The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-13
SURPRISED.
The Executive Committee of
the National
Association of democratic Clubs
Meets.
REVISION OF TARIFF
They Regard as InOppOrtune
Under Present Conditions.
Never Thought Republicans
Really Meant It.

the national association of Democratic
clubs took place here yesterday at the
Ebbitt House. There was a very full
attendance of members of the commit
tee, and in addition some of the officers
were ex-of1cio members of the commit
tee, those present including the follow
ing:
Chauncey F. Black of Pennsylvania,
Jos. Z. S1pley OF PennsyIvania; Senator
Faulkner of West Virginia; Benton
McMillin of Tennessee; REPRESENTATIVE
Benton of Missouri, proxy for Governor
Stone; William J. Bryan of Nebraska,
proxy for James G. Dehlman; Repre-
sentative Mcclure of California proxy
for Senator White of the same state;
Representative j. H. Lewis of Wash
ington state; Senator Chiffon of Texas,
proxy for Governor Hogg, and w. S.
Mexican. assistant secretary.
Mr.. McMillin was chosen to preside
over the deliberations of the commit
tee.
The members of the committee say
that the meeting was more fully at
tended and the interest displayed was
greater than at any previous gathering
of the committee after the defeat in a
previous campaign. The reports of the
officers showed a very satisfactory con-
dition of affairs of the association. Dur
the campaign there were 10000 Demo-
cratic clubs. There are approximately
5000 clubs still in existence. Their
small indebtedness was promptly set
tied and a new fund started. The
methods and measures to be adopted
for the future We're even discuss
ed. a committee, Messrs, Black, Nc
Millin and Mcclure was appointed to
prepare an address to the Democratic
clubs of the country.
Address after reciting the objects of
the association, and declaring that they
are the principles of Jefferson and of
the Democratic party, never surrender
ed or abandoned, and essential to the
preservation OF the republic, proceeds
as follows:
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 ma
jOrity of the house of representatives,
proceeding almost aVOWedly to exert
their fortuous power to lay the country
and all the Industrial classes under tri-
butte to a vast combination of mono
poles, in utter contempt of constitution
al limitations of Republican principles
and popular rights, we feel it our duty
to call your attention to the peculiar
situation and to urge you to that vigil
lance which has ever been and ever
must be the price of liberty.
when an apparent majority of the
votes of the people was counted out of
the ballot boxes last year in favor of
the Republican candidates for president
and vice president while we deplored
the result and were convinced that no
possible relief could be afforded by the
party SO returned to power, we were
more than willing to afford its agents
whether or not their politics were ade-
quate.
In common with many who last year
voted Republican tickets under secret
protest, and with serious misgivings as
to the future, We supposed that the adj
miniStratiOn and its friends in congress
charged with unlimited power and con-
ScIOuS of the grave response bl1ty would
see the necessity of proceeding in a ra-
tiOnal manner, and that they would, at
all events, not feel il incumbent upon
them to further disturb the business of
the people by rushing into revision of
the tariff laws for the sole purpose of
repaying the vast OUTLAWS of the COM
bined monopOliStS in the late campaign.
But We see at this time with alarm
that they are resolved to grant no de-
lay in the execution of q fixed and ruth
less design. They insist that taxes are
not high enough under the present law.
They are to be made higher. And the
producing people. already Impoverished
by adverse legislation are to be forced
to suffer still more in the increased
prices of clothing, their food and other
necessaries of life, including implements
of their industries.
This monstrous bill, fit successor to the
Mckinley bill of denominations itself has
been pushed through the house under prac-
teal gag law and is now pending in the
against the freedom of debate and where
a passage is to be forced by the use of
executive patronage reserved for the pur-
pose. This is one OF the stones which
the people of the United States to get
instead OF the DTeaQ tH0y asked IOT st1il
so much need. Whether the promises
made to them as to other matters and the
hopes they were led to form through the
extraordinary eXpedients employed by the
mOnOpOlistS in the late campaign are to
De slLnllaIly aisptSeo o. can Marcy oe an
object of conjecture A party which open
ly uses the terrible power of taxation for
private enrichment, and for correspond
expected to use any other power with
moderation and justice. Although the
was and is that of the single gold stand
ard, as against the free and unlimited
coinage of gold and silver, and mighty
majority of the whole people declared I'M
equivocs.lly for bimetallism either inde-
pendently or by International agreement,
we see not the slightest indication of any
disposition to move in that direction.
While all Industries languish while the
gold dollar appreciates and the silver dol
lar is denied its natural economic func-
ton. while a nation waits and suffers,
tariff schedules are being revised for the
exclusive benefit of the tax eaters and the
gold owners are tacitly assured that they
need apprehend no encroachments upon
their monopoly, which lie visibly appro-
priating the profits upon the Iabors of
civilized mankind. To the bitter COM
Roman farmer of the revenues is returns
ed namely: more taxes and a dearer
currency with which to pay them
"Federalist administrations have uni
formly run into excuses not unlike those
are witnessing at present, but never
before in the history of the Republic have
they been so candidly avowed or cOoliy
justified, as a party policy rendered neces-
sary by campaign contracts, in order to
secure the power thus to be abused. The
administration and congress having TAX
en- this attitude and again thrown down
the gage of battle to the allied hosts of
American free men who supported the
Democratic candidates last year-casting
their millions of Impoverished votes for
liberty regulated by law-Wei OF IN. the
Democratic party are left no alternative
but to take it up. Our cause is FAR
stronger today than ever before We
have only to organize, to bring right
thinking and right feeling people together
in Democratic soeieties-where the designs
of monopolist parties in power may be
discussed and exposed and where each
good citizen. encouraged by his neighbor,