The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1908-09-17
THE PLATFORMS AND PRIN-
CIPLES.
The Democratic Platform Ap.
peals to all Men who Believe
in Equal Rights to All and
Special Privileges to None"

in Equal Rights to All and
Special Privileges to None"
By H L. Cook. Presidential Elector.
By reference to the Democratic
platform, it will be observed that
it is clear and positive upon every
issue, so that no one can misun-
derstand what it declares for;
and a comparison of similar
planks in the Republican plat
form will convince all fair-mind-
ed men that it is evasive, in
sincere and shows the imprint of
the selfish interest of those out
of whom the party expects to
fry the fat"
For instance, upon one of the
most important planks, that con-
cerning labor and injunctions,
the Democratic deliverance is
plain, so plain that it's meaning
cannot be misunderstood. 1t de-
clared its confidence in the courts
as the bulwark of our liberties,
and pledges it's support to main
tain their power, to enforce their
DEGREES, but declares for legisla-
tion which shall regulate their
power to issue injunctions in la
Dor disputes, taking the sound,
fundamental position that the
function Of the courts is to inter-
pret the laws which the people
create, and not to make the law.
On the other hand, the Repub-
lican platform simply recites
what is the present practice of
the courts and in effect sustains
the much discussed and abused
power which judges have some
times exercised in their discrimi-
nation against the laborihg men
of the notably by Mr..
Taft, the Republican candidate
who was a U. S. Circuit Judge in
1893 and issued many of the in
functions which labor has been
fighting ever since.
Mr.. Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor,
says that he went to the Repub-
lcan convention at Chicago and
asked for recognition of the
rights Of the laboring men, but
was refused. Then he went to
the Democratic convention anC
was recognized, and that he ad,
vises all laboring men to vote fol
Bryan and Kern.
The Democratic convention al
so declared for an eight-hour day
for all government work, and fol
a general employers liability acr
covering injury to body or loss Of
life, and for the organization oil
a Department of Labor, whose
head shall be member Of the
Presidents Cabinet, and for {
revision of the trust breeding
tariff, based upon the necessity
for revenue.
l have selected these planks tt
refer to in this article because
they come so near home to the
masses of the people that they
will doubtless be more interest
ing to the average voter thar
many others.
The Democratic platform as ;
whole is a document which ap
peals to all men who believe il
equal rights to all and 5pecia
: privileges to none" On th'
other hand, the Republican plat
form appeals to the unthinking
and was evidently DRAFTED
through the influence of wha
has come to be known as tn
predatory interest" that is
those who have been favored b.
the laws of the country, notabl
through the Protective Tariff
System, which has enabled then
to manufacture certain classes o
goods and charge the consumer
in this country, even those i
sight of the factory, $1.00 an
ship similar goods, manufacture
in the same factory, with tn
, same labor, to Africa and Sc
them there for Csc. say by wa
of illustration-the manufacture
pockets the difference and no on
else is benefited. 1t is the ir
equality of these laws which ha
, enabled a few men to amass fol
tunes so stupendous is amount q
to stagger the imagination. Th
Democratic party believes in re
storing the equilibrium and gi0
ing to no man, or set Of men, an
S advantage over another; but seek
to maintain an absolute equalit
under the law to the end thu
- every mans talents, industl
and ability may reap their jul
| reward.
! The Republican party has bee
. in power for twelve years, havir
the Presidency, the Senate ar
House and is responsible for E
laws. Favoritism has fourishe
and the result of these Repub
can policies has brought a rui
Z Gus panic upon the country, whiC
y may be called the 'Republict
or Roosevelt Panic" " While V
of the South have not felt Il
full effects of it, yet a reading
the daily press will disclose t
fact that there are hundreds
thousands of men in the Nor
% and West who are to-day wit
out work and money. 1t is on
a question Of time when we W
- feel the effects of it to larg
extent than heretofore, and '
are now beginning to feel t
= disaster brought upon the coU