Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1922-03-22
A NEW POLITICAL PARTY
OBSERVATIONS .
(By the Cornfield Philosopher),

HUltOi 1ilDuue-AlCnOuSQ nave
been in the. reform work fully fifty
years, have never been enthusiastic
for new or third party. I have rea-
soned that if a majority would, not
work inside of a party they would not
work outside for a reform measure.
But issues if of sufficient import
ance create new parties if the exist
ing political organizations cannot han
die them. Thus the slavery question
called the Republican party into be-
ing because neither the Wings nor the
Democrats could line up on either
side as parties. The great political
issue of the present day is embraced
in the question: "How may we pre-,
vent the rich from becoming still
richer by making the poor class still
poorer. Experts tell us that 100000
people, that is about one half of a
million families own or control two
thirds Of the wealth. Of this nation.
There is no limit to human greed.
This favored class is bending every
effort to gobble UP the balance. The
fortunate individuals who possess this
vast wealth are in politics every day
in the year for every dollar they are
worth. It was either by favorable
legislation or the failure to enforce
the laws that the wealthy class as
rule acquired the major part of their
possessions.
The great Daniel Webster truly said
mo Republic can long endure where
the tendency is for wealth to accum-
ulate in the hands of the few
All history verifes this statement.
Therefore it would seem to me to be
the patriotic duty of every citizen to
study the situation. Congress could
arrest the tendency of wealth to get
into few hands if it so desired for
it has unlimited power through both
an inheritance and an income tax up
to actual confiscation.
But there is scarce congressional
district in this country where the spe-
clal interests DO not nominate and
generally elect their candidates.
We had tax on excess profits, the
most just tax that could possibly be
conceived, but the profteers had it
removed and now they cannot pay the
soldiers bonus.
The great danger in an attempt to
form new party is from impractical
radicals who would overload the mo-
vements. One big issue is enough at
a time
We're l to write the platform of a
new party designed to be successful
| would have but four or five planks
IN the platform, as follows:
l. We view with alarm the rand
increase of the wealth of this nation
IN the hands Of the few and pledge
our party if intrusted with power to
enact legislation and strictly enforce
laws that will arrest this tendency.
z. We stand for government own
ership and operation Of railroads,
telegraph lines and all other public
utilities.
8. We favor bonus for the soldier
boys to be paid from an excess profits
tax.
4. We are unreseryedly in favor
OF universal world disarmament.
3. We are opposed to government
by injunction, especially on labor dis
putes and will carefully restrict by
law the power Of courts in issuing in
functions.
=. We are, in favor of rigid econ
omy in public expenditures in both
State and nation.
This would be the limit If pol-
ltlcal party could be called into exist
ence that would stand squarely on
this platform it would command nv
support and in due time sweep the
country. These six planks would
strike at an existing evil and would
be more popular and effective than
sixty covering every subject under the
sun.