Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-09-06

/ have visited there is a demand that
the government be brought nearer to the
people. In the United States this trend
toward Democracy has taken the form
of growing demand for the election
of United States senators by a direct
vote of the people. / am within the
limits of the truth when I say that the
senate has been for some years the
bulwark of predatory wealth, and that
it even now contains so many members
who owe their election to favor-seek-
ing corporations and are SO subservient
to their masters as to prevent needed
legislation. The popular branch of con-
gress has declared in favor of this re-
form by two-thirds vote and more than
two-thirds of the states have demanded
1t, and yet the senate arrogantly and I'M
pudently blocks the way.
Favors Income Tax.
The income tax which some in our
country have denounced as socialistic
attack upon wealth har / am pleased to
report the Endorsement CO the most con-
sentative countries in the old world. 1t
is 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 higher upon the largest in
comes. I have been absent too long TO
speak with any authority on the public
sentiment in this country at this time,
but am so convinced of the justice of
the income tax that l feel sure that the
people will sooner or later demand an
amendment to the constitution which
will authorize an income tax, and thus
make it possible for the burdens of the
federal government apportioned among
the people in proportion to their ability
to bear them.
Capital and Labor.
"a 1,o inv fScrQf 0f
international controversies under sys-
TEN which does not bind the parties to
accept the findings of the court of in
curry. This plan can be used in disputes
between labor and capital. In advocating
arbitration of differences between large
corporate employers and their employees,
believe we are defending the highest
interests of the three parties to these
disputes, viz, the employers, the en-
ployes and the public. The employees can
not be turned over to the employer to be
dealt with as the employer may please.
The question sometimes arises: "Can
not conduct my business to suit myself?''
This question is plausible one, but when
a man in conducting his business at
tempts to arbitrarily fix the conditions
under which hundreds of employees will
have to live and to determine the condi.
lions under which hundreds of others
shall have to exist, contend that he has
no right TO deprive his employees of the
right of life, liberty and the pursuit OF
happiness. To support this position
need only refer to the laws regulating
the safety of the mines, the factory laws
fixing the age at which children can be
employed and usury laws establishing
the rate of interest.
But if it is unwise to make the en-
pIoyer the sole custodian of the rights
and interests of the employees, it is
equally unwise to give to the employees
uncontrolled authority over the rights
and interests of the employer. The EN-.
ployes are no more to be trusted to act
unselfishly and disfnterestedly than the
employers. In their zeal to secure an adj
vantage they may not only do injustice
but even forfeit larger future gain.
No reference to the labor question Is
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. it is really
an attack upon the judicial system, anc
ought to arouse a unanimous protest. So
long as the meanest thief is guaranteed
a trial by jury, a jury ought not to bt
denied to wage earners. However, as the
writ is usually invoked in case of a strike
the Importance of the subject would be
very much reduced by the addition Of
a system of arbitration, because arbitra'
ton would much reduce, even if it die
not entirely remove the probability OF
strike.
Just another word in regard to the
laboring man. The struggle to secure ar
eight-hour day is an international strug-
gle, and 1t is sure to be settled in favor
of the workingman's contention. The
benefits of the labor-saving machine have
not been distributed with equity. The
producer has enormously multiplied his
capacity, but so far the owner of the ma
chine has received too much of the in
crease and the laborer too little
BimetaIIism Not an Issue.
Thus far I have dwelt upon subjects
which may not be regarded as strictly
partisan, but am sure that you will
pardon me If in this presence / betray
my interest in those policies for whic-
the Democratic party stands. Our oppo.
nents have derived not only partisan
pleasure, but also partisan advantage
from the division caused in our party
by the money question. They ought not,
therefore, begrudge us the satisfaction
that we find in the fact that unexpected
conditions have removed the cause OF
our differences and permitted us to pres
ent united front on present issues. The
unlocked for and unprecedented increase
in the production of gold had brought
and the advocates of bimetallism-the
former keeping the gold standard which
they wanted and the latter securing the
larger volume of money for which they
contended.
Trusts the Paramount Issue.
While men may differ as to the rela'
tive Importance of issues, and while the
next congress will largely shape the lines
upon which the coming presidential cam
paign will be fought, / think 1t is safe
to say that at present the paramount is
sue in the minds of a large majority OF
the people is the trust issue. congratu:
late President Roosevelt upon the steps
which he has taken to enforce the anti
trust law and my qualification is not les
sened by the fact that he has followed
the Democratic rather than the Repubi-
can platform in every advance he has
made
Before any intelligent action can be
taken against the trusts, we must have
a definition of a trust. Because no cor
poration has an absolute and complete
monopoly of any important product, the
apologists for the trusts sometimes in