Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-09-06

by announcing rs a national policy that
our navy will not he used for the col
lection of private debts. While protecting |
the lives of our citizens everywhere and
guaranteeing the personal safety OF all
who owe allegiance to our flag, We
should, in my judgment, announce that
persons engaging in business and hold
ing property in other lands for business |
purposes must be subject to the laws Of
the countries in which they engage in |
business enterprises.
Before leaving international politics |
let me add that our nation has lost
prestige rather than gained it, by our
experiment in colonialism. We have
given the monarchist a chance to ridi-
cule our declaration OF independence
and the scoffer has twitted us with In
consistency. A tour through the Phil
ippine islands has deepened the con-
viction that we should lose no time I
in announcing our purpose to deal with |
the Fflipinos as We dealt with the t.
Cubans. Such GROUND as we may need
for coaling stations or for naval base |
VIII be gladly conceded by the Filipi-
nos, who simply desire an opportunity
TO work out their destiny. inspired by
our example and aided by our advice.
L. s. SENATORS BY POPULAR VOTE
[ return more convinced than before o.
the importanoe of a change in the method
of electing United States senators. There
is noticeable everywhere a distinct move
ment toward democracy in It's broadcast
sense. In all the countries which l have
visited there is a demand that the gov
ernment be brought nearer to the people.
The income tax which some in our coun-
try have denounced. as a socialistic at
tack upon wealth has. l am pleased to re-
port, the endorsement of the most conser-
vative countries in the Old world. 1t is i
permanent part of the fiscal system of
most of the countries OF Europe and in
many places it is a graded tax, the rate
being highest upon the largest ncomes.
1t is little short of a disgrace TO our couu-
try that while it is able to command the
lives of Its citizens In time of war it can
not even in the most extreme emergency
compel wealth TO bear It's share of the eX-
penses of the government which protects
it.
l have referred to the investigati ton of
international controversies under a sys-
TEN which does not bind the parties to
accept the findings of the court of in
quiry. This plan can be used in disputes
between labor and capital; in fact. II was
proposed as a means of settling such dis
putes before it was applied to Internal
tional Controversies 1t is as Important
that We shall have peace at home as that
we shall live peaceably with neighhor-
ing nations, and peace IS only possible
when it rests upon justice.
- -. NV
No reference to the labor question isl
complete that does not include some men
ton of what Is known as government by
injunction. AS the main purpose of the
writ is to evade trial by jury. II is really
an attack upon the jury system and
ought to arouse a unanimous protest. SO
long as the meanest thief is guaranteed
a trial by Jury. a Jury ought not TO b
denied to wage earners. However. as the
writ is usually invoked in case or a
strike the Importance or the subject wouiu
be very much reduced 10y the adoption
of Il system OF arbitration, because arbi7
tration would very muc>i reouce. even
If it did not entirely remove, the PROB
ability of a strike.
Just another word in regard TO the la
boring man. The struggle to secure an
elght-hour day is an internationa strug1
gle and il is sure to be settled in favor
of the workingman's contention. The
| benefits of the labor saving machine havo
not been distributed with equity. The
| producer has enormously multiplied his
capacity hut 30 far the owner OF the
| machine has received too much OF tht
| increase and the laborer too little. Those
| who oppose the sight-hour day do IL
am convinced. more because of Ignorance
Of conditions than because OF lack O
sympathy with those who toll.
Thus far l have dwelt upon sunJeotf
which may not be regarded as strictly
partisan, but l am sure that you viii
pardon me II in THIS presence I betray
NV interest In those policies for which
the Democratic party stands. I havS
not had an opportunity to make q
democratic speech for almost a yea
and no one-not even n political enem,
could he so cruel as to forbid me to
speak OF these policies on this occa
sion.
DEMOCRATS HAVE UNITED.
Our opponents nave derived not oni1
partisan pleasure. but also partisan ad
vantage from the division caused IL
our party by the money question. They
ought not therefore, begrudge us thu
satisfaction that we fnd in the fac
that unexpected conditions have re