Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-10-28

In q Republican Form of Government
They Can Not Exist In Absolute
Monarchy-Thsir Work as Legitimate
as That OF Any Other Organization
For n Public Purpose.
A few days ago Gamuel NJ. Jones
wrote letter to Chairman Dick OF the
Republican state committee, which he
discourteously gave out to the press
before 1t had time to reach Colonel
Dick in the course of the mails The
letter was in reply to the circular re-
quest sent out by the Republican state
committee, asking for contributions to
the party cause. In his reply Mr..
Jones took occasion to indulge in his
usual rodomontade about political par
ties, and signed himself President of
the Acme Sucker Rod Co." Ito which
the circular had been sent), and Non
Partisan candidate for Governor"
In reply, Chairman Dick sent the fol-
lowing keen epistle puncturing the pc
culiar claims of Mr.. Jones in regard to
parties:
Columbus, o., Oct. 20.
Hon. Samuel NJ. Jones, President Acme
Sucker Rcd Co., Toledo, o.;
My Dear Sir-Replying to your let
ter of recent date, which you took the
liberty to give to the press before
had received it through the mail, l de-
sire to call your attention to certain
statements in my letter, to which you
do not find objection, viz:
First-"It is scarcely necessary to
call your attention to the prosperity
that is apparent everywhere in all lines
of trade The situation throughout the
United States, from a business stand
point, was never better" You ac-
knowledge by your silence that this
statement is true.
Second-"What we want is contin-
uance of these conditions" You do
not object, as president of the Acme
sucker company, to "A continuance of
these conditions" Republican pros
perity seems to be a good thing, even
for the president of the Acme Sucker
Rod company.
Third-"A change in the administra-
tion in Ohio this year would be ac-
cepted as the precursor of a change in
the national administration in 1900.
Such a change we believe, would be
disastrous, as it would completely un-
settle the business interests of the
country" The people are not deceived,
and, by your silence you admit that a
change in the administration would
completely unsettle the business inter-
ests of the country; but, intrenched
as you are, in a monopoly which con-
trolls an article of necessity, possibly
you may not care if panic should
come. Secure in your patent, YOU can
reap a rich harvest, while the poor
suffer.
The part of my letter to which you
raise objection is the appeal for con-
tributions to defray the legitimate ex-
penses of the campaign. l have no
apology to offer for asking contribu-
tions from the business public gen
orally, to which we have directed this
appeal, and l am not ashamed of the
fact that We are under the necessity
of soliciting from the many rather
than relying on the wealth of the one
rich man, who owns, dictates and alb
solutely controls his party-a further
evidence that the Republican party is
the party of the people.
You say that "A government of the
people can never be brought about
while government by parties remains"
and that you must decline to assist in
forwarding a fraudulent, unscientifc
and wicked political system Such a
statement from one who claims to rep
resent the people is astounding. In
absolute monarchies there are no po-
litical parties-republics can not exist
without them. AS nations progress
towards greater liberty parties be-
come a necessary part of their political
systems, and are the legitimate chan
nels through which the people register
their verdict upon all great political
questions. In order to sustain politi-
cal parties, contributions are solicited
to disseminate their principles. For
over a century Of American history
voluntary contribution, like that pro-
posed in our circular letter, has been
the method of sustaining political life.
A contribution to disseminate and de-
fend the principles of the party is as
honorable as a contribution to any
other public purpose,
In conducting your campaign you
declare mo one has been or will be
asked to contribute a dollar" Do you
distribute the literature of your pecu-
liar teachings free? Who pays the
printing bills, postage and other ex-
penses? Who pays the hotel and rail
road bills of your speakers? Who
pays the numerous agents that are
working for you throughout the state?