The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-07-11

competition with theD. shippers. also
legislation which will assure such re-
duction in transportation rates as con.
ditions will permit, care being taken
to avoid reductions that would compel
a reduction of wages, prevent ade
quate service or do injustice to legiti
mate Investments.
We heartily approve the laws pro
| hibiting the pass and the rebate and
| we favor any further necessary leg
| tslation to restrain, control and pre-
vent such abuses.
| We favor such legislation as will In.
crease the power of the interstate
commerce commission, giving to it the
| initiative with reference to rates and
transportation charges put into effect
| by the railroad companies, and permit
ting the Interstate commerce commits
sion, on its own initiative, to declare
a rate illegal and as being more than
should be charged for such service.
Banking.
The panic of 1907, coming without
any legitimate excuse, when the Re-
publican party had for decade been
in complete control of the federal gov
eminent, furnishes additional proof
that it is either unwilling or incona-
petent to protect the interests of the
| general public. It has so linked the
country to Wall street that the sins
OF the spectators are visited upon the
whole people.
we believe that insofar as the needs
| OF commerce require an emergency
currency should be issued, controlled
! by the federal government, and loaned
on adequate security to national and
state banks. We pledge ourselves to
legislation under which the national
! banks shall be required to establish a
guaranty fund for the prompt pay
ment of the depositors of any insolvent
national bank, under an equitable sys-
tenn which shall be available to all
! state banking institutions wishing to
use it.
We favor postal savings bank if
the guaranteed bank cannot be se-
cured, and that it be constituted so
as to keep the deposited money in the
communities where it is established.
We favor an income tax as part of
our revenue system, and we urge the
submission of constitutional amend
ment specifically authorizing congress
to levy tax on Individual and corpo-
| rate Incomes, in the end that wealth
may bear it's proportionate share of
the burdens of the federal govern
ment.
Labor and Injunctions.
The courts Of justice are the bull
Wark of our liberties, and we yield to
none in our purpose to maintain their
dignity. We resent the ATTEMPT of
the Republican party to raise false is
sues respecting the judiciary. It is
an unjust reflection upon great body
of our citizens to assume that they
lack respect for the courts.
Experience has proven the necessity
of modification of the present law
relating to tnjunctions, and we re-
tterate the pledge Of our national plat
form Of 1896 and 1904 in favor of the
measure which. passed the United
States senate in 1896, but which a
Republican congress has ever since
refused to enact, relating to contempt
In federal courts and providing for
trial by jury in cases of indirect con-
tempt.
Questions of judicial practice have
arisen especially in connection with
Industrial disputes. We deem that the
parties to all judicial proceedings
should be treated with rigid impartial
ity, and that injun ctions should not
be issued in any cases in which in
functions would not issue if no indus
trial dispute were involved
We favor the eight-hour day on all
government work.
We pledge the Democratic party to
the enactment Of law by congress,
as far as the federal jurisdiction ex-
tends, for general employers liabil-
lty act covering injury to body or loss
of life of employees.
We pledge the Democratic party to
the enactment of law creating de-
partment of labor, represented sepa-
yately In the presidents cabinet,
which department shall include the
subject of mines and mining.
Imperialism Condemned.
We condemn the experiment in i'm
perialism as an inexcusable blunder,
which has involved us in an enormous
expense, brought us weakness instead
Of strength, and laid our nation open
to the charges of abandoning a funda-
mental doctrine Of self-government.
We favor an immediate declaration Of
the nations purpose to recognize the
independence of the Philippine islands
as soon as a stable government can
be established, such independence to
be guaranteed by the United States as
we guarantee the independence of
Cuba, until the naturalization Of the
Islands can be secured by treaty with
other powers. In recognizing the in
dependence of the Philippines our
government should retain such land
as may be necessary for coal stations
and naval bases.
We favor the election of United
States senators by direct vote of the
people, and regard this reform as the
gateway to other national reforms.
We welcome Oklahoma to the sister
hood of states and heartily cOngratu-