Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-09-28

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Gentlemen:-In accepting the nomf- |
aatfon rendered by you on behalf or
the Democratic party, beg to assure
you of my appreciation of the great |
honor conferred upon me by the dele
gates in convention assembled. and by
the voters who gave instruction to the
delegates.
I am sensible Of the responsibilities
which rest upon the chief magistrate
of SO great a nation, and realize the
far-reaching effect of the questions IN
volved in the present contest.
In my letter of acceptance OF 1896.
I made the following pledge:
$50 deeply am impressed with the
magnitude of the power vested by the
Constitution in the chief executive OF
the nation and with the enormous IN
fuence which he can yield for the pen
eft or injury of the people, that
wish to enter the Office, if elected. free
from any personal desire, except the
desire to prove worthy Of the conf
dence of my countrymen. Human
judgment is fallihle enough when un-
biased by selfish considerations, and,
in order tina. | may not be tempted to
use the patronage OF the office to ad-
vance any personal ambition, hereby
announce, with all the emphasis which
words can express. my fixed determl- !
nation not, under any circumstances,
to be a candidate for reelection. In
case this campaign results in my cleo
ton
Further reflection and observation
constrain me to renew this pledge.
The platform adopted at Kansas City
commands my cordial and unqualified
approval. 1t courageously meets the
issues now before the country. and
states clearly and without ambiguity
the party's position on every question
considered. Adopted by convention
which assembled on the anniversary Of
the signing of the Declaration OF In
dependence, it breathes the spirit OF
candor, independence and patriotism
which characterizes those who. at Phil
adelphia in 1776, promulgated the creed
of the Republic.
Having in my notification speech,
discussed somewhat at length the par
amount issue. Imperialism. and added
some observations on militarism and
the Boer war. it is sufficient at this
time to review the remaining planks of
the platform.
The platform very properly gives
prominence to the trust question. The
appalling growth of combinations in
restraint of trade during the present
administration, proves conclusively
that the Republican party lacks either
the desire or the ability to deal with
the question effectively. If as may be
fairly assumed from the speeches and
conduct of the Republican leaders, that
party, does not intend to take the peo-
pies side against these organizations,
then the weak and qualified condem-
nation of trusts to be found in the Re-
publican platform is designed to dis
tract attention while industrial despot-
ism is completing it's work. A private
monopoly has always been an outlaw.
No defense can be made of an indus
trial system in which one. or a few
men, can control for their own profit,
the output or price of any article of
merchandise. Under such system the
consumer suffers extortion. the produ-
Ger of raw material has but one pur-
chaser, and must sell at the arbitrary
price fixed; the laborer has but one
employer, and is powerless to protest
against injustice, either in wages or
in conditions of labor; the small stock
holder is at the mercy of the specula-
Tor, while the travelling salesman con-
tributes his salary to the overgrown
profits of the trust. Since but small
proportion of the people can share in
the advantages secured by private
monopoly, it follows that the remain
der of the people are not only ex-
-cluded from the benefits, but are the
helpless victims of every monopoly or
,ganized. 1t is difficult to overestimate
the immediate injustice that may be
done. or to calculate the ultimate eff
feet of this injustice upon the social
and political welfare of the people
Our platform, after suggesting certain
specific remedies; pledges the party tC
an unceasing warfare against private
monopoly in nation, state and city.
heartily approve of this promise; il
elected, it shall be my earnest and con-
slant endeavor to fulfill the promise in
letter and spirit. shall select an at
torney-general who will. without fear
or favor, enforce existing laws; shall
recommend such additional Legislation
as may be necessary to dissolve every
private monopoly which does business
outside of the state of its origin; and
If contrary to my belief and hope. {
constitutional amendment is found tt
be necessary, shall recommend sucf
an amendment as will. without impair
ing any of the existing rights of the
states. empower Congress to protec,
the people of all the states from injur.
at the hands of individuals or corpora
tons engaged in interstate commerce.
The platform accurately describes
the Dingley tariff law, when it con