Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1900-10-17
troversy with Mr. Bourke Cochran,

6929 of the Congressional Record of the
last session of congress you will FIND
the vote taken In the house on the anti
trust amendment. 1t is necessary, you
know, father, i'm order for congress to
pass constitutional amendment that
two-thirds of the members of both
houses should vote for it. When the
roll of the house was called, June !
1900, on the passage Of this resolution
the vote stood: Yeas, 154; nays, 132. AS
two-thirds did not vote in favor of the
amendment it failed of adoption.
Democrats Defeated Trust Amendment,
snow, of the 154 members who voted
Tor the resolution 149 were Republic
ans, four were Democrats and one was
elected by the Democrats and Silver
tiles in Montana. OF the 132 votes which
were cast in the negative, there were
but two cast by Republicans and $50
by Democrats.
Doesn't this record show that de-
spite their arguments against the trusts
and despite the fact that Bryan, when
talking for record, favored this sort
OF legislation, the Democrats, when
they had an opportunity to prove the
honesty of their purpose by their acts,
refused to vote for a measure which
would have been a practical solution Of
the trust problem. If this does not
prove the insincerity Of the Democrats
In their arguments against the trusts.
L, for my part, fail to see what sort of
proof would be necessary"
II did not understand this subject be-
fore, john" said Farmer Brown. ut
looks to me as though the Democrats
are trying to take snap Judgment on
us fellows out in the country
who are not able to under
stand their actions as those do
| who know more of what is going
on. We farmers read the newspapers
and listen to what the politicians say,
and that is about our only source of in
formation, and when the Democratic
speakers come around and talk about
the opposition of their party to the
trusts we are sometimes misled by
them and believe that they are telling
the truth, but l am glad to be able to
know just how they have acted when
they really had an opportunity to put
themselves on record and do something
that might actually affect the trusts"
Imperialism q Scarecrow.
"Their other paramount issue is i'm
perialism," said John. Now, 1 really
don't think it is necessary for me to
say much on that subject, for it is more
of a scarecrOw than anything else. The
United States has expanded, and
whether we would or not we have got
the Philippines and we have got Porto
Rico, and along with these islands we
have been pushed into position in the
front rank Of the nations. OF our du-
ties in our new position l need say
nothing. 1t seems to me that the
whole situation is simply summed I'D
something like this: The United States
has become a world power; the other
nations of the world acknowledge this.
They now ask what we propose to do
in regard to international questions.
and they are ready to consult with us
before doing anything to affect inter-
national policy. On account of our iso-
lated position we cannot be drawn
into the land-grabbing schemes Of con-
tinental nations, but we do occupy a
position as sort of intermediary
among the other nations. 1t seems to
me that no one can rightly estimate the
great responsibilities of this position
and the great good which the United
thereof. No, father, there is nothing
in this talk Of imperialism that gives
me moments fear for the future 1 |
feel rather that it is great and glo- |
riOus thing for the United States to be |
placed in the position which she |
now occupies, and as for all this talk |
of an empire, why. we cannot become |
an empire unless the majority Of our
people so determine, and l certainly |
have faith in the people.
Militarism an Insult to Our Soldiers.
Then there is that talk about mill |
tarism. That's all bosh, too. Do YOU
think for moment that our so-called |
immense standing army. which, in |
fact. believe would average about ten |
soldiers to the population of an ordi- |
nary Iowa county, is such a menace to
the libery Of this nation? For my part,
l have got better idea of the boys
who wear the uniform of the United |
States and follow its flag. l don't be-
lieve that they are disposed to over
throw this government, for which they
have shown themselves ready to lay
down their lives.
Il have undertaken to show you,
father. that the so-called paramount is
sues OF this campaign, as claimed by
the Bryanites, are nothing but spectres.
Their true purpose Is the enactment i'm
the law of Bryan's sole and only plat
form, which is Is to |. That is all
there is to the Democratic side of the
argument
The True Issues.
"As to the Republican issues they
cannot be expressed better to my mind
than they were by President Mckinley,
In conversation with Speaker Hender-
SOIL, just before the latter left Wash
ington last June. He had gone to the
president to bid him goodbye, and In
the course of conversation he said: Mr..
President. what are to he the issues of
the campaign this fally
"The president replied There is but
one issue, and that Is the prosperity of
the country
Father, do YOU want any further
proof that the president was right?"
mo, my son." replied Farmer Brown.
II am perfectly convinced and l am
going home and shall vote the Repub.
lican ticket this fall. and all as the re-
SUI. of the lessons l have taken since
coming to Des Moines"
"Shake, father" said John. And as !
father and son ioined hands thasa To-.