The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-29
Labor.

corporation frauds.
 Labor.
 We denounce the so-called labor blanks of the republican and democratic plat :orms as political buncombe and con- :emptible clap-trap, unworthy of natlonai 5arties claiming to be serious and sin- cere.
 The republican declaration that mo in junction or temporary restraining order should be issued without notice except where irreparable injury would result rom delay" is empty verbiage for showing of irreparable injury can always be made, and is always made In ex-parte affidavits.
 The democratic declration, that in junction should not be issued in any case in which the injunctons should not issue if no industrial dispute were involved. is meaningless and worthless.
 Such insincere and meaningless declara- tions place a low estimate upon intelli- gence of the average American working man and exhibit either ignorance or in difference to the real interests of labor.
 The independence party condemns the arbitrary use of the writ of injunction and contempt proceedings as a violation of the fundamental American right of trial by jury.
 From the foundation of our government down to 1872 the federal judiciary act prohibited the issue of any injunction without reasonable notice, until after a hearing. We assert that in all actions growing out of a dispute between employ CTS and employees, concerning terms or conditions of employment, no injunction should issue until after trial upon the merits, that such trial should be had be- fore jury, and that in no case of alleged contempt should any person be deprived of liberty without a trial by Jury.
 The independence party believes that the distribution of wealth is as important as the creation of wealth, and indorses those organizations among farmers and workers which tend to bring about just distrlou- ton of wealth through good wages for workers and good prices for farmers, and which protect the employees and the con sumer through equality of price for labor and for product. And we favor such leg islation as will remove them from the operation of the Sherman antitrust law.
 We indorse the eight-hour work day, favor it's application to all government employees and demand the enactment Of laws requiring that all work done for the government, whether federal or state, and whether done directly or indirectly through contractors or sub-eontractors, shall be done on an eight-hour basis.
 We favor the enactment of a law con- demning as illegal any combination or conspiracy to blacklist employees
 We demand protection for workmen through enforced use of standard safety appliances and provision of hygienic con- ditions In the operation of all industrial undertakings.
 We advocate state and federal inspec- tion of railways to assure greater safety for railway employees and for the travel ing public.
 We call for the enactment of stringent laws fixing employers liabilities and a rigid prohibition of child labor through cooperation between the state govern ment and the national government
 We condemn the manufacture and sale of prison made-goods in the open market and competition with free labor manufac- tured goods We demand that convicts shall be employed direct by the different states in the manufacture of products for use in state institutions and in making good roads, and in no case shall convicts be hired out to contractors or sub-con- tractors.
 We favor the creation of department of labor, including mines and mining, the head of which shall be member of the Presidents cabinet.
 The great abuses of drain inspection by which the producers are plundered de- mand immediate and vigorous conviction. To that end we favor fedreal inspection uIutT u StTlCl CANli Sti NlNC ioR+
 The Currency.
 The independence party declares that the right to issue money is inherent Tn the government, and 1t favors the estab- lishment of central governmental bank through which the money so issued shall be put into general circulation.
 The Tariff.
 We demand a revision of the tariff, not by the friends of the tariff, but by the friends of the people, and declare for a gradual reduction of tariff duties with just consideration for the right of the consuming public and of the established industry There should be no protection for oppressive trusts which sell cheaply abroad and take advantage of the tariff at home to crush competition, raise prices, control production and limit work and wages.
 The Railroads.
 The railroads must be kept open to all upon exactly equal terms. Every form of rebate and discrimination in railroad rates is a crime against business and must be stamped out. We demand ade- ouate railroad facilities and advocate bill empowering shippers in time of need to compel railroads to provide sufficient cars for freight and passenger traffic and other railroad facilities through summary appeal to the courts. We favor the cre- ation of an interstate commerce court whose sole function it shall be to review speedily and enforce summarily the orders of the interstate commerce commission. The interstate commerce commission should have the power to initiate investi- gation into the reasonableness of rates and practices, and no increase in rates should be put into effect until opportunity for such investigation is afforded. The interstate commerce commission should proceed at once with physical valuation of railroads engaged in interstate com merce.
 We believe that legitimate organizations in business designed to secure an economic oneration and increased production are beneficial wherever the public participates in the advantages which result
 We denounce all combinations for re- straint of trade, and for the establishment of monopoly in all products of labor, and declare that such combinations are not comblnations for production, but for ex- tortion, and that activity in this direction is not industry, but robbery. In cases of infractions of the antitrust laws of the interstate commerce act we believe in the enforcement of a prison penalty against the guilty and responsible individuals controlling the management of the offend- ing corpora tions, rather than a fine ifn- posed upon stockholders.
 Public Ownership.
 We advocate the extention of public ownership of public utilities, including railroads, as rapidly as municipal, state or national governments shall demon