San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-11-11
JEHU BAKER SPEAKS,


Jehu Baker, the msnwho so success
fully combined republicanism and the
labor hosts for the overthrow Of HOri-
zOntal Bill Morrison, In district which
Morrison himself acknowledges to be
Overwhelmingly democratic, has put
himself on record as man having some
ideas concerning the political outlook Of
the country. Referring to the causes Of
Morrison's defeat, Baker says he was de-
feated because he twas opposed by the
republican party. by the Eastern and
many of the Southern members OF his
own party and by some democrats in the
West" Jehu regards Morrison rs in u
growing minority, the opposition to
which minority isever increasing. As to
the influence of labor organizations in
securing MOrrisOn's defeat Judge Baker
speaks philesOphically. He does not
think that the real merits of the case
are considered by regarding the labor
movement rs whole. He thinks that
the true underlying feeling is one of I'M
rest OF dissatisfaction with the existing
situation, and that this unrest is seeking
expression through organization. His
own words are:
out of the unrest, the dissent, the feel
iHg that certain elements are not receiv-
ing their just rights, has developed or
ganiZati6n. 1t is undoubtedly true that
this movement, this organization, OF dis
ftaIs a - afr naflW m
the idea of protection. For that reason
its influence was naturally against Mr..
Morrison, and represents the idea OPP
posed 10 free trade. The natural tenden-
Cy would be for these elements to OPP
pose MIR. MorrisOn-not that Mr.. Pow
derby nor those whose cause he repre-
sents are personally hostile TO Mr.. Nor
risOn, but because they do not believed
the principles to which he holds. 1t Is
natural that there should be two parties,
one develops from the spirit Of unrest
the other is proud of the elements nat
urally opposed to change. The spirit OF
unrest, OF reform, made the republican
party, and that party is now brought
full to face a great question. To ignore
ii is to go to the wall. The
face it is TO lop of some excres-
cences and to offend some elements
which come to the republican party be-
cause it was the party In power. There
are 500, 100000 to be raised annually,
and it should be done In this manner
TO be least burdensome, but so as to rem
der protection to labor. That is one
thing to be done for labor. There are
other things which will seem antagonis-
tic to capital, but which the republican
party should take hold Of promptly II 1t
IL l. lAE - hat
to be its opportunity. | believe all OF
the United States bonds should be GU
off. One of the grandest decisions ever
rendered was that by Chief Justice Mar
shall that il was contrary to the spirit
of our constitution for this government
10 engage in the formation and foster
ing of such corporations. L believe that
the greenbaCk principle with the coin
basis is the true one for our currency.
Judge Baker is strongly impressed
with the idea that the republican party
must espouse The cause Of labor, simply
because labor has wrongs which should
be righted. He argues that there are
grounds for the feeling Of discomfort ex-
listing, and that to the republican party
and not to the democratic must the peO-
pie look for a redress Of grievances. He
would have the republican party recog-
ntze the fact that capital and corpora
tiOrs have made inrOsds upon the rights
Of the masses and from this standpoint
he would commence the work Of legIsls-
ton. This was the idea with
which Judge Baker entered upon
his campaign against the great free
trade democrat of IlliOnis, and
the results are before the country. These
words of Judge Jehu Baker, are certain
ly entitled to consideration, rs the
words of a man who has just approved
the value of his political ideas in holly
contested campaign before the people
for seat in the popular branch of the
national Legislature. There is every
reason to conclude that the popular
feeling lies largely in the direction indi-
Gated by MorrIson's successor in the
halls of congress. Should the principles
act forth by him become the dominant
principles of republican action, no pow
erOn earth could stay its victorious
progress. The question of the people,
the rights of the masses, has come fairly
before this nation for adjustment. 1t
can not be sneered out of a demonstra-
ton, or set aside for more important
issue. There is no more important
issue before the people than the ques-
ton of the rights of the people, there
can be none. The party which gives to
this question its true place in the great
body of public affairs will become in no
mean sense the party OF the people. In
returning to its work for the people the
republican party is only taking again to
its hands the work to which 1t was con-
secrated by the blood OF Lovejoy and
Sumner and Lincoln, and the sacrament
tai hosts of freedom who gave them
selves that the people might be free.
Not free from law, but free under law.
The freedom of righteous laws right
eOusly administered.
The arrival Of the jug train is the
feature OF the day at Atlanta since pro-
hibition struck the town. The express