Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-04-13
A WILD, WEIRD Wall
PROMINENT DEMOCRATS MEET AT
WASHINGTON AND HOWL.
THEY SCORE THE DINGLEY BILL
DENoUNCE REPUBLICANS FOR RUSH
ING TARIFF REVISION.
Declare That the Money Question Is
Paramount and Demand That 1t
Have First Attention-Maud-
lin Numbering MouthinEs
About MonopoIies.
THEY SCORE THE DINeLEY BILL

Washington, April 12--The first meeting
of the new executive cummittee OF the
National Association of Democratic Clubs
took place here to-day at the Ebbitt house.
There was very full attendance of MEM
bers of the committee, and in addition some
of the officers were ex-officio members OF
the committee. those present including the
following: Hon. Chauncey F. Black of
Pennsylvania: Hon. Joseph C. Sibley. of
Pennsylvania; Senator Faulkner, of West
Virginia; Representative Benton McMiIlin.
of Tennessee; Representative Benton, Of
Missouri proxy for Governor Stone; Hon..
George Fred Williams, of Massachusetts,;
Lloyd L. Jackson, of Maryland; Hon. WILL
lam ]. Bryan, of Nebraska, proxy for
James c. Dahlman; Representative Ma
guire, of California, proxy for Senator
White, of the same state; Representative
Allen. of Mississippi, proxy for Senator
Money, of the same state; Hon. James
Kerr. of Pennsylvania; Vice President Jo-
sephus Daniels. of North Carolina; E..
Chambers Smith, of North Carolina: Mr..
Burch, of New Jersey. proxy for G. H.
Lambert; Representative ]. H. Lewis, Of
Washington state; Senator Chiffon, of Tex
as, proxy for Governor Hogg. and w. g..
Mexican, assistant secretary.
Mr.. McMillin was chosen to preside over
the deliberations of the committee. The
members of the committee say the meeting
was more fully attended and the interest
displayed was greater than at any previous
gathering of committee after defeat In a
previous campaign. The reports Of the Of
ficers showed a very satisfactory condi-
ton of the affairs of the association.
During the campaign there were In ex-
istence 1900 Democratic campaign clubs,
5000 of which had been formed during the
campaign and which lapsed after the cleo
tion. There are approximately GOD clubs
The report of the treasurer showed a
small Indebtedness, which was promptly
provided for and new fund for carrying
on the work in hand was created. There
was a very general discussion of the work
that had been done during the past cam
paign, and the methods and measures to
be adopted for the future.
A committee consisting Of Messrs. Black.
McMillin and Mcguire was appointed to
prepare an address to the Democratic vot-
ers of the country which the committee
unanimously adopted The address, after
reciting the objects of the association as
set forth In its constitution, and declaring
that they are the principles of Jefferson
and of the Democratic party. never sur
rendered or abandoned, and essential to the
preservation Of the republic, proceeds as
follows:
mittee, assembled at a time when these
fundamental principles are about to be dis
regarded by an administration recently in
stalled, and by large majority of the
most avowedly to exert their fortuous pow
er to lay the country and all their indus
trial classes under tribute to vast COM
bination of monopolies. in utter contempt
of constitutional limitations, of republican
principles and popular rights, we feel it
our duty to call your attention to the Pc
l1v. .,,,I &r N<, st
vigilance 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 bal
lot boxes last year in favor of the Republic
an candidates 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 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-
test, and with serious misgiyings as to
the future. we supposed that the adminis-
tration and it's friends in congress, charged
with unlimited power and conscious of the
grave responsibility. would realize the ne
cessity of proceeding in rational man.
not feel it incumbent upon them to further
disturb the business of the people by rush.
ing into revision of the tariff laws for
the sole purpose of repaying the vast out
lays Of combined monopolists in the late
campaign. But we see at this time with
alarm that they are resolved to grant no
delay in the execution of 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.
although the paramount question before
gold standard. as against the free and un-
limited coinage of gold and silver and
a mighty majority of the whole people de
either independently or BY internationaii iii
agreement, as promised by the Republican
party. we see not the slightest indication
si,.a OF any disposition ,'s to move in that di-
While the gold dollar appreciates and the
silver dollar is denied its natural economic
functions. while nation waits and suf-
the exclusive benefit of the tax eaters, and
the gold owners are tacitly assured that
they need apprehend no encroachments
plcrriating the profits upon the labors Of
civilized mankind. To the bitter COM
Plsints OF the people. the answer of the
Roman farmer of the revenues is returned,
namely: More taxes and a dearer cur
rency with which to pay them
Federalist administrations have uni
ioiHniy run INTO eSceSSeS not unlike those
We are witnessing at present. but never
before In the history of the republic have
they been so candidly avowed or so coOlly
Justified as party policy rendered nee
essary by campaign contracts in order to
secure the power thus to be abused. The
administration and congress having taken
this attitude and again thrown down the
gage of battle to the allied hosts of Amer1-
can freemen who supported the Democratic
last year-casting their millions
of unpurchased votes for liberty regulated
by law-we of the Democracy are left no
alternative but to take it up. Our cause
Is far stronger to-day than ever before.
We have only to organize, to bring right
and right feeling people to-
getter in Democratic societies-where the
designs of the monopolist party in power
may be discussed and exposed. and where
each good citizen, encouraged by his neigh
Dor, will resist the seductions and resent
the threats of the common enemy-to
tives of the masses in the next house, and
to carry the elections of 1900 trl
umphantly as our Democratic forefathers
carried those of 1900.
societies constituted after the manner of
those which Mr.. Jefferson described as
very nurseries of republican principles be
established in every district. and that the
state. county and city chair
men throughout the country take imme-
date steps to secure the institution of such
These. when united in state
associations. and with this great national
will constitute an Irresistible
force in the contest before us. To insure a
popular victory which will inaugurate
the new century with as sure promise OF
election inaugurated the last, We require
only the means of constant discussion and
the means of polling our honest vote IN
thorough club organization will accom-
pliSh."