The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-13

made. not by free traders, but by the
friends of the tariff.
High Prices
The democratic party of Alabama in
its recent convention ascrbes the pres
ent high price of living to the tariff, and
IL may be well to enquire who are the
beneficiaries of the high prices. 1t is
true nearly all of the articles of food
have advanced wheat corn, oats, ct cae-
ira, relatively speaking, are high; SO
is cotton, and live stock on foot Is bring
Ing higher prices than ever before known.
We admit that the republican party in
the Payne-Aldrich tariff law has created
an increased demand for the products
of agriculture. and the farmer is the
beneficiary. As he is the basis of all
prosperity, it would seem he is only COM
ing into his own. The tariff also pro-
tects and raises the wage of the laborer,
and enables him to buy and consume the
food that a bounteous harvest yields. and
makes the interest of the farmer and
the laborer Identical.
At the same time. we condemn the
arbitrary enhancement by trusts and
combinations. of prices on the neces-
sares of life We h sartily applaud the
republican administration for its relent-
less prosecution of all Illegal trusts and
combinations
Good Roads }
We recognize the great need of gend
roads and the utter impossbility OF Sc
curing and maintaining great public
throughfares under our present system
Of road building We in favor of
such federal legislation as will enable
the national government to aid in the
construction of post-roads. and thus de-
veop and build up a great system of
national highways throughout the coun-
try.
Regulation of Common Carriers
We favor the reasonable regulation by
the state of passenger and freight rates
on interstate commerce, so regulated as
to treat the public with justice and to
afford capital reasonable return on the
actual investment.
Safeguarding Mines
The legislature should pass laws for
the protection of the miner, and sur
round his life and limb with every safe
guard, ard to this end tho state should
cooperate heartily with the federal gov
eminent. Laws should be passed max
ing the owners and operators of mines
responsible for defects and shortcomings
OF ventilating systems, and the ways,
works, and machinery of the mines.
Confederate Pensions
We favor the policy of literally pen
sioning the Alabama Confederate voter
ans. and are opposed to the democratic
policy of cutting their quarterly allow
ances.
Child Labor
We deplore the fact that we have no
laws against the blight of child
labor In Alabama. The hope of the flu
ture is welldeveloped child of the pres
ent. We, therefore. demand the speedy
fective laws against child labor in the
mills and factories of this state.
Public SCHOOLS
We favor absolutely free schools in
Alabama for nine months each year. and
demand that sufficient sum of money
be appropriated for this purpose.
Convicts
We deplore the condition that exists
in Alabama as to the conduct of its con-
Wet departments We are unalterably
opposed TO the working of convicts in the
mines. or elsewhere, in open competition
with free labor We are opposed on the
principles of humanity to coming the
life and usefulness of unfortunate hui
man beings into revenue for the state.
We favor the humane treatment of all
who are convicted of crime
and urge that convicts should be made
under such conditions thst
the door of hope shall not be shut
against them Our laws for the punish
ment of crime should be framed upon
the concrete idea of reforming the Grim
inal and sending him home a better,
instead of a worse citizen.
Repeal of Back Tax Commission Law
The lawAcreating the back-tax commits
sion has proved to be very unjust and
arbitrary, and its enforcement has in
md
burdensome expense and been the means
of positive fraud, oppression and per-
secution. We favor the repeal of this
law, and are in favor of leaving the
question of taxation and the valuation
of property subject thereto in the hands
of the regular and duly elected Officers
of the various counties whose duty 1t
is to assess and collect such taxes.
Jury Inv
We favor the amendment of the pres
ent jury law so as to facilitate the trial
of causes. and we are opposed to that
feature of the law which places the pow
err OF drawing juries In the hands OF
Jury commissioners appointed by the gov
ernor It Is unrepublican. expensive and
to the several counties, and
the tendency is to build up a partisan
political machine.
Agriculture
We heartily indorse the efforts OF the
republican party to aid the farmers of
this country and hail with delight the
of Boys corn clubs and the
farm demonstration work now being car
ried on by the national government, and
we favor Increased appropriations by
Congress for the extension of this great
work.
Poll Tax
ha She fy,1
un- A mercan condition existing in Ala
bama today. where popular government
is but by-word and a Kissing, and
we demand the repeal of the present
unjust, cumulative poll tax provision OF
our election laws, which has disfran-
chised over 100000 white men.
Liquor
The liquor question has been brought
prominently before the people of Ala