The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-03

property, the original cost, the cost of
reproduction and any element of value
that will render the valuation fair and
just.
We favor such legislation as will
effectually prohibit the railroads, ex-
press. telegraph and telephone COM
pan1es from engaging in business
which brings them into competition with
their shippers or patrons; also legislation
preventing the overissue of stocks and
bonds by interstate railroads, express
companies, telegraph ant telephone
lines, and legislation which Will assure
such reduction in transportation rates
as conditions will permit, care being
taken to avoid reduction that would
compel reduction of wages, prevent
adequate service or do injustice to
legitimate investments.
Banking Legislation.
We oppose the socalled AIdrich bill
Or the establishment of a central bank
and we believe the people of the coun-
try will be largely freed from panics
and consequent unemployment and
business depression by such a system
attic revision of our banking laws AS
will render temporary relief in locali-
ties where such relief is needed, with
protection from control or domination
by what is known as the money trust.
Banks exist for the accommodation
of the public and not for the control of
business. All legislation on the sub
ject of banking and currency should
these accommodations on terms of alb
solute security to the public and of
complete protection from the misuse of
the power that wealth gives to those
who possess it. We condemn the pres
ent methods of depositing government
funds in a few favored banks largely
situated in or controlled by Wall
street in return fer political favors and
We pledge ourselves to provide by law
for their deposit by competitive bidding
OF the banking institutions of the coun-
try national and state, without dis
elimination as to locality upon APP
proved securities and subject to call by
the government.
Rural Credits.
OF equal Importance with the ques-
ton OF currency reform is the ques-
ton of rural credits or agricultural
finance. Therefore we recommend an
investigation Of agricultural credit So
cletles in foreign countries be made
so that it may be ascertained whether
a system of rural credits may be de-
vised suitable to conditions in the
United States and we also favor legis-
iation permitting national banks to
funds on real estate security.
We recognize the value of vocational
education and urge financial appro-
priations for such training and extern
sion teaching in agriculture in CO.
operation with the several states.
We renew the declaration in our last
platform relating to the conservation
of our natural resources and the de-
Velopment of our waterways. The |
present devastation of the lower Mis-
sissippi valley accentuates the move
ment for the regulation of river flow
by additional bank and levee protec- |
ton below, and the diversion, storage
and control of the flood waters above |
and their utilization for beneficial pur- |
poses in the reclamation of arid and
swamp lands and the development of
floods to continue, as heretofor
agents of destruction.
We hold that the control of the Mis- |
sissippi river is a national problem. |
The preservation of the depth of its
water for the purpose of navigation, !
the building of levees to maintain the |
integrity of it's channel and the pre- |
yention of the overflow of the land |
and it's consequent destruction result |
ing in interruption of interstate COM |
merce, the disorga nization of mail SER |
vice and the enormo Gus loss of life and /
property, impose an obligation which |
alone can be discharged by the gener- |
al government.
To maintain an adequate depth of
water the entire year and thereby en- |
courage water transportation. a con- |
summation worthy of legislative at |
tention and an issue national in its
character. 1t calls for prompt action |
on the part of congress and the |
Democratic party pledges itself to the |
enactment of legislation leading to |
that end.
We favor the cooperation of the |
United States and the respective |
states in plans for the comprehensive |
treatment of all waterways with a |
view of co-ordinating plans for |
channel improvement with plans for |
drainage of swamp and overlooked |
lands, an dto this end we favor the |
appropriation by the federal govern |
ment of sufficient funds to make sur |
for draining the same and to SUI
the work of construction.
We favor the adoption of liberal and |
comprehensive plan for the develop
ment and Improvement of our inland |
waterways with economy and eff
cheney so as to permit their naviga-
ton by vessels of standard draft.
We favor national aid to state and
local authorities in the construction
and maintenance of post roads.
Rights of Labor.
We repeat our declaration of the
platform of 1908 as follows: THE /
courts of justice are the bulwark of
our liberties and we yield to none in
our purpose to maintain their dignity.
Our party has given to the bench a
long line of distinguished justices who
have added to the respect and conf
dence in which this department must
be jealousy maintained. We resent
the attempt of the Republican party
to raise a falSe issue respecting the
judiciary. 1t is an unjust reflection
upon a great body of our citizens to
assume that they lack respect for the
courts.
1t is the function of the courts to
interpret the laws which the people |
enact. and if the laws appear to work
social or political injustice |
it is our duty to change them. The
only basis upon which the integrity of
our courts can stand is that of I'M
swerving justice and protection of life,
personal liberty and property. AS ju-
iicial processes may be abused, we
should guard them against abuse.
Experience has proved the necessity