Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-05-31
THOMAS L. BOND FOR
UNITED STATES SENATOR.
He Believes In the Ability Of the
People to Conduct Their Own
Business.

your support.
II my democratic brethren favor me
with the nomination, l pledge myself
to make an active canvass of the
state, in the confident expectation
that an earnest advocacy Of the views
herein expressed will be endorsed
by the voters at the election to be
held next November.
Should l be elected senator, to the
best of my ability, l will faithfully
discharge the duties Of the office
with the single purpose of zealously
guarding the interests Of the people
Of Kansas.
The political conflict the democrat
is party has for years advocated meas
ures that would tighten the burders
Of the people. 1t will continue to
champion the cause Of the people.
Its standard-bearers should be inspir-
ed with an earnest desire to secure
substantial relief for the people, and
to reduce the burdens Of taxation
wherever possible.
The tariff is a tax. It's burdens fall
heaviest on those least ale to bear
them. 1t is a breeder of falsehood and
corruption, and should be eliminated
as soon as possible. The government
should not compel cne citiza to pay
tribute to anOther unless tte public
welfare absolutely demands it.
An equitable wage to the American
workman is the surest guaranty O. a
profitable hone narlet for tNe po-
ducts of the farm, but ex-erieu e
proves that such wage IS not f7sured
by protective tariff. When obtain
ed it is due to labor org 'n'z, ,tions
and to the superiority of tie Ameri-
can workman. The American work.
man is the dividend Garner, and
should receive a fair share of the
fruits Of his labor. Religious free
dom and political freedom are secure;
Industrial freedom should be equally
secure.
Big business has been the sub Jet
Of much solicitude. The commercial
interests Of this nation are Of great
magnitude and are entitled to much
consideration. But the interests Of
the American farmer and the Ameri-
can workman are more important.
The farmer feeds US all Upon his
prosperity rests all other.
The prosperity Of this country Is not
due to the captains Of industry. II
springs from the labor Of the average
man. The magnates who have estab-
lished our magnificent railway sys
tens are entitled to great credit. But
the conductor, the engineer, the fire
man, the brakeman the
trains; the man who builds the
bridges. the man who lays the track,
the man who keeps the track in re-
par-make It possible to operate the
tradns. The valuable, really service
able work Of the world Is performed
by the average man.
The Just powers OF government are
derived from the consent Of the gov
erned. In the exercise OF such pow
eH the will Of the people should be
supreme.
: A democrat Is one who believes in
, the rule Of the people. There need
, be no fear Of trusting the whole peo-
pie. It is not just to deny the right
Of suffrage to any part Of Our citizen
ship.
: The initiative, the referendum, and
the recall are necessary to secure true
representative government. Those
who oppose the referendum recognize
the right Of the people to determine
what shall be the fundamental law. A
people qualified to adopt a constitu-
ton is certainly intelligent enough
3 to pass upon the merits OF a statute.
No man has a right to public office.
Public officers are not the rulers, but
the servants Of the people. Should
the people at any time uniustly dis
e change one Of these servants, the IN
jury would not compare with the loss
e the people sustain from the acts OF
unprincipled and corrupt officials.
Our courts have been shielded with
e a sanctity which restrained criticism
When they invade the legislative do.
O main, that shield should be removed
}, The fear of disturbing their in6ep@.
= dence should not prevent the people
from passing judgment upon theil
d acts. A Judge, who through fear ol
u popular clamor would not be coura
e geous enough to be governed by hif
e honest convictions would be too COW
d ardly to withstand the demands o.
DOworful n0litical Iaadara ana a,,ch .