Evening star., 1900-08-09
DIR. CZarra,
DIR. Reed. Specialist.
MIR. STEVENSON ACCEPTS.
Speech of the Democratic Candidate
for the Vice Presidency.

MIN. ENSoN AC0EPTS.
| Speech of the Democratic Candidate
for the Vice Presidency.
| In his reply to the chairman Of the noti-
| fcation committee at Indianapolis yester-
day afternoon Adlai E Stevenson, the DEM
ocratic nominee for the vice presidency,
said, in part:
l am profoundly grateful for the honor
conferred upon me by my selection by the
national democratic convention as its cam
didate for the high office of Vice Presi-
dent Of the United States. For the compli-
mentary manner in which such action has
been officially made known to me l express
| to You, Mr.. Chairman and to your honored
associates of the committee my sincere
thanks.
Deeply impressed with a sense of the
sponsibility assumed by such candidacy, I
accept the nomination generously ten
dered me. Should the action of the con-
vention meet the approval of the people in
November it will be my earnest endeavor
| to discharge with fidelity the duties of the
great office.
The chief purpose of the great convention
whose representatives are before me was
redress for existing wrongs and security
against perils yet greater which menace
popular government. Your convention, in
language clear and unmiStakable, has pre-
sented the vital issues upon which the pend
ing contest is to be determined. To its
platform l give my earnest assent.
Clearly and unequivocally the democratic
convention has expressed its sympathy with
the burghers of the South African republics
in their heroic attempt to maintain free
government. In this the convention not
only voiced the sentiments of American
democrats, but of liberty-loving men ev-
erywhere. 1t is not strange that those who
have kept the political faith of the author
of the Declaration of Independence should
express their adherence at the effort of
great European power to subjugate a peo-
pie whose only crime is a death struggle
to maintain their liberties
The lavish appropriations by the present
republican Congress should challenge the
attention of all thoughtful men. Subsidy
bills and all unnecessary taxes are con-
0emned by our platform. The accumuia-
tion OF surplus revenues is too often the
preteXt for wasteful appropriations of the
pubic money. The millions of surplus now
accommodating in the treasury should
main in the pockets of the people. To this
end the democratic party demands
ducton of war taxes to the actual needs of
the government, and return to the policy
of strict economy in all governmental
penditures.
all channels Of trade. This is but the be-
ginning. Is it too much to say that unless
restrained by wholesome laws, wisely and
efficiently administered, the danger becomes
appalling? Fostered by the Dingley tariff
law, the trusts during the present repub-
llcan administration, have enormously in
creased in number and in power
At this hour i can but a,lude in brief
words to other needed reforms to which the
attention of the country is called by the
democratic platform. Prominent among
these is such an enlargement of the scope
OF the interstate commerce law as will pro-
tect the public from unjust. transportation
rates and individuals from unfair discrim-
ination. AS is well known, this law has
failed to effect the wise purpose for which
it was enacted; in fact, it is now little
more than n dead letter upon the statute
books. Under well-considered amendments
the commission should be vested with am
pie power to prevent injustice both to in
dividua.s and to the public.
Our platform favors the creation of a
department of labor, whose chief officers
shall take rank with other constitutional
advisers of the President. This is in the
interests Of justice, and will prove an i'm
portant step looking to the proper recogni-
ton and encouragement of the producers of
wealth.
In explicit terms It favors liberal pensions
to our soldiers and sailors and to those
dependent upon them.
With equal justice it reiterates the de-
mands of former democratic platform for
bimetallsm-the restoration of silver to its
proper function in our monetary system.
For the protection of the home laborer
it demands the enforcement of the Chinese
exclusion act.
And in the interest of an enlarged COM
merce it favors the immediate construction
of the Nicaraguan canal. This, however,
with the provision that it shall remain for
ever under the exclusive ownership and
control of the United States. The pending
Hay-Pauncefote treaty is condemned as a
surrender Of American rights, not to be
tolerated by the American people. In the
construction and control of this great work
there can be no concession of right to any
European power. Commercial interest and
national safety in time of war alike demand
its permanent ownership by govern
ment.
Mr.. Stevenson closed with a long argu-
ment against what he termed Imperialism,
which. he claimed, really the para
mount issue of the campaign.