The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-07-10

m0nopOlieS. For nearly ten years lns
republican party has been In absolute
control OF all departments OF national
government with power to change IN
just conditions and 10 recufy evils.
Yet, during that time, colossal combi-
nations of capital have dominated the
people, and illegal ~perversion OF cor
laws have stifed competition
and unfairly limited the opportunity NJ
the individual citizen Wealth there
by illegally obtained has been unspa--
ingly used 10 control legislation 4
corrupt elections. No honest effort has
been made. or is being made, BY r.
publican legislation to cure or eradl-
cate these evils.
We denounce rhe hypocrisy OF nc
republican party which, while pre-
tending 10 Iegislate against these CO..
diti0ns, deals only with the symptoms
and not with the disease. The unfair.
tyrannical features Of the ~so-ca!iei
protective tariff" have made II So
things possible. and no permanent re-
lief can be secured until its oOnox-
iOuS features are removed. To Teneit
this evil we demand Il thorough *
vision Of present tariff laws.
TRUSTS DENOI MED
The growth of the trusts and oshcr
inordinate and dangerous combina-
lions of capital. the tremendous II
rapidly increasing absorption and se1-
tral!ZatiOn Of the wealth of the conn
try IN the hands of q chosen few. all
due 10 premeditated and systematic
Legislation in behalf OF special liner
ests by the republican party, demand
Il change in the policies imposed upon
the country by that party and make
the passage Of restrictive laws an I'M
perative necessity.
We denounce the appalling system Of
corruption heretofore practiced BY the
great insurance companies, whereby
money intrusted 10 them for the benz
fit of widows and orphans has been
devoted to the enrichment OF favored
individuals and 10 the campaign fund
of the republican party.
We denounce the present infquttOus,
unjust and trust-Creating protective
tariff imposed upon the people by the
republican party and demand its i'm
mediate revision, 10 the end that all
unjust burdens shall be removed and
especially those upon the necessaries
Of life and those that enable the trust
to extOrt from the people ~unreason-
able profits and TO sell their products
TO consumers at home at greater prices
than are charged for the same goods
to the foreign consumer.
DEBATE ON PLATFORM.
After the report was read Mr.. John
D. Bellamy, of New Hanover, moved
that the peTpetuity clause be stricken
out.
Mr.. W. H. Powell, of Tarboro, see
onded the motion. The amendment did
not carry.
MI. j. D. Murphy, of Buncombe, ask
ed that an amendment be added to
the platform to give the corporation
commission power to fix just and Iea-
sonable tolls and rentals to be recejv-
ed by telephone companies.
Major E. j. Hale insisted on his
resolution endorsing the Chicago plat
form and other things and moved that
it be added to the report of the pla--
form committee.
n. S. Spence moved as a substlt,.re
that the resolutions be laid on the Ia
bic. There were calls for j vote
Spences motion carried. A division
was called and a poll Of the counties
taken. The result was 351 against il
and 345 for. Senator Simomns offered
The following substitute to Major
resolutions:
AND JUDGES BY d.
RECT VOTE.
Resolved, That the democratic parry,
in convention assembled, declares it.
self in favor of the election OF United
States senators and federal judges by
a direct vote of the people; that it also
the enactment of a graduated
tax and for the purpose favors
such amendment to the constitution
Of the United States as nay be necas-
sary.
Mr.. Cameron Morrison spoke against
adding federal judges to the resOlu-
He said that it was revolution
AIRY to talk Of electing federal JUDGES
by the people. Senator Simmons said
that he did not understand the federal
judge clause to refer to the United
States supreme court judges. Major
Hale insisted on the federal judges re-
ing added, explaining that he did not
mean to include supreme court judges.
Mr.. MURPHY'S AMENDMENT.
Mr.: J.. D. Murphy offered the follow
substitute for Mr.. Simmons:
That we favor such amendments to
the constitution of the United States
as will provide for the election Of dis
trict and circuit judges of the United
States and United States senators By
direct vote of the people and a graG-
udted income tax.
Mr.. Morrison asked that the "circui.
court judges" be cut out. but the mo-
ton was voted down. The Murphy
was adopted and the CON
yention adjourned. After all these
resolutions, amendments, substitutes
had much confused the convention and
really mixed the matter seriously. Col.
Means made the hit of the entire seS-
sion Of the convention by the follow
ing mention:
COL. MEANS LITTLE JOKE.
That, in view of the complex AMI
condition Of the wishes OF
ThiS ron vanf1nn aS 70 ahat31roc IN +ha