The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-25

tinguish between the honest business
that makes a country prosperous, and
the brigandage practiced by private
monopolies. The people have been rob-
bed by the trusts to the extent of
hundreds of millions a year, and if
Mr.. Taft is not yet conscious Of what
is going on, and not yet aroused to the
iniQuity of these trusts, how can the
country hope for relief through his
election?
The Democratic party is the defend
er of competition and the only great
party which is seeking to restore COM
petition. Mr.. Taft has, in the discus
sion of this question. employed marsh
words instead of argument. The word
"socialistic'' is hurled at the Demo-
cratic party and the Democratic plat
form. Now, as a matter of fact, it is
Mr.. Taft's party and not the Demo-
cratic party which has given encour-
agement to socialism. While protesting
party has gone half way toward So
cialism in endorsing its fundamental
principle. The socialist bases his con-
tention on the theory that competition
is to be found in monopoly. The So
cialist, however, wants the public to
have the benefit of the monopoly and,
therefore, favors government owner
ship and operation of all the means of
production and distribution.
Makes Tor SOCIALISM.
The Republican party has gone al
most as far as the Socialist party in
the economic defense of the monopoly,
but it permits the benefits of monopoly
to be enjoyed by comparatively few
men, who have secured dominant
influence in the government. I beg to-
call Mr.. Tafts attention to the fact
lated the growth of socialism in two
ways: First, by the endorsement that
it has given to the theory that trusts
are a natural and necessary outgrowth
Of our economic conditions. and, Sec
ond, by permitting the development of
abuses which have been charged
against individualism. If he VIII ex-
anime the vote published in the World
Almanac, he will find that in 1900 the
Republicans polled 7.20S,244 votes and
that the Socialists polled but 1891;
in the same almanac, he will flnd that
In 1904 the Republicans cast 7,6z5,4S9
votes and the Socialists 4O2, 2S6. Not
withStanding the fact that the Repub-
licans have boasted of their last ma
tional victory, their party polled but
All, 900 more votes that year than four
years before. This scarcely more than
covered the natural increase in the
Republican portion of the population,
while the Socialist vote increased more
than three hundred per cent, and the
increase in votes was almost as great
as the increase in Republican votes.
The Republican leaders have been
in the habit of sneering at the social
lists. while blindly Indifferent to the
causes that have contributed to the
growth of socialism. The Democrats
recognize that socialists are honestly
seeking remedy for the known
abuses admitted by Secretary Taft. |
Democrats dissent from the remedy
proposed by the socialists, believing
that socialists are mistaken and that |
the Democratic remedy is better, but |
it is time for thoughtful people to rec |
ognize that individualism can only be |
retained and defended by remedial |
legislation which will remove the |
a buses admitted by Secretary Taft |
fasten themselves upon the country |
The Democratic party. believing in in
addresses itself earnestly |
to these abuses, and instead of ridi- |
culing and maligning the socialists. in |
vites them, as it does Republicans, to |
examine the Democratic platform and |
the remedies proposed therein. 1t sub
of the country, without regard to sec
ton or party.
Three Democrat Demands.
In my notification speech 1 called |
to three demands made by |
our party. 1t asks, first, that the gov
eminent shall be taken out Of the |
hands of special interests, and restor- |
ed to the people as a whole: it asks. |
second, for honesty in elections and ]
publicity in regard to campaign funds, |
that the people may freely choose rep
in sympathy with them |
and pledged to guard their interests;
it asks. third, for such a modification
of our governmental methods as will
make the senate an elective body, and
place the control Of the house Of rep
in the hands of a majority