The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-26

law can not De enforced without the
use of the military power of the state
I am in favor of local option in the
cities. Do not let US act the part of
/ towards. Let US be sincere and honest
in what we say. You should not COM
nit the party to do something which
you we'll know it viii not do You
/ know well enough that we don't intend
to put the lid on, even If We elect our
ticket This law enforcement plank
| puts US in a false position.
/ David Overmyer interrupted with the
I question: Mr.. Rose, are you not in IA
vor of public officials enforcing the laws
against corporations to the best of their
ability? ?"
yes, sir. I am" said Mr.. Rose.
'sThen that is all we need to say
about the prohibitory law. Let officials
enforce it to the best of their ability. .
But I am opposed to this misrepre-
sentation of our position" said Mr.
Rose.
"Oh, well. I guess that will take care
of itself in a city like Kansas City,
commented Mr.. Overmyer.
There was also considerable discus
/ sion over the plank for railroad regu-
/ lafon, but the 2-cent fare and anti
pass provisions were finally adopted.
/ The resolutions as originally presented
were prepared by David Overmyer, and
spoke in commendatory terms of the
work Of Carr Taylor, the Republican
/ attorney for the board of railroad COM
/ missioners. John H Atwood, of 1eav-
enworth, a railroad attorney. fought
this commendatOry provision. and had
/ it stricken out.
The following is the Democratic plat
/ form in full:
I'VE iudorse and reaffirm the Demo-
cratic national platforms of 1896, 1900
and 1904 as presenting in unbroken sue
cession the principles of the Democratic
party of the United States.
I'VE adhere to the great Democratic
I doctrine of equal rights for all ana
I Gn6rf11 once
more declare that tie true end or ali
good government is the greatest good OF
the greatest number
-Cherishing the constitution as the
/ supreme law, we declare that wherever
that immortal document declares or
suggests the policy of our government
we make it our guide. We stand Tor
constitutional money. for constitutional
taxation, for institutional control OF
interstate and foreign commerce ana
for a constitutional foreign policy; at
1 the same time favoring all such changes
in the constitution as may from time to
time become necessary for the protec-
ton and preservation OF the rights OF
the people.
Time and events have justified every
contention and fulfilled every prophecy
of the Democratic party.
I'VE congratulate the Democratic
party and the country upon the trl-
umphant vindicatiOn of the cumulative
theory of finance, Democratic doc
trine and upon the benefits OF an e1-
panded currency, Democratic De
/ mand.
I'VE remind the public of the fact
that the late President Mckinley was
preparing to abandon, if he had not act
uaIy abandoned, the extreme doctrine
of protection: That the present occu-
pant of the White House mas maze 50
much progress in the knowledge OF the
truth as to declare that the tariff is
4 @
ual and conscientious elements OF the
Republican part. now agree with the
Democracy that the tariff IS sheilef
for trusts, enabling the tariff barons 10
I collect enormous tribute from the
American people, while selling the same
wares to foreig ners at a much lower
rate it gives the lie to the pretense that
such protection is necessary ana consul
tutes a crime against the American
! people
we therefore, renew our oft repeat
ed demand that all tariff legislation be
restricted to laying duties Tor revenue
only
Railway companies are common car
riers and public servants. They are
given franchises and great powers, with
the implied argument on their part tnaE
they will serve the public ImparUally
for lust compensation. This they shoulc
be required by law and compelleo oy
public authority to do
mics. but friends, of the railroad com
Danies. We are proud of their ef-
1 dciencv as mediums of transportation,
and rejoice in their mechanical ana
scientific development ana their I'M
proved facilities for the transportation
of persons and property; and we
pledge ourselves to defend their every
riphf and redress their every wrong
yet. we cannot shut our eyes TO plain
facts nor submit to the rule OF the
I -, r.ff ~n1 I'D
1--WE therefore demand of the board
of railroad commissioners an honest
and earnest enforcement of all pro-
visions Of existing laws against rebates
and all manner of discrlmlna tlons;
and of the legislature intelligent. fair
supplementary legislation to the end
that both the railroads and the public
may have justice.
sOf all the evils of railroad dis
elimination none is so insidious, 50
constant and so powerful for evil as
the free and complimentary pass It
nnuzzIes the press, silences discussion,
stiles and perverts legislation, cor
rupts Justice, dominate and directs
public conventional opinion, deter
mines business and social success, and
in a great measure controls public at
fairs In principle it is as unjust as
unequal taxation and in practice mueh
more unjust, and It is affiliated with
every other economic evil of the age.
It is estimated that more than one
third of the passenger mileage upon
railroads in Kansas is now free, so that
a t the rate of cents per mile the rail-
roads now realize upon their total
mileage less than cents per mile. We
therefore demand the immediate abo-
ition of the free pass and all other
like devices, and the establishment of
a passenger rate of cents per mile
for adults, with proportionate reduc-
lions for children, as now.
THE subject of the trusts has be-
come stale but these criminal combi-
nations are not only still with US, but
they rule the markets as with rod of
iron. The price Of every staple is ar
/ bitrarily fixed in utter disregard of the
law of supply and demand and in de-
fance of the laws of the land. And
this will go on until the prisons that
are yawning for the high grown scoun-
drels who manage the trusts are filed