the present sys-
tel, is that the people are not con
suited when laws are to be made: they
only hear of the legislative acts after
they are published Even fleet-footet
lawyers find it difficult to keep pace
with the changes constantly beins
made in the statutes.
The initiative and referendum would
correct most Of that; and the impera
tive mandate and right OF recall would
do a great deal toward keeping publ,
officers faithful to trust To cancel tn,
commission of the public servant Wht
has been recreant to duty is milt
enough punishment II such a powe
be not given the people, then our stat
utes should make the betrayal of pub
lie trust punishable with the heayies
penalties. We shoot the private sol
der who deserts to the enemy. TIL,
extreme penalty is supposed to h
necessary to deter others from desert
ing. But when senator or represen
tative or governor or judge sells hi
vote, or his decision, to the enemies
OF the people, in violation of solemn
pledges made to the people who electe,
Ia