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The Commoner.
VOLUmS 7, NUMBER 38
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seem hard on the manufacturers? Thoy can os
capo by getting out of the trusts. As long as
they conspire against the American peoplo, they
can not ask the people to build a wall around
them. The next reduction should be made upon
tho necessaries of life for the benefit of the
masses, and the remaining reduction should bo
mado with a "view to reducing tho tariff to a
revenue basis.
Tho incomo tax is advocatod, not as some
republicans have proposed it, merely as a means
of reaching swollen fortunes, but as a perman
ent part of the revenue system in order that
the burdons of the government may be equitably
borne. While a national inheritance tax is en
dorsed, the democrats of Nebraska believe that
it is bettor to prevent swollen fortunes by abol
ishing privilege and favoritism than to allow
theso fortunes to be built up merely that their
owners may bo taxed at death.
Tho railroad regulation plank embodies four
propositions; first, tho ascertaining of the pres
ent value of tho railroads; second, the preven
tion of watered stock; third, prohibiting the
'railroads from engaging in any business which
brings them into competition with their shippers,
and fourth, the reduction of rates until they
yiold only a reasonable return upon the present
value of the roads, and in order that no charge
of confiscation may be brought against this
plank, it is specifically stated that a return to
be reasonable must be sufficient to keep the
stock of the road at par when the roads are hon
estly capitalized. "Who can defend higher rates?
Business conditions determine what rate of divi
dend is necessary to keep stock at par, but when
the rates are sufficient to keep stock at par, they
are as high as anyone can defend.
The platform recognizes the injustice done
by present interstate rates, which are in many
cases above local rates. By no form of logic
can a railroad justify a larger charge on other
rates than on local rates, and it is eminently
just that the roads should be compelled to sell
' through tickets at a rate hot exceeding the sum
of the local rates.
'The labor planlcs present the things for
which the wage-earners are now contending,
namely arbitration, the eight hour day and
the abolition o government by injunction. While
the hoards should he empowered to compel in
vestigation, the finding is not binding. It is
not necessary that the finding should be binding
on either party, for in nine cases out of ten in
vestigation will lead to a decision that both
parties will accept.
The platform recognizes that government
by injunction as it is now used, is merely a
cunningly devised scheme for denying to the
laboring man the right of trial by jury. When
the subject is fully understood by the American
people, there will be no doubt about legislation
that will give to the laboring man the protection
which he deserves.
The plank on Asiatic immigration presents
the only solution of the question. We can not
- afford to invite immigration where the people
remain separate and distinct from our own peo
ple and raise a race issue. It is not an act
of friendliness to an Asiatic nation to invite
its citizens here if their coming will involve us
in diplomatic disputes and controversies with
the Oriental powers. It is better to be frank
and honest and recognize conditions that have
to be met.
Oklahoma is welcomed and congratulated,
and separate statehood is demanded for Arizona
and New Mexico. The party's position in re
gard to the people of Porto Rico is unassail
able; they are entitled to the rights and privi-
lusea imiL accompany a territorial form of gov
ernment. Tho party expresses itself in favor of the
largest possible use of irrigation in the develop
ment of the country and in favor of the speedy
completion of the Panama canal.
It advocates a generous pension policy and
condemns militarism.
The position taken on the subject of im
perialism is In line with the position taken in
the national platform of 1900, the only addi
tion being the suggestion of neutralization
There is little doubt that the independence of
the islands could bo agreed to by the leading
nations which have interests in the Orient and
thus relieve our country from the burden of pro
tecting them. It will be noticed that in recog
nizing the independence of the Filipinos our
government should retain such land as may bo
necessary for coaling stations and naval bases
The advocates of imperialism are constantly talk
ing about trade expansion and commerce with
the Orient, but wo do not need colonies to se
cure this commerce. Coaling stations and naval
bases are all that we can use. Colonies weaken
us instead of strengthening us, not to speak of
the fact that a colonial policy is antagonistic
to tho principles of self government.
Tho platform concludes with a plea for a
peace proposition looking toward the establish
ment of peace. Our country tried to secure at
Tho Hague an agreement that navies should not
be used for the collection of private debts. That
was good, but why should wo wait for other na
tions to join us in a righteous determination?
Why not do right ourselves whether other na
tions join us or not? And the agreement pro
posed for the investigation of international dis
putes will do more than arbitration treaties to
promote peace. Investigation is all that is neces
sary to prevent war, for investigation will not
only cure misunderstandings but will give time
for public sentiment to form in favor of the
peaceful policy.
Is it not the duty of our nation to lead in
the peace movement, and is the time not ripe
for it?
Such is the Nebraska platform. It does not
cover every question that has been discussed,
but it does cover the questions upon which the
people are ready to act. The democrats
of Nebraska have in their platform taken ad
vanced ground and stated their views' with a
fullness and clearness which proves their
sincerity.
oooo
OKLAHOMA. WINS
The president has announced to the news
paper men that he will approve of Oklahoma's
constitution. He says that what he thinks of
tho constitution would not be fit to print but,
suppressing his personal feelings, he expresses
himself as willing to let the people have their
way. Good for the president! And Hurrah for
Oklahoma!
But the manner in which the president
yields raises an interesting question.' Is it not
possible that Secretary Taft Went to Oklahoma
as a part of the plan to first reduce the ma
jority and then reject the constitution? Is it not
possible that the president would have postponed
statehood if the people had adopted the consti
tution by a small majority or by electing a re
publican state ticket, giving the president a
chance to avoid the charge of partisanship?
It is fortunate for Oklahoma that the con
stitution was ratified by an overwhelming ma
jority and the state offices put in the hands of
democrats. It left no- other excuse than a part
isan one for the delay of statehood. After all,
the voice of the people has force in it, and the
president has wisely bowed to the demand for
statehood so emphatically made by the people
of Oklahoma. Again is Oklahoma to be con
gratulated and again are the "unterrified demo
crats" of the new state to be thanked for the
courage they have shown.
OOOO
THE USE OF WEALTH
Mr. Charles M. Schwab is quoted as say
ing to the commercial travelers, "I have some
money quite a lot of it in fact. What good
does it do me? I have a nice place to live,
good meals to eat and clothes to wear. That is
about all, except that Mrs. Schwab is able to
spend a few pennies and enjoy herself."
Schwab ' is right. Our needs are not so
great after all. We must have food; we must
have shelter; and we must have clothes, and
a man does not have to be a millionaire to have
all the food and .all the clothes and all the shelter
that he needs and can use to advantage. Great
fortunes are a great burden to those who use
them wisely and a great calamity to those who
use them foolishly, and yet, there are a number
of American citizens who go on fighting for mil
lions that they do not need and to secure these
millions they violate laws, human and divine.
And when they are through, they find that they
have not improved upon the wisdom of Solomon,
who said: "Give me neither riches nor poverty,"
and who declared, "a good name is rather to be
chosen than great riches and loving favor rather
than silver or gold."
OOOO
MAN VS. MONEY
The press dispatches contain an interview
recently given out by Admiral Dewey on the
Philippine question. He is quoted as saying:
"Abandon the Philippines? I don't be
lieve our country will ever do that. Certainly
it should not, because it has already too much
at stake. It is only our control over the Philip
pines that makes it possible for us to insist
upon the. open door in the East, toward which
our diplomacy has been directed for a numW
of years. We want our share of the" enormous
commerce of the East, and we can't keep the
door open for it unless we hold the islands I
want to emphasize my belief that the United
States as a world power will always have com
mercial and diplomatic interests in the far cast
and can not maintain itself properly without a
base of operations. The United States can not
withdraw from its present enterprise in the East
but must go forward seeking its share of the
advantages and sustaining its share of the re
sponsibilities." What does this mean? Can it be that our
talk of being in. the Philippines against our will
and that it was providential; that it is good for
the Filipinos that we are there and that we
can not leave the Philippines without doing in
justice to the natives can it be that all theso
arguments are merely pretense and that our
real object is to get our share of the trade of
the Orient? Admiral Dewey tears the mask off
of the Philippine question and it stands forth
as a commercial transaction in which dollars are
placed above principles of government, and
money is elevated above men.
It is not necessary that we should assume
control over eight millions of people in order to
have coaling stations and naval bases in the
Philippine Islands. The Filipinos will be only
too glad to let us retain whatever land we need.
In fact, if we are to protect them, they will
want us to have coaling stations and naval
bases there, but it is not necessary that we
should adopt a colonial policy or force our gov
ernment upon the Filipinos against their will.
We can give them their independence and let
them run their own government. Our commer
cial interests would not Tie jeopardized by a
return to American principles, but it is interest
ing to know that all this talk about Providence
and about the welfare of the Filipinos is bun
combe and that the dollar argument is the argu
ment that weighs with the imperialist. There
was a time when American citizens would not
talk about bartering away the doctrine of self
government, and that time will return. The
Philippine experiment has, however, answered
a useful purpose. It has taken the veneer off
of a few statesmen wh'6, until the battle of Ma
nila was fought, were supposed to favor the
Declaration of Independence and the principles
of free government.
OOOO -
THE FLOOD OF GOLD
Mr. Frederick Upham Adams has a very
interesting article in a recent number of Success
on the "Flood of Gold." Mr. Adams points out
that in 1500 the annual production of gold
amounted to about four millions. A hundred
years later it was about six millions, and in 1700
about seven millions. In 1800 the annual pro
duction had risen to about twelve millions. And
even as late as 1840 the production was only
about twelve millions. It began to rise in 1S49
but even the flood of gold that followed tho
discoveries of 1849 looks diminutive when com
pared with the four hundred million dollar out
put of 1900. The annual supply of gold has
developed since 1896, and we are now each
year producing more gold alone than we pro
duced gold and silver both in 1896. As a re
sult prices have risen the world over, and the
purchasing power of the dollar has fallen. Debts
are now being paid in cheap dollars at least in
dollars some thirty per cent cheaper than dollars
were in 1896. And the end is not yet in sight.
How long will the financiers permit without
protest this cheapening of the dollar?
OOOO
WHY NOT TO OTHERS?
The American Newspaper Publishers' Asso
ciation, to which all of the large daily news
papersincluding republican papers belong,
adopted at its last meeting this resolution:
Resolved, That it is the sense of this meet
ing that the duty on printing paper, wood pulp
and all material entering into the manufacture
of printing paper bo immediately repealed.
In the face of this resolution republican
newspaper editors continue to preach high pro
tective tariff and continue to assert that the
foreigner pays the tax. These republican papers
protest against any reduction in the tariff for
the benefit of consumers generally. They would
not give their support to the plank adopted sev
eral years ago by the republicans of Iowa pro
viding for the destruction of the shelter which
the trusts find in the tariff and even at this
moment most of thqse republican papers are
protesting against any interference with tho
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