Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-11-29
stone N FOR REFORM
Vice. Chairman Stone Of Democratic
National Committee, Wants
Party Reorganizsd.
Says Party Has Been Too Long
on Negative Side In
Politics
Utters Warning Against Present
tendency Toward populism-
More Conservatism Urged.

o. : 7 n F
ulators Of the democratic national ma
chinery. have prepared for their
Thanksgiving dinner by carefully word
ed advice to the party to rid itself Of
William Jennings Bryan and his pet
isns Of 16 to / and anti-expansion.
Whether Mr.. Bryan will be a candi-
date for the presidency in the near flu
ture remains to be seem smilingly said
National Chairman Jones at Little Rock
last Thursday. but 1t is not probable
that he will. 1t is more reasonable to
presume that he would decline the NOM
nation. even should 1T be offered to
him.,
My belief is that the democratic par
" has been too much of party negation
in recent years." writes National Vice
Chairman Stone in letter made public
here yesterday. THE democratic party
must put forth great ideas and policies
of its own looking TO the development
and growth, along right lines, of Amer
lean interests"
In the double-b arreled hint from
Chairman Jones politicians see plain
warning to the Nebraskan that rejection
will be his portion he again seeks par
ty leadership. but in the letter from Mr..
Stone there is some thing Of even great
er ational Importance. He gives to the
party new paramount ISSUE. Dur
ing the campaign Senator Beveridge of
Indiana declared the democrats were a
party Of destruction, not construction"
Mr.. Stone would reverse this and be-.
siieVeSs now Is the time TO begin the fight
Tor rehabilitation.
Mr.. Stone also takes the public into,
hia confidence on another important
matter. He acknowledg es he was not in
full sympathy with the Kansas City
Platform. Those on the inside know
Mhat he rseanr thereby.
First and foremost, he was against the
specific Is to ! declaration. Next, he ia
an ardent trade expansionist. Even
more, he is in favor of acquisition of
territory, az is proved by his ardent ad-
svoca cy OF the annexation of Cuba More
over he is in favor of American in
trenchment in the Philippines, with
broad lf-government for the natives,
saltho opposed TO the present war,
Both Senator Jones and Mr.Stone scout
the idea of party reorganization, but
they always qualify it by saying those
who. have stood by the party in the past
must be at the helm in its future guild
ance. This is regarded merely as q bid
for their own retention in power. They
add that all who Will adhere to demo-.
cratic doctrine will be welcomed within
the party ranks, and then as an induce
!nent for recruits, promise that the days
of Organism are over.
e4fa
ganization. writes Mr.. Stone, ut would
be Wise to inquire who are the original
ors and ardent advocates of this scheme,
and then to inquire what is meant BY
the proposal TO reorganize the party
You will observe that those who are
foremost in advocating reorganization
are the men who deserted our party
standard In 1896, and who have been
aiding and abetting the republican par
ty ever since. II seems to me this prop
osition does not emanate from a source
which entities it to respectful consider
alton.
II do not believe" he slyly adds, that
the true democrats Of the country would
consent to put aside faithful and trusted
men and substitute in their places those
who We're unfaithful3in the hour of trial.
| even II 1t could be done.
| /" If those who have opposed us in the
past return to the party in the proper
spirit assume that there would be no
objection TO their taking part in exer-
cising their influence In party councils.
but before they are entitled to this con-
sideration they should return to the par
~ IN good faith and in the right spirit,
and not return in a dictatorial spirit,
saying in effect that they Will fight with
us II they can have their own way anu
against he II they can not have their
way The democratic party will not
submit to anything like that.
As for myself, believe the demo-
cratic party was right upon most OF the
i questions at issue In the recent cam
paign and not wholly wrong on any.
There We're some declarations in the
platform that l would have changed
.c:nc"hat IL ] could have done so. aud
there were some things left out that /
would have put into the platform If /
could have done so. It is well known
to the democracy of Missouri that
have for years earnestly advised that
the party should outline more atfirma-
tive, progressive and constructive policy
on questions OF national interest.
| Then follows his declaration on "the
party of negation."
The democratic party he concludes
should not and can not consistently
abandon the substance of any principle
/ 1T has advocated, for 1t has advocated
nothing that is not democratic, but II
should broaden it's lines and become
more aggressive and constructive in It.
purposes and legs negative and obstruc.
4 tive.