The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1908-07-10

amendment was made to the interstate
commerce law authorizing the commits
sion to establish reasonable rates
whenever it appeared that an exist
ing schedule was unjust and unreason-
able. The national platforms of the
Republican party remained silent upon
this great question for years and the
fact that the necessary change was
advocated by Republican president,
who succeeded only through the aid of
the Democrats in both branches Of
congress in placing the amendment
upon our statute books, does not affect
the credit to which our party is en-
titled for having worked persistently
for such an enactment.
Further amendment to our laws CIV
Ing the federal government super
vision over the issuance of railroad
stocks and bonds is demanded.
The fixing of transportation charges
and the control of assurances of rail-
road securities are inseparably con-
nected with the actual valuation OF
railroads. The Democratic party be-
lieves that the first thing to do is to
secure physical valuation OF the
roads, that is valuation of the solid
rather than the liquid assets of rail-
road companies. While, on the other
hand, the Republican party, on roll
call in the convention, by an over
whelming vote, took an unequivocal
stand in favor of system of water
rates without giving the people the
benefit of meter.
We search in vain for one syllable
in the Chicago platform pledging the
Republican party to retrenchment and
reforms; and it is no mere coincidence
that has given us a billion-dollar ses-
sion of congress on the eve of ma
tional election and the possible re-
vision of the tariff.
So long as we maintain the present
method of electing United States SEN
ators we cannot hope that the upper
chamber of congress will reflect the
popular will.
On five different occasions the house
of representatives has passed a con-
stitutional amendment providing for
the election of United States senators
by the direct vote of the people, but
these measures have been sandbagged
in the senate by those who are deter
mined that the senate shall not be.
come an integral part of our free, rep.
resentative institutions.
The Democratic party will continue
to labor for the direct election of
United States senator's, and it appeals
to the voters of all America to elect
members of the different state legisla.
lures who will pledge themselves to
vote for no candidate for the United
States senate that is not in favor OF
this reform. ...-.s
On the bosom of the Pacific will be
enacted the great commercial strug
giles of the future, and the interests OF
American commerce in connection
with the exposure Of our western
shores to any hostile attack will de-
mand that the greater portion of the
American navy shall be retained in the
waters of the Pacific to preserve the
peace of the world.
This magnificent western country OF
ours has not only proved attractive tC
our own people and the other white
nations of the earth, but it has like
wise proved alluring to the brown and
yellow races of the east. Some pro
lection has been afforded by the ex
clusion of Chinese labor, but the eyi
is but half met if the immigration OIL
Japanese, Koreans, Hindus and other
Asiatic people be not excluded from
our shores. Not only the white toilers
of America, but all our people, with
out respect to class or residence, are
vitality interested in this menace to oul
social and industrial life from Asiastic
quarters, and if this is to remain q
white mans country, immediate steps
should be taken to prevent Asiatic i'm
migration of whatsoever character.
This national convention meets al
time when the angel of peace is
lowering over the entire world and the
nations of the world each day are
strengthening those ties of friendship
war less frequent and permit mankind
to turn their hands to the peaceable
pursuits of life rather than to the de
struction of one another.
The Democratic party realizes the
part that America must inevitably play
in the affairs of the world, and that
we cannot escape participation in the
settlement of every world problem
that arises; but Americas weight and
influence must ever be on the side OF
peace, on the side of justice, on the
side of the oppressed; and if the will
of the people shall commit to oul
hands the scepter of power, it will be
used for the realization of the high
American ideals that raise our own
people to loftier and better things
and through our precepts and exam
pies contribute to the well being and
happiness of all mankind