Birmingham state herald., 1897-04-13
ID TIE DEMOCRATIC VOTERS An Address Is Sent by the
 Leaders LAYING DOWN THE LINES Upon Which Victory In 1900 Can and Must
 Be Won. THE NEW EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Of the National Association of Democratic Clubs Meet at the National Capital Good and Encouraging Reports
 From Along the Line.
THE NEW EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE


 j. Washington, April 12-The first meet ing of the new executive committee of the National Association of Democratic clubs took place here today at the Eb- bitt house. There was a full attendance of members, and in-addition to some of the officers who are ex-offico members of the committee, those present included Hon. Chauncey r. Black, of Pennsyiva- mia; Hon. J. F. Sibley, of Pennsylvania; Senator Faulkner, of West Virginia; Hon. Benton McMillin, of Tennessee; Hon. F. E. Benton, of Missouri, proxy for Gov. Stone; Hon. George Fred Will Hams, of Massachusetts; Lloyd L. Jack son, of Maryland; Hon. William J. Bryan, of Nebraska, proxy for James c. Dahl man; Representative Mcguire, of Cali fornla, proxy for Senator White, of the same state; Representative Allen, of Mis- sissippi, proxy for Sena tor Money, of Mis- sissippi; Hon. James W. Kerr, of Penn sylvania; Vice-President Joseph Dan iels, of North Carolina; F. c. Smith, of New York; E. J. Burch, of New Jersey, proxy for J. H. Lambert; Representative J. T. Lewis, of Washington state; Senator Chiffon, Of Texas, proxy for ex-Gov. f1oSS dibu w. D. Nlche1n, aSslSt1ul SecIt- tary. Lawrence Gardner, the secretary, was unable to attend owing to illhess in his family.
 5 MT. AIcA1ilin was chosen to preside over the deliberations of the committee. The mem bers of the committee say the meet ing was more fully attended and the in- terest displayed was greater than at any previous gathering of the committee since the defeat in the previous cam paign. The reports of officers show a very satisfactory condition of the af- fairs of the association. During the cam 'paign there were in existence 15,000 dem ocratic campaign clubs, 9,000 of which had been formed during the campaign, and which lapsed after the election. There are approximately 5000 clubs now still in existence. The report of the treasurer shows small indebtedness, which was promptly provided for, and new fund for carrying on the work in hand was created. There was Q. very general discussion of the work that had been done during the past campaign and the methods and measures to be adopted for the future.
 A committee consisting of Messrs. Black, McMillin and Mcguire was ap- pointed to prepare an address to the dem ocratic voters of the country, which the committee unanimously adopted The address is as follows:
 The objects of this association, as set forth in it's constitution, are these:
 ITO foster the formation of permanent democratic clubs and societies through out the United States and to secure their active cooperation in disseminating Jef- fersonian principles of government.
 ITO preserve the constitution of the United States, the autonomy of the states, local self-government and free dom of elections.
 ITO resist revolutionary changes and the centralization of power.
 '"ro oppose the imposition of taxes be- yond the necessities of the government economically administered.
 ITO promote economy in all branches of the public service.
 ITO oppose unnecessary commercial re- strictions for the benefit of the few at the expense of the many.
 ITO oppose class legislation which de- spells labor and builds up monopoly.
 ''To maintain inviolate the fundamental principles of democracy-equality be- fore the law.
 ITO cooperate with the regular organ ization of the democratic party in sup port of democratic men and democratic measures.
 "These are the principles of Jefferson and of the democratic party, never sur rendered or abandoned in any of the nu- merous and grave vicissitudes since the adoption of the constitution and the formation of political parties. They are essential as every intelligent citizen is
 
 public and of the states and the people.
 ''Our right is self evident and we do not propose any vindication or eXposi- ton of them. But as members of the executive committee assembled at time when these fundamental principles are about to be disregarded by an ad- ministration recently installed and by a large majority of the house of repre- senta tives proceeding almost avowedly to exercise their fortuous power to lay the .- Inr fxt1a ute to vast consolidation of monopo- lies in utter contempt of constitutional limitations of republican principles and of popular rights, we feel it our duty to call your attention to the peculiar sit nation and to urge you to that vigilance which has ever been and ever must be the price of liberty when an apparent ma jefity of the votes of the people was counted out of the ballot boxes last year in flavor of the republican candidates for president and vice president. While we deplore the result and were confident that no positive relief could be afforded by the party so returned to power we were more than willing to afford its agents every opportunity to demonstrate whether or not their policies were ade- quate.
 In common with many who last year voted republican tickets under secret pro- tests and with serious msgivings as to the future, we supposed the administra-- ton and it's friends in congress cnargeu with unlimited power and conscious of the grave responsibility, would realize the necessity of proceeding in rational manner, and that they would in all events feel it incumbent upon them to further disturb the business of the coun- try by reaching into revision of the tariff laws for the sole purpose of repay ing the vast outlays of the combined monopolists in the late campaign. But we see at this time with alarm that they are resolvedl to grant no delay in the execution of a fixed and ruthless design. They insist that taxes are not high enough under the present law; they are to be made higher, and the producing people are to be impoverished by ad- verse legislation to be forced to suffer sttl more in the increased prices of their <fsrst-z food and other necessarie of