The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-12
WHAT CAM THEY ExPECTP

~1~8%
For political assininity we really doubt
II the Democrats Of Kansas can be head
Ell OFF by any people calling themselves
Democrats In, this glorious Union. Re-
CARELESS OF the lesson of the last election
when Mckinley carried the State by a
majority OF over $4,000. and when he re-
caived more votes than all the other can
didates and when he had three to one
over Bryan--regardiess Of this expert
ence. the Democrats apparently found 1t
impossible to untansle themselves from
the meshes of popuiism In their late con-
ventiony They might have made a
straight night on Democratic principles
and have suffered defeat with honor, for
they are doomed TO defeat anyhow.
But this would not satisfy these follow
ers OF a latter-day Democracy. They
have become SO thoroughly inhoculated
with the virus of Populism that it seems
Impossible for them to purge themselves
OF II. Their recently adopted platform
not only reaffirms the Kansas City deliv-
erance but includes demand for the
Initiative and referendum, direct lesisia-
ton and minority representation, gov
eminent ownership and operation OF all
the public service functions, and for a
law enabling municipalities to determine
their own methods OF taxation. In short.
their platform practically embraces every
thing that Popuiists have ever commended
for, and we are not sure that 1t doesn't
a..-4t..- a., ~araa rAnnacfa
Just what the Kansas Democrats ex-
peet to accomplish by this surrender OF
principles and, adoption OF undemocratic
theories Is what we fail to understand.
That state has eight members Of Con-
igress, seven Of them being Republicans
and one fusionist, all elected two years
ago, when the Democrats surrendered
themselves and their principles to all the
new-fangled isms of the day, and for
their submission elected one Congress-
man. What better can they expect this
year by following the same tactics?
But, supposing the fusion should. by
any combination Of circumstances. elect
all eight of their candldates-what condi-
ton would they be in? II they are faith
full to the pledges Of their platform and
the cranks who made 1t they must use
their best efforts to break down the pres
emit money standard and substitute free
coinage; they must vote for law au-
thorizing and requiring the general gov
eminent to purchase ana own all rail-
roads, teiegraphs, steamship lines and
everything elss which can be classed as
a public utility" They would, in short.
ma themselves opposed to every real
Democratic policy.
How can they expect a majority Of
Kansas voters to endorse such course?
How can they expect sensible Democrats.
to say nothing of others, to vote to
change the present money standard?
Kansas has during the last few years
prcspered as never before in her history.
Whether that prosperity is due to the
gold standard or not. people of any dis
cernment know that the state has pros
pered under that standard and they will
be in no hurry to try such a dangerous
experiment as changing It would be;
consequently they are not likely to vote
for men who are pledged to such change
Democrats are not all blind, even II they
do sometimes suffer themselves led by
blind leaders.
Looking at It any way we will. and
from any standpoint we can see no ex-
cuse for the action of the Democrats of
Kansas. 1t is not in their power to ac-
complish anything by their surrender Of
principle, and after the election Is over
they will not have the satisfaction OF
feeling that they were either successful
or right, for they will be neither. 1t was
not essential that they should say any
thing about national issues. for there
are enough evils needing correction in
their own State to demand all their at
tention and all their efforts, without
butting into extraneous affairs. How
ever. 1t is possible that their education
is not yet completed and they must
have one more thorough walloping. They
are pretty sure to get 1t under their
pI esent leadership.