The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-04-13

Washington, April 12.-The first
meeting of the executive committee of
the National Association of Democrat
ic Clubs took place here today at the
Ebbitt House. There was very full
attendance of members of the commit
tee, and in addition some Of the Of
ficers were ex-officio members of the
committee, those present including the
following:
Hon. Chauncey F. Black of -Peunsyl-
vania, Hon. Joseph C. Sibley of Penn
sylvania, Senator Faulkner Of West
Virginia, Representative Benton Nc
Aiillin of Tennessee, Representative
Benton of Missouri, proxy for Governor
Stones Hon. George Fred Williams of
Massachusetts, Hon. W. J. Bryan of
Nebraska, proxy for James c. Dahl
man; Representative Mcguire of Cali
fornia. proxy for Senator White of the
same state; Representative J. H. Lewis
of Washington state, Senator Chiffon
of Texas, proxy for Governor Hogg,
and W. S. McKenna, assistant secre-
tary.
Mr.. McMillin was chosen to preside
over the deliberations of the commit
tee.
GREAT INTEREST.
The members of the committee say
the meeting was more fully attended
and the interest displayed was greater
than at any previous gathering of the
committee after defeat in a previous
campaign. The reports of all the Of
hcers showed a very satisfactory con-
dition of affairs of the association.
During the campaign there were in
existence $1,000 Democratic campaign
clubs, 1900 of which had been formed
during the campaign and which lapsed
after the election. There are approx
mately 5000 clubs still in existence.
The report of the treasurer showed
small Indebtedness. which was prompt
~ provided for, and new fund for
carrying on the work in hand was Gre
ated. There was a very general dis
cussion of the work that had been done
during the past campaign and the
methods and measures to be adopted
for the future.
committee, consisting of Messrs.
Black, McMillin and Mcguire, was ap-
pointed to prepare an address to the
Democratic voters of the country
which the committee unanimously
adopted.
THE ADDRESS,
The address, after reciting the
objects of the association, as set
forth in its constitution, and de-
claring that they are the princi-
PIES of Jefferson and of the Demo-
cratic party. never surrendered or
Sbandoned, and essential to the
: observation of the republic pro-
os7eds as follows:
N.But as members of the executive
committee, assembled at a time
when these fundamental principles
are about TO be disregarded by an
administration recently installed.
and by a large majority of the
house OF representatives, proceed
ing almost avowedly TO exert their
enormous power to lay the country
and all the industrial classes under
tribute to a vast combination CT
nonopolies. in utter contemDt of
constitutional limitations, of re-
publican principles and of popular
rights, we feel it our duty TO call
your attention to the peculiar sit
uation and to urge you to vigilance
wnirh has ever been and ever must
be the price of liberty.
When an apparent majority of
the votes of the people was count
ed out of the ballot box last year,
in favor OF the Republican candi-
dates for president and vice-presi-
dent, while we deplored the result
and were convinced that no possible
relief could be afforded by the party
so returned to power, we are more
than willing to afford its agents
every opportunity to demonstrate
whether or not their policies were
adequate.
In common with many who last !
year voted Republican tickets I'M
der sacred protests, and with seri-
Gus misgivines as to the future
we supposed that the administration
and its friends in congress.
charged with the unlimited power
and conscious Of the grave respon-
sibility, would see the necessity of
proceeding in a rational manner,
and shat they would, at all events,
not Ieel it incum bent upon them to
further disturb the business of the
( people by rushing into revision
of the tariff laws for the sole pur-
pose of repaying the vast OUTLAWS
of the combined monopoIists in the
late campaign. But we see, at this
time. with alarm, that they are re-
solved to grant no delay in the eX-
ecution of a fixed and ruthless de-
sign. They insist that the taxes
are not higHJ enough, under the
present law. , They are to be made
higher, and the producing power,
already impoverished by adverse
legislation. is to be forced to suf-
fer still more in the increased
prices of their clothing, their food,
and other necsssaries of life irclud-
implements of their industries
This monstrous bin, fit success
sor to the Mckinley bill of abomi-
nations. itself has been pushed
through the house under a prac-
teal gag law and is now pending
debate, where already threats are
heard against the freedom of de-
bate, and where passage is to be