Four Pertinent Questions Answered.
Enterprise, Ala.
Hon. Thomas Watson, Thomson, Ga.:
Dear Sir:—1. What are the fundamental principles of the four parties, Populist, Socialist, Democratic and Republican?
2. Do you favor the way the United States allows the banks to use national currency without interest and then charge the people 12 per cent? If not, why not?
3. Do you think there is any likelihood of the Rural Free Delivery ever being discontinued and if so on what grounds?
4. What does the Parcels Post Bill advocate?
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ANSWER
(1) The Populists believe in the Public Ownership of Public Utilities—such as Railroads, Telegraph and Telephone Lines, and Express Companies.
They look upon the iron highway as a Public Road that should belong to the Public. They believe that the tremendous power which private ownership gives to the private corporations now owning the railroads is too great, too ruinous when improperly used, to be exercised by those whose sole aim is to extract the utmost possible dollar of profit out of the franchise.
The Populists believe, also, that there should be a return to the money-system of the Constitution.
The National Banks have USURPED the function of supplying the country with a proper currency.
At the present time, when the Government has but $353,000,000 of its own paper notes circulating as money, the National Banks have the enormous sum of $583,000,000 of their paper notes in circulation as money.
Populists contend that it is the prerogative and THE DUTY of the government to create ALL THE MONEY THAT CIRCULATES, and to hold unto itself the power of regulating the supply.
Populists believe in the Tax upon Incomes, and contend that this tax should progressively increase as the Income increases. They believe also in a tax upon Inheritance.
Populists lay particular stress upon the great principle of Direct Legislation. They believe in allowing the people to compel the law-making power to act when they, the people, want certain laws. They contend that it is no more than right to compel the law-makers to refer proposed legislation to those who are affected by it. This principle has worked happily wherever given a fair trial, and is usually called the Initiative and Referendum.
Populists contend, also, that all officers should be elected by direct vote of the people, and that the people should have the right at any time to retire an officer who has forfeited their confidence.
This principle is usually referred to as the Right of Recall.
In practice it proves a most excellent method of MAKING THE OFFICE-HOLDER “WALK THE CHALK.”
Populists also believe that we should have a system of Postal Savings Banks. These would furnish to the people convenient and safe places of deposit for their savings; and the system would go far to lessen the dangerous power of the metropolitan banks.
Populists are opposed to land monopoly, favor the eight-hour day in factories and similar industries, and believe that the employment of children of tender age in manufacturing establishments, mines, sweatshops, etc., should be watched with hawk-like vigilance and regulated with a parental care which puts the WELL-BEING OF THE CHILD above every other consideration in the case.
Populists believe in UNTAXED NECESSARIES OF LIFE, and contend that whatever tariff duties are imposed should be laid upon luxuries.
In brief, Populists strive for the adoption of those principles which would make this a real Republic, instead of an Aristocracy ruled by a Class, or a Plutocracy in which Dollars dominate.
And during the whole time that the Politicians and Sages and Powers have been laughing at us, we have been quietly furnishing with our garments the wardrobes of such eminent Politicians, Sages and Powers as Roosevelt, Bryan and Hearst.
Bryan accuses Roosevelt of stealing the very clothes that Bryan himself stole from us.
As for Hearst—before he fell down on that Murphy deal—his editorials and speeches were nothing in the world but the echo of James B. Weaver, Jerry Simpson and Mary Ellen Lease!
Had he kept up the lick, and not gone into that deal with Murphy, he would have been elected Governor of New York. He parted with his most valuable asset when he ceased to be an Independent.
The Socialists think they believe in the collective ownership of those things necessary to the production and distribution of wealth, but what they are actually driving at IS THE CONFISCATION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY and a jolly good division of the same, in order that the Have Nots will be upon an equal footing with the Haves.
That’s the inner meaning of practical Socialism, and that’s why it assumes so savage a character in our great cities.
In the hearts of the rank and file Socialists, are burning the same fierce fires as animated the Goths and the Huns when they bore down upon opulent Rome.
I have heard these people talk and I know what it is they really mean.
The Democratic Party, at present, hasn’t got any principles capable of proof.
They are waiting for the next National Convention to hand out a new suit of clothes.
They are awful sick and tired of that Parker platform, which is almost the same as the Republican platform—as poor old Gassaway Davis said.
But they cannot “point with pride” to any other platform until the National Convention meets. Just what will then be done, it would take an able-bodied prophet to tell. My own opinion is that they will adopt the leading principles of Populism and put Bryan to running for the Presidency again.
The Republican Party is doing just what Alexander Hamilton thought ought to be done—running the Government in partnership with the rich, for the benefit of the rich.
The Republican rule is a Plutocracy, tempered by an occasional spasm of Rooseveltism.
(2) No. Because I do not believe in Special Privilege, nor in the confiscation of $134,000,000 of money that belongs to the taxpayers. To take away the people’s money on the pretext that the Government needs it to pay expenses, and then to deliver it over to a few Pet Banks to be used without interest, is Confiscation. And it’s a burning NATIONAL INJUSTICE AND SHAME!
(3) No. Because Congress dare not do it. The people would not stand it.
(4) The transportation by the Government, through the mails, of small packages—say one, two, three, four, five, ten, fifteen pounds—at a moderate cost, thus protecting the people from the robber Express Companies.