Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1901-07-25

such he has worked consistently for
the advancement oi democratic princi.
pies. And while he did not stand AZ a
champion OF free silver in 1896 ne did
stand against monopoly in all IL
phases, just az he stands today.
At the moment 0f the Columbus con
vention Mr.. johnson was the most con-
spicuous democrat IN the United
States after Mr.. Bryan. 1t Has recog-
nized that with Mr, Bryan ont oi the
way, as Mr.. Bryan had put himself
ont Of the way, Mr. johnson was al.
most, if not quite, the logica man for
the democratic nomination in 1904
Popular attention was centering more
and more upon him ana more and
more definitely his views were
challenging discussion and finding ad-
vocates. The papers were full Of him
and it was an open secret that the
democratic leaders throughout the
country we're beginning to look to him
a. the man Of the hour.
But if the monopoly forces have
feared Bryan, how much greater rea-
aon had they TO lear Tom L. Johnson,
for Bryan is in fact cons ryatiye of
| CnilspIVdlIFte III EbUl par lEtH Win lDt
mayor OF Cleveland Mr.. BRYAN has
never proposed to 20 beyond what are
clearly the traditional lines Of demo-
cracy. Even concerning the tariff be
was infinitely less radical than Mr..
Johnson. Mr.. Bryan never seemed to
have notion that free trade was
natural trade and that men are entitled
to enjoy it as they are entitled to enjoy
other phases Of liberty. He seems to
| have felt that the tariff was a revenue
necessity and while he opposed
tariff for protection he never once
questioned the legitimacy Of a tariff
laid for the purpose Of providing
funds for the treasury.
1t is true that the Kansas City plat
form declared against all monopoly in
private hands and it is true also that
his declaration covered the monopoly
of land as vel as the monopoly Of
lines OF communication, but there ls
nothing whatever to indicate in any.
thing that Mr.. Bryan ever said on the
stump or in any OF his writings before
or since the election that he have 50
wide an application to that deliver
ance. Mr.. Bryan apparently has ac-
cepted the present tax system as be-
ing on the whole good and he has gone
no farther than to advocate an income
tax and to condemn the perversion Of
existing laws for private benefit
On the other hand Mr.. Johnson has
stood and now stands for all the Kan
sas City platform said and implied and
he stands for a method under which
monopoly in private hands would in
fallibly be destroyed The mere
denuncation Of monopoly does not
scare the monGpolist. In fact the
monopolist himself does not hesitate to
denounce monopoly when such a
denunciation Will serve his purpose.
But when monopoly is attacked in q
practical way on practical lines, then
the monopolist takes alarm and he
looks far ahead tor the means Of safe
guarding his privileges.
1t is recognized that Mr.. Johnson's
plans will work. They are simple
and definite. They are easy to un-
derstand and easy to apply. No social .
revolution is necessary 10 their in
auguration. Largely they involve re.
peal OF some notoriously bad laws and /
the enforcement of some admittedly
good laws. 1t is not to be believed
that the predatory class IS pima 20
these facts. The benehclarles OF
privilege understand very clearly Just
what Tom johnson means ana they
understand perfectly that II he IS not
headed of his plans VIII be put INTO
effect and that then their power VIII (
be gene.
Hence the anxiety on their part to .
destroy Mr., johnson as polltlcal
factor. They have not succeeded very .
well in their efforts to discredlt MIN
by direct attack. In spite OF Their (
sneers at him and ID spite OF their
studied efforts to saddle HIM WITH the .
charge oil inconsistency ana lnslncerlty
Mr.. johnson has steadily. grown IN .
popular favor and, as We nave SAID, al
the moment OF the Columbus conven'
tion he was the m ost striking figure IN .
the democratic horizon.
***
What could not be done directly .
the monopolists have sought to do by
Jonhsuh 10 gam apparent cuhtlul u .