Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-06-17
Convention Assemblies at Springfield Chairman
Stringer's Ad-
dress.
THE OUTLOOK AS TO THE PLATFORM
Various Views as to the Proper Course That
Should Be Pur-
sued

Springfield, June 1.-THE demo-
cratic state convention was called TO
order at noon today by Chairman
John u. Hopkins. Lawrence b.
Stringer. of Lincoln, was made tenn
porary chairman.
Administrations Scored.
Chairman Stringer, in an exhaust
i've address. roundly scored the state
and national administrations. saying:
ITO the inspiration of youth. nobly
striving for grander truths, they of
fer the elevating ideas of the party
machine. To n nation struggling in
the tolls of syndicated greed. they
prOffer the infection to cure the dis
ease. To a proud and sensitive peo-
pie demanding deliverance from the
corruption of partisan spoils. the
lust that cOvets and the secret trea-
son of distrust that debauches free
men at the polls. they tender the
gilded arts of demagogic skill. To
a nation that reveres the priceless
gift of self-government inherited
from valOrouS SireS and that loves
To linger amidst the memories that
cling like mountain mists around
Bunker Hill and Valley Forge. they
extend participation in government
of Sullen subjects by the sword.
trampIing in the dust those high
historic ideals which poets have sung.
orators have praised and patriots
have died to maintain
Democracy to the Rescue.
In conclusion. the chairman said:
How refreshing in times like these
To turn in comfort TO that great Po-
IiticaI organization which we repre-
sent today. whose origin Synchroniz-
ed with the nations birth, has CO.
existed with national progress ever
since and has brought down the ira
ditions and principles upon which
the government was formed, as pure,
unsullied and undiminished as when
committed To its care. Under dem
ocratic rule. not a blade of grass was
ever disturbed except according TO
law: no home was invaded. no priv
ilege lost and no rights abridged;
millionaires and mendicants We're
both unknown. trusts unborn, labor
received its fair reward and liberty
at all times was everywhere secure.
1T crystallized into its creed the
founders faith and truths and has
transmitted untarnished to those un-
born the glorious heritage of self
government and home rule for which
the founders fought and died. I'm
daunted and undismayed, ii stands
ready TO re-enter the fray. to rescue
from destruction this sacred boon.
to receive the restoration of that
power which for three-score years it
held to the nations glory and grand
eur. and to bring back the nation
from the tortuoUs. dangerous, un-
marked currents where it drifts to-
day. to the weII-knOwn channels,
beaconed by night and marked by
day. where for hundred years it
has beaten upon no rock. stranded
upoI no bar and touched the grand
est ports on the shores of time.
For Peoples Rights.
.'The democratic party stands in
this fight where it has always stood.
championing the peoples rights. 1t
stands the enemy of monopoly, the
foe TO oppression, the friend of labor
and the inspiration of youth. 1t
stands for purity in public life, econ
omy in public service, the abolition
of privileges to the few, for taxes no
greater than government needs and
for a trade unfettered and free. 1t
stands for an expansion, contiguous,
constitutional and symbolized by
stars-to-be upon the nations flag. 1t
stands for the enforcement of law
as against that anarchy that lays
low a loved president. that takes the
life of a governor in the capital city
of a state and that hides behind eX-
tradition laws to save political
friends. indicted for such crimes.
from the righteous process of the
law. It stands for duty as against
the dollar. for human liberty as
against human greed, for the consti-
sutton side by side with the flaw
wherever ii may be, for government
by consent at home, abroad, or in the
sun-kissed isles of the sea. 1T stands
where .JeffersOn>stoOd at the day
dawn of the nation, where Jackson
stood in his fight against corporate
greed. where patriots have stood in
times that tried mems souls. and
there. by the grace of God. it viii
ever stand until the grasp of greed
is released from the flag, until the
fees of liberty are driven from the
field, until the shadow of imperial
ism has been sent back to the Euro