The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1906-06-08
"Brim Full of Socialism and
Anarchy But the Chicago
Platform Still Lives.
From The Commoner.) J

form" 1t was adopted by the
Democratic National Convention
at Chicago in 1896. From the
Atlantic to the Pacific and from
the lakes to the gulf it was de-
nounced as the product Of an
archists, and the candidates who
stood upon it and the men who
gave them support were pointed
to by the Republican leaders as
men who would stain the nat
ional honor. One distinguished
supporter of the Republican
ticket characterized the "Chicago
Platform" as ga bundle of popu-
listic notions saturated brim full
of socialism and anarchy"
But the "Chicago Platform"
still lives. and it is no exaggera.
ton to say that in its essen
tial principles it stands vindi-
Gated in the court of public opin-
ion.
Read your "Chicago Platform"
in the light of the present day
happenings.
The "Chicago Platform" re-
sisted 1.-THE tendency of selfish
interests toward the ceEtraliza
ton of governmental power"
and declared for the maintenance
of the "integrity of the dual
scheme of government established
by the founders of this republic
of republics" That that declar-
alton is in line with today's pub.
lie sentiment is indicated by the
failure of the well organized
effort to pass an insurance law
deprlving the States of their
power over the insurance bust
ness within their limits and vest
ing all authority--even the power
of incorporation-in the Federal
government.
That platform maintained the
cumulative theory of money and
during the ensuing campaign
that theory was bitterly denounc-
ed by Republican speakers and
Republican editors. But those
who vigorously condemned the
theory in 1896 are today making
PLAIN, if not humble, confession
of their error. The theory so bit.
terly assailed ten years ago is not
now denied by en- claiming to
be we'll Informed.
That platform denounced the
extraordinary privileges confer
red upon national banks, aud
throughout the country today
there is an ever increasing pro
test along the line-and the pro
test comes from men of all polit.
ical parties.
That platform denounced the
Republican high tariff as a pro
life breeder of trusts and mo-
n0polieS" which "enriches he few
at the expense of the many, re-
stricts trade, and depriveS the
producers of the great American
staples of access to their natural
markets" So thoroughly recog-
nlzed are these facts today that a
revolt is on among the rank and
file of the Republican party, aud
although the Republican Con
greSs is needless of the demand for
relief, Republicans in every State
of the Union are demanding the
destruction Of the shelter which
the trusts tind in the Republican
tariff.
That platform declared in favor
OF an income tax, and today that
plan finds ardent champions
among men who ten years go
vigorously opposed it. Even the
President elected as a Republican
recently delivered a speech in
which he made statements that
are Interpreted by his friends
as meaning an Inheritance tax
statements which if they mean
anything at all may also be
fairly interpreted as favOring an
income tax.
That platform declared it to be
the duty of Congress to use all
of its constitutional powers $50
that the burdens of taxation NAV
be equally and impartially laid,
to the end that wealth may bear
its due proportion of the ex
penses of the government" De
mands to that effect have become
quite popular these days, coming
as they do from the mass of
the people regardless of party
utilization.
That platform declared in favor
of prohibiting importation of
foreign pauper labor to compete
with American labor in the home
market; and although an organ.
lied effort has been made by rep
resentatives of special interests
to throw down the bars to the
cheap labor of the Orient, public
sentiment has so crystalllzed
along the lines laid down by the