Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-02

out levying one dollar Of tax upon the !
farmers land, his utensils, or upon the
home or business of the man in the
town or city.
TARIFF AND TRUSTS.
The democratic party has for 20
years endeavored to educate the nation
as to the infamy perpe, rated upon the
producing classes by the unjust tax
known as protective tariff 1t has de
nounced the oppression Of the monopo-
lies known as the trusts in their ag-
gressions and raids upon the individ-
ual; both as TO what he produces and
as to what he consumes. This great
question remains uppeimost. The US
preme court of the United States long
since declared that ANY tax beyond
the necessities of the government was
confiscation.' The democratic party
insists that these conditions of monop-
oily and trust which have for-20 years
| been plundering the public should
cease, and a form Of legislation i'm
make the cardinal doctrine of democ-
racy, "a tax only of the amount neces-
sary to run the government" as the
| only tax that is just upon the citizen
/ His remaining earnings, products Or
property should be bis own for the
uses of himself and the enjoyment of
! his family.
REMEDY.
| In stead q the uncertainties now
prevailing, l suggest that there be a
oom.lission constituted, chosen in
such way as the people shall decide,
with representatives who sit in each
state of the union, and who are to be
/ accessible at all times to the citizen.
That all institutions which have to do
with the necessities CT life, or which
have to do with those concerns which
are essential TO the welfare of men in
business or in private existence, shall,
before entering into Incorporation, sub
nit the property OF value they have
as their capital, with the proposed
stock issue And fron the commits
sion permission to be FIRST obtained as
to the amount of stock to be issued
before the same is issued, in order
that any person holding the stock
would know that property first existed
representing the value Of the stock
purchased. Second, il the event of the
increase of stock or the attempt at
consolidation with other concerns,
there he presented to this commission
the offer OF such consC Iidation and the
terms proposed; time given in the
b form of notice to the pntIic to produce
or show reason opposing the PROPOSE
; ton. Thereafter, this body to decide
} as to whether the consolidation for the
/ amount Of capital presented is legiti-
mate, and il the combined property
; justified the stock is sue By this sys-
TEN the public may nCl be deceived by
the securities or the stock issuing
therefrom. Lastly, thal this body have
the right to certify if the combination
IS one which at the outset is in the
restraint OF trade or against the inter.
ests of legitimate com petition or the
= welfare of the producuS or consuming
citizen. Due appeal t. the courts al.
lowed to all concerned after the re.
form of court procedure in the matter
Of the fixing OF railroad rates by tbs
interstate commission.
In this way wrong which have fall
len from unjust consultations are pre-
vented. The abuses AVOIDED, while the
benefits that can follow from the same
are at once shown BEFORE the under
taking is upon foot, and the public are
advised concerning the same, anC
neither fear on the part of the per
! sons engaged that they are violatins
the law by entering into the enter
prise, or fear by any citizen that he i.
: investing without his rights being pro
: tected, need never exist. By tht
: method | propose, all matters of RICH
are settled before thu experiment, ant
:, we no longer wait fer The experiment.
to test whether it will harm the cit
zen or destroy the enterprise.
In all matters of Indebtedness O
4 municipalities the issuing of bonds O
script, whether county or cities, or O
states, are thus previously submits
/ TO the people. By the same reasonin
3 the private business concerns havin
the same objects in view should like
- wise be first submitted to the repre-
sentatives of the people in the name
| have pointed out
e FOREIGN POLICY.
D. I am impressed with the necessit
ID of many other reforms, but being col
II scious that the people will not tax
[. many measures at single time wit
is out confusing them, and holding it
lie better to present to them one or tw
lie reliefs at a time, which, being adopte
N We may move on to others with MOI
t. clearness, and with more prospect
IN adoption, shall upon the public stun
h refer to the foreign policy, such as
D. feel should be adopted. do not he:
Of tate to affirm, as l have frequently
Id public speech-my fear and dread
a the consequences Of our holding Il
Of Philippines and the results which w
TO follow from the construction of Il
al Panama canal; also my fear of Il
South Americans, who are our natur
at enemies, affording succor and suppli