Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-10-24
Hon. Villa N Rirdsa1l.

There was q fair attendance at the
meeting at the City Hall last Saturday
afternoon. A short address was made
by =. NJ. Carr who ct its close introduc
ed Hon. Willis N. Birdsall, the demo
cratic candidate for Congress from thif
district.
MI. Bibdsall isiR native Iowan, havi
ing beenlborn on q farm near Waterloo
on June 20, 1871 He is graduate Of
the East Waterloo high school and Of
the law department of the Iowa State
University, He affiliated with the re-
publican party until 1896, but then. like
many others who prefer their country Is
veal to the success of party, he has
been an ardent supporter Of Bryan and
democracy. He has good voice and
fine command Of language and his re.
marks were intently listened to and
met with hearty favor.
We regret we cannot give his speech
In full, but his answers to the questions
propoundea to him in the last issue OF
the Manchester Press, and the ques-
tions submitted by him for answer by
the Press, given below, show just where
Mr.. Birdsall stands on the issues in
this campaign.
Mr.. Birdsall read the questions and an
swered them in the following manner:
Ans. l The Kansas City platform
has specific declaration uroa these
gu .stions. I stand upon every plank
Of the Kansas City platform, not on
any one; nor do I reject one plank. II
elected, shall vote for any legislation
tending to carry out the principles adj
vocated in that platform. On any
question as to which the platform is 81
lent, / shall uso my best judgment
with desire to protect and promote
the interests of the people of the Third
District Of Iowa. and will not be con-
trolled by the lobby of the lower house
or by the great corporations and combi-
nations of Wall street.
Ans. 2. When the people of the
Philippine Islands have established .
stable and representative government
oftheir own, shall be heartily In favor
of hauling down the American flag and
Withdrawing the American army from
the islands, simply reserving CONNER
clal privileges and q coaling station and
naval base at Manila. Wherever the
American flag has been raised over an
unwilling people in denial of their right
of self government and wherever it
floats over a harem and q slave market,
I am in favor Of its being hauled down:
I.desire that the American boys in the
army in our foreign possessions shallsbe
brought back to this country that they
may engage in peaceful pursuits and
not be engaged in the subjugation of
foreign peoples.
Ans. 8. I am in favor of the fair, i'm.
partial enforcement Of such laws as we
nov have for the purpose of curtailing
and destroying the power of illegal
combinations and monopolies and for
the enactment of such further legisla.
tion as may be necessary for that pur-
pose. Should any such legislation be
held unconstitutional, of course, 1 shall
certainly vote for resolution submit:
ing q constitutional amendment, no
matter which party should present the
same.
Ans. 4. 1 should not vote for any
legislation making the obligations OF
this government payable solely in sill
yer. No such legislation has ever been
proposed to my knowledge. But
should vote for legislation which would
tend toward the payment of all obliga.
tions in gold and silver, the money Of
the Constitution.
Ans. 8. We have no means of judg.
ing the future but by the past. All
non.partisan reports show that Aguin
aldo and his people had, prior to the
commencement Of hostiltties between
the Americans and the Filipinos, estab-
lished stable representative form OF
government, this government which we
hav attempted for nearly two years
to destroy. They organized this gov.
eminent in few months and we have
every reason to believe that in a like
period of time they could again reor.
ganize q stable and Independent gov.
eminent. bsanta19 u
Ans. 8. This question contains q
statement 81 the opinion Of the Editor
OIL certain questions. Ihave no reason
to believe that his opinion is better
than mtnegs I believe that stable and
independent government can be estab-
lished by the Filipino people, for the
record shQXs that they had established
justsuch 8 form of government. Tht
only enarchy and bloodshed that has
ever occurred intthe Philippines in Re,
cent times has been due to the effort,
of the Spanish and American govern
ments to- establish q government o
these people without their consent
Spain has attempted for PRACTICAL!
three hundred years to subdue thes,
people and the result has been con
tinual and never ending instruction
Even If 1t should take years l had
rather that these people might, out o
their own experience and following ii
our footsteps, establish govern
ment of their own that would stand q
a monument to the eternal principal o.
truth, justice, and liberty and to tn
honor of the American people and ou
good faith in carrying out the principle
OF the Declaration of Independence.
i l desire to ask.a few questions f,
the Press to answer without subterfug,
or equivocation.
Was the Press in favor of the fire
coinage Of silver at the time P,esiden
Mckinley spoke for such legislation 0
:, Il Aff1 II opprnuo I, To- a. nIc,,kio.. r.oIo n