The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-09

ment to act within its constitutional
sphere. Our platform demands that
federal legislation be added to, not
substituted for. state legislation.
The predatory corporations have
taken advantage of the dual character
OF our government and have tried to
hide behind state rights when prose-
cuted in the federal courts and behind
the interstate commerce clauses of the
constitution when prosecuted in the
state courts.
There is no twilight zone between the
nation and the state in which the ex-
plotting interests can take refuge from
both. There is no neutral ground
where. beyond the jurisdiction of either
sovereignty the plunderers of the pub
lie can find a safe retreat. AS long as
a corporation confines it's activities to
the state in which it was created. it is
subject to state regulation only; but as
soon as 1t invades interstate commerce
1t becomes amenable to federal laws as
well as to the laws of the state which
created it and the laws of the states in
which it does business.
How strict can these laws be? Just
as strict as may be necessary for the
protection of the public.
Our platform outlines the regulation
deemed necessary. and the regulation is
specifically set forth in order that our
opponents may not be able to scare the
public by predicting hurtful legislation.
platform, says what it means and
means only what it says.
Railroads Are Different.
A distinction is drawn between the
railroads and other corporations. The
railroad, being a quasi-public corpor-
alton and, as such, being permitted to
exercise a part of the sovereignty OF
the state. is subject to regulation at the
hands of both the nation and the state,
but this regulation is intended. not to
cripple the railroads but to increase
their efficiency The people at large are
as much interested as the stockholders
are in the successful operation of the
railroads. Their own pecuniary inter-
ests as we'll as their sense of justice
would restrain them from doing any
thing that would impair the road or
reduce it's efficiency. The travelling pub
lie is xvitally interested in the payment
of wages sufficient to command the
most intelligent service, for life as Well
as property is in the hands OF those
who operate the trains, guard the
switches, and keep the track in repair.
The Democratic party would dis
tinguish between those railroad own
erS, directors and managers VINO, rec
ognizing their obligation. to the public,
earn their salaries by conscientious
devotion to the work entrusted to
them, and those INSCRIPTIONS Napo-
Icons of Finance" who use railroads as
mere pawns in a great gambling game
without regard to the rights or en-
ployes or to the interests of the pa
irons. 1t is in the interest OF honest
railroading and legitimate investment
that the Democratic party seeks to as
certain the present value of the rail-
road properties and to prevent Tor the
future the watering of stock and the
issue of fictitious capitalization; and IT
is in the interest of both the railroads
and the public that it seeks only such
reductions in transportation rates as
can be made without wage reduction,
without deterioration in the service
and without injustice to legitimate IN
vestments. The Democratic party in
sists that in the matter of regulation
of railroads both the state govern
ments and the federal governments
shall act up to, and yet within. their
powers: for nothing else will restore
the confidence and good will that
ought to exist between the railroads
and the people. In dealing with
and trading corpora
-tiouss the Democratic party Z draws a
distinction between those corporations
and they constitute the great major
ity of all the manufacturing and trad
ing corporationS-whic are engaged
in a legitimate effort to supply what
the consumers need, and the very few
corporations which. are seeking by
constituencies methods to take advan-
tage of the public on the one hand,
while on the other hand they bankrupt
competitors. Cypress the producers OF
raw materials and deal arbitrarily
with their employees. 1t endeavors to
protect the innocent corporations by
visiting punishment upon those cor
porations which are guilty of infrac-
tions of the moral and the statute law.
Here too, our platform is specit1c ana
no one can use its language to frighten
any business man whose transactions
are fair and whose income is honestly
earned.
No one can contrast the plain,
STRAIGHTFORWARD declarations of our
party with the vague and ambiguous
utterances of the Republican leaders
and the Republican candidate without
recognizing that our appeal IS to the
Judgment and good sense of the voters
who desire justice for themselves and
insist upon Justice being done by oth-
ers. Our party, if entrusted with the
mower. will remedy the abuses which
have grown up under Republican rule,
and vet remedy those abuses with due
regard to constitutional limitations
and without injury to any legitimate
business interest.
lulcV End nnucONNO