Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-10-31

| n big democratic mass meeting in Ly-
ceum hall last evening, speaking on
the tariff and trusts The theatre
was filled almost TO suffocation. near
ly 1000 people listening to him, while
nearly as many, unable TO gain admis-
sion, attended a big open-air meeting
When Mr.. Cleveland appeared on the
platform the audience greeted him
with great enthusiasm. Robert ID.
Foote, democratic leader of the Fifth
district, called for three cheers and
| they We're to the echo.
Begins to Denounce Protection.
Il am especially pleased TO learn
that tariff reform has been made the
principal issue i'm the canvass you
have in hand,' said Mr.. Cleveland.
Never within my experience has
| there been a time when this should be
more earnestly, persistently and hon
estly pressed upon the attention of
our countrymen than now.
"Of course custom duties must con-
tinue to be the source of government
maintenance until another plan is de
vised. but tariff constructed for the
purpose of protection as it's chief OBJ
iect is at all times and i'm every feat
ure of it an unjust and unfair burden
upon the masses of our people, but
the bold and arrogant developments
of its unfairness and injustice i'm re-
cent years and the new directions
they have taken ought especially to
arrest the attention and apprehension
of every thoughtful, sober-minded cit
iZen. =
Republicans Admit Need of Reform
rs it not true. then, that the en-
croachmentS of the doctrine of high
protection have been constantly pro-
gressive? Is it not true that the heed
lessness of its eXpectant beneficiaries
and their disregard for the welfare of
the great mass of consumers iS more
and more impudently eXhibited: and
iS it not true that to all other rea-
sons for a reform of our tariff laws
there is added the birth and growth
of their cruel and unmerciful prog
eny of trusts and combinations which
stand guard against all attempts to
seek relief i'm the field of free compe-
tition?
THAT present tariff conditions have
assumed complexion which not on
ly requires a check in its aggressive
ness, but actual amendment, is at
last admitted among those RESPONSE
BILE for these conditions. Such CON
cession was made when' dozen or
more reciprocity treaties were sub
mitted to the senate, but the sincerity
of the concession and the honest in
tention to surrender the least advan-
tage as long as il can be held is en-
phatically disproved by the fact that
session after session of the senate has
passed without taking the least ac-
tion on these treaties.
should Not BE Trusted Again.
what have these friends of the tar
iff done that they should again be
trusted?
'They have quieted the peoples
fears and professed solicitude for
their welfare and promised to lead
them to pleasant places, and now that
shoals and rocks have been struck
they seek by another promise to mend
the whole affair and retain the conf
dence and trust of those they have de-
Iuded.
Il have supposed that my fellow cit
izens are thoughtful on this subject
and that their thoughtfulness has led
them to desire an amendment of our
tariff laws and rectification of the
wrong and injustice that follow in
their train. / have attempted to give
reasons why this work should not be
to those who have so fully
their insincerity and
unfitness for the task"
Root Speaks at New York.
New York. Oct. 31.-Cooper Union
was filled last night with people who
had come to attend Republican meet |
ing. the principal speakers being |
Mayor Low, Governor Odell and Secre- |
tary of War Root. Low eulogEed Gov
ernor Odell and his administration of
state affairs. Governor Odell fol |
lowed in an address in which he cast
aside as absurd the prediction that
his majority would be as small as
some had prophecied. Secretary Root
spoke after the governor had finished, |
and his address was an aggressive de-
fense of the whole administration pol
icy, domestic and foreign, and also of !
the state administration.
The issue he presented was: "N'iii
the people of the United States elect
house of representatives with Re
publican majority to work in harmony
with the president and with the Re-
publican majority of the senate, so
that he may go on as he has begun
with an effective government. working
out practically the plans for improving
administration and for the remedy or
evils along the lines upon which the
legislative and executive branches
agree? Or viii the people elect Il
bouse with a Democratic majority,