Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1906-05-03
DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM

Topeka. April 81. = The platform
adopted by the Democratic state con-
vention is as follows:
We indorse and reaffirm the Demo
cratic national platforms of 1896, 1900
and 1904, as presenting in unbroken
succession the principles of the Demo-
cratic party of the United States.
We adhere to the great Democratic
doctrine of equal rights for all and
special privileges for none, and we
once more declare that the true end
of all good government is the great
est good of the greatest number.
Cherishing the constitution as the
supreme law, we declare that wher-
ever that immortal document declares
or suggests the policy of our govern
ment we make it our guide. We stand
for constitutional money, for consti-
tutional taxation, for constitutional
control of interstate and foreign COM
merce and for a constitutional foreign
policy. At the same time favoring all
such changes in the constitution as
may from time to time become neces-
sary for the protection and preserva-
ton of the rights of the people.
Time and events have justified ev-
cry contention and fulfilled every
prophecy of the Democratic party.
We congratulate the Democratic
party and the country upon the tri-
umphant vindication of the quantita-
tive theory of finance, a Democratic
doctrine, and upon the benefits of an
expanded currency, a Democratic de-
mand.
Tariff.
We remind the public of the fact
that the late president, Mckinley, was
preparing to abandon, if he had not
actually abandoned, the extreme doc
trine of protection; that the present
occupant of the White House has made
so much progress in the knowledge of
the truth as to declare that 1.-The tariff
is not sacred and that the most in
tellectual and conscientious elements
of the Republican party now agrees
with the Democracy that the tariff is
a shelter for trusts, enabling the tariff
barons to collect enormous tribute
from the American people, while sell
ing the same wares to foreigners at
much lower rate. 1t gives the lie
to the pretense that such protection
is necessary and constitutes crime
against the American people.
We, therefore, renew our oft-repeat-
| ed demand that all tariff legislation
be restricted to laying duties for rev.
| enue only.
Railways.
Railways are public highways. Rail-
way companies are common carriers
| and public servants. They are given
franchises and great powers, with the
| implied argument on their part that
they will serve the public impartially
| for just compensation. This they
should be required by law and conf
PEELED by public authority to do.
We declare that we are not enemies,
but friends, of the railroad companies
We are proud of their efficiency as
mediums of transportation and rejoice
in their mechanical and scientific de-
velopment and their improved facili-
ties for the transportation of persons
and property, and we pledge ourselves
to defend their every right and re-
! dress their every wrong. Yet we can
not shut our eyes to plain facts nor
submit to the rule of the state and ma
| ton by railroad influence.
We, therefore, demand of the board
or railroad commissioners an honest
and earnest enforcement of all pro-
visions of existing laws against re-
bates and all manner of discrimina-
tions and of the legislature intelligent,
fair supplementary legislation to the
end that both the railroads and the
public may have justice.
OF all the evil of railroad discrinl-
nation, none are so insidious, so COLI
slant and so powerful for evil as the
free and complimentary pass. 1t muz-
zles the press, silences discussion,
stiles and prevents legislation, cor
rupts justice, dominates and directs
public conventional opinion, deter
| mines business and social success,
and, in a great measure, controls pub
| lie affairs. In principle, it is as I'M
| Just as unusual taxation, and in prac-
tice, much more unjust; and it is af-
| filiated with every other economic evil
of the age. 1t is estimated that more
than one-third of the passenger mile
age upon railroads in Kansas is now
free. so that at the rate of 3 cents per
mile the railroads now realize upon
their total mileage less than 2 cents
per mile We therefore demand the
Immediate abolition of the free pass,
and all other like devices, and the es-
tablishment of a passenger rate of 2
cents per mile for adults, with proper
tionate reductions for children, as
now
Trusts.
The subject of the trusts has be-
come stale, but these criminal combi-
nations are not only still with us, but
they rule the markets as with a rod
of iron. The price of every staple is
arbitrarily fixed in utter disregard of
the laws of supply and demand and in
defiance of the law of the land. And
this will go on until the prisons that
are yawning for the high grown
scoundrels, who manage the trusts,
are filled with them and they are
arrayed in the branded garb of
felons.
Old Soldiers.
To every honorably discharged sail
or and soldier of the republic we owe
a debt of gratitude which we can new
er repay. They, especially the sur
vivors of the great civil war, were
promised honors and offices, lands,
bounties and pensions; and it be.
hooves a patriotic and honorable peo-
pie to faithfully perform the pledges
made. And as the remorseless reap
er Trims their ranks and their influ-
| ence in affairs is diminished the obi
CATION resting upon us is increased.
We pledge the candidates on the
Democratic ticket a rigid enforce
ment of the old soldier preference
law.
Prohibition.
Prohibition in Kansas has reached
the stage of a chronic malady. For