The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1906-06-13
onXow Label
Is a Date.
LOOK AT 1T.

"Brim Full of Socialism and Anar
chy"-But the Chicago Plat
form Still Lives.
Everyone. of course, remember
the hated"Chicago Platform" 1
Ras.adoptsd by the Democrat,
national convention at Chicago ii
1896. From the Atlantic to thu
Pacific and from the lakes. to 9TH
;gpB5t weadeao4nOed ~ the pro
duct of anarchists, and the candi
dates who stood upon it and tht
men who. gave them support wer,
pointed to by Republican leaders
a. men who would stain the nation
al honor. One distinguished sup
porter ofzthe Republican tioket
characterized the "Ohicago Plat.
form" asia bundle CT popuIistic
notions saturated brim full of SO.
oialism and anarchy.
But the Chicago Platform" still
lives, and tits no exaggeration to
say that in4its essential principles
it stands vindicatsd IN the court OF
public opinion.
Read your "Chicago Platform"
in the light of present day happen.
ings,
The rChicsgo Platform" resisted
1.-THE tendency of selfish interests
toward the Capitalization of govern
mental power" and declared for
the maintenance of "the integrity
Of the dual scheme of government
established by the founders of this
republic" That that declaration
is in line with today's public senti-
ment is indicated by the failure OF
the we'll organized effort to pass an
insurance law.deprlVing the states
of their power over the insurance
business within their limits and
vesting all authority-even the
power of inoorporation-in the
federal government.
That platform maintained the
cumulative theory of money and
during the ensuing campaign that
theory was bitterly denounced
by Republican speakers and
editors. But those who vigorously
condemned the theory in 1896 are
today making plain, if not humble,
confession of their error. The
theory so bitterly assailed ten
years ago ie not now denied by
msn. claiming to be we'll informed.
That platform denounced the
extraordinary privileges conferred
upon national banks, and through
ont the country today there is an
ever increasing protest along this
ine-and the protest comes from
men of all political parties.
That platform denounced the
Republican high tariff as SO pro-
lilo breeder of: trusts and monopo-
lies" which "enriches the few at
the expense of the many,
restricts trade and deprives
the producers of the great
American staples of access to their
natural markets. - So thoroughly
recognized are these facts today
that reyolt is on among the rank
Z and file Of the Republican party,
and although the Republican con-
eress is needless of the demsnd for
relief. Republicans in every state
in~the union are demanding the
destruction Of the shelter which
the trusts find in the Republican
tariff.
That platform declared in favor
If an income tax. and today that
plan hnds ardent champions among
men who ten years ago vigorously
oppoSed1it. Even the president
elected as a Republican recently
delivered a speech in which he
made statements that are interpret.
ed by his friends as meaning an in.
heritance tax-statements which
if they mean anything at all may
also be fairly interpreted as favor.
ing an income tax.
IS That platform declared it to be
the duty of congress to use all Of
its constitutional powers $50 thai
the burdens of taxation may be
equally and impartially laid, to the
end that wealth may bear its due
proportion of the expenses of the
government" Demands to thai
effect have become quite popular
these days. coming as they do from
the mass of the people regardless
of party affliation.