Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1906-09-01
rates is the true value of the proper
ties themselves.

it one of it's most Important duties to
ascertain the true value of railroad
properties in Minnesota and declare
such value the basis for schedules of
freight and passenger rates which
should be adjusted accordingly.
We recommend also in order that
railroad rate legislation may be
above any suspicion of railroad in
f1uence that law be enacted making
| the giving of railroad passes to state
officials and legislators and the re-
ceiving of such passes by them an
offense punishable by law.
THE PROTECTIVE" TARIFF.
Honesty and the principles of demo-
! cratic government are alike unalter-
ably opposed to graft of all kinds,
whether the graft be taken in viola
ton of the law Or by means of laws
which give the earnings of e people
to the captains of industry. The
"protective" tariff is a graft. Com
ing within the forms of law it has
blinded the judgement and corrupted
men who would shun illegal graft.
Through campaign contributions, So
cial influence and appeals to political
ambition it has corrupted the party
organization of the party of Lincoln
making it the bulwark of protection"
It caused men calling themselves
Democrats to emasculate the Wilson
B IL. But the Democratic party by it's
name, history and principles is fun
damentally opposed to the existing
system of "protection" and declares
that its political and economic evils
should be cautiously but certainly re-
moved from our national life. Con-
gressional legislation should provide
for the prompt removal of certain
tariffs, for the gradual removal and
reduction of others, and finally for the
permanent removal of this question
from politics by the creation of a per-
manent tariff commission of limited
power,
| We protest against the attempt to
delude the farmer with the idea that
freer commercial relations with Cana
ada would injure the raisers of wheat.
Any one who will consult the daily
records of wheat prices in Mime
apolis and Winnipeg will see that
Canadian wheat is as high in price as
Minnesota wheat and frequently
little higher. It's entrance into this
country free of duty could not there
fore effect the price of Minnesota
wheat.
TAXATION.
In order that taxes may be paid by
those who possess property i'll pro-
portion to their ability and benefits
received, we urge that the next legis-
lature improve our system of tax
alton and especially that it shall pass
law by which all property wrong
fully withheld from assessment shall
be forfeited to state or local tax
funds.
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP.
We declare that democratic govern
ment has the right to enter the fields
of so called private enterprises to
compete with or Gf necessary for
public good to abolish private owner
ship whenever by so doing it may
greatly improve public service up
on which the comfort or welfare of it's
citizens depend. Democracy favors
not socialism but the sovereignty Of
the people who are superior to any
of the corporations Or any of the pro-
perty righos they may have granted
to individuals or corporations.
INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM, ETC.
In order that the people may more
perfectly control the legislation of
their government we favor the in
itiative, referendum and recall.
GOOD ROADS.
We favor the adoption at the Nov
ember election of the proposed good
roads amendment to the state con-
stitution. We believe it is step in
the right direction and will secure
better methods of road construction
and better roads, wiser expenditure
of road funds and more money for
those funds.
PRISON LABOR TO COMPETE WITH
| TRUSTS.
The Democracy of Stevens County
declares it to be the imperative duty
of the next legislature of Minnesota
to enact such laws as will enlarge the
scope of the industrial plant of the
prison at Saltwater SO that the kinds
of farm machinery which are now
made and controlled by the farm
machinery trust of America shall be
made and sold to the farmers of the
state at prices as favorable as those
| at which they now purchase Irvine of