The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-17
That Is Keynote of BristOW's
Candidacy for Senator.
Salina Editor Formally Pro-
mulgates His Platform.
STOP STOCK GAMBLING
Wants to Have the Whole Sys-
tenn Abolished.
Would Enlarge Powers OF Com
merce Commission.

ealina, Feb 17.-Joseph l. Bristow,
editor of the Salina Journal and former
fourth assistant postmaster general
announced himself as a candidate for
the Republican nomination for United
States senator from Kansas at the pri-
mary to be held in August under the
new law On Saturday.
Mr. Bristow's formal announcement
follows:
Upon the solicitation and advice OF
many friends and in harmony with my
own personal inclination, I have be-
come q candidate for United states
senator. 1 aspire to this office because
] believe it offers the widest field for
usefulness in the public service.
ain becoming candidate for such
position it is proper to state the prin-
ciples and policies for which Will
stand If elected.
'T am in favor Of a revision OF the
tariff. Such revision should be made at
the earliest practical date. The duty
should be taken off lumber, wood-pulp
and other kindred wood products at
this session of congress.
81 am opposed to the passage OF the
Aldrich bill or any other financial
measure of that character. 1 do not
believe that railroad or municipal
bonds should be made the basis for our
national currency even in an emer-
gency. Such a policy is more in the
interest of the railroads and the hold
ers of railroad and municipal securities
than of the general public. United
States 2 per cent bonds are worth $1.O4.
During the recent panic they sold as
high as $1.08 because they could be
used as basis for the issuing OF Uni
ted States currency. The enactment
of a law making railroads bonds the
basis for currency will legislate great
value into bonds now in existence and
largely held by eastern banks and cap
italists. During periods or nnanclal
distress this property would increase In
value, while all other property would
decline. To my mind such legislation
is unjust and indefensible. Flexibility
can be given our currency In Tar
better way. The central bank idea ad-
vanced by ex-Comptroller Roberts, II
properly worked out, or even an asset
currency, as undesirable as that is,
would be better than the Aldrich bill or
any measure patterned after 1t.
81 am in favor of limiting the amount
of stocks and bonds that can be issued
by corporations doing an interstate
business to the actual cost or value or
the property. The recent panic was
caused by overlooking the market with
watered stock and excessive issues OF
bonds, more than any industrial con-
dition or financial stringency
1.-The constitutional rights OF every
CORPORATION and individual should be
carefully guarded. Impartial Justice
should be guaranteed to every man ana
every institution. The fundamental
rights of property should be scrupu-
lously protected, but we must always
remember that the primary object of
an legislative acts should be the well
fare Of the general public. The protec-
ton of the weak from the self1shness
of the strong in our commercial ana
Industrial affairs is as necessary Tor
cur country's good as the guarding OF
the innocent from the violence OF the
vicious.
Gambling in stocks and grain fu-
lures should be prohibited. More men
have been ruined by speculation on the
stock exchange and in the wheat pit
than were ever ruined by the Louisiana
lottery and the moral influence or
these institutions has been equally as
bad Stock speculation is becoming
national vice.
ing to the government should not be
sold. I heartily approve the policy OF
President Roosevelt In Withdrawing
them from entry. The time may come
when it will be necessary for the gov
eminent to acquire by system OF
purchase or condemnation proceedings
possession of the coal fields that have
already passed into the hands of the
railroads. Every effort should be made
to avoid such a policy, but the present
monopoly of the fuel supply by the rail-
roads is dangerous to the public well
fare. The price of practically every ton
of coal that is consumed throughout
this broad land is fixed by the rail-
roads, and the cost of mining and
transporting to the consumer has little
to do with the price that is charged.
This monopoly of fuel is almost as
dangerous to the public as would be a
monopoly of bread.
II believe that the powers Of the in