The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-17
ILLINOIS DEMOCRATS
Assemble in State Convention at
Springfield.

state convention met IN Machinery hall
on the state fair grounds. State Chair
man John NJ Hopkins Of the state cen
trail committee called the convention to
order, and after the offering of a prayer
introduced Lawrence B. Stringer Of Lin
coin as temporary chairman Mr.. Strin-
ger was greeted with applause. He
spoke as follows:
Is it strange or is it startling that
at one fell sWoop our whole national
policy should be reversed and our fu-
Iure career irreVOcably changed2 It is
not SO strange when one reflects that
the party in power owes its success, its
predOminence, aye, its very life, to the
organized and syndicated trusts, THAI
with jaws and paws have seized the
government itself Having exploited
every pursuit upon American soil, they
have sought new worlds to conquer and
at their behest and bidding we are to-
day exchanging blood for dividends and
ruling crown colonies by the sword. It
is not so strange that when we know
that their advocates at the banquet
unhestiating declaredsthat the trust was
q distinct issue in the campaign last
fought and was ratified with emphasis
by the people at the polls Democracy
sue In the campaign last fought, but
AYERS that it is and will be an issue
IN the fights now to come. In vain shall
the people find relief from these mighty
monsters f prey from the party whose
tarlH policy mas produced them, nOur-
ished and maintained them, and who is
the suppliant recipient of their bounty
rents to regulate, 8randStand PLAYS TO
chasten, paper prosecutions and injune-
uons to restrain, do not and will not
suffice. If the law is broken let the
offenders be indicted, tried and convict
ed of their crimes as the law provides
rather than to be pleasantly warned not
to break the law again. Drastic Iegis-
Iatlon IS needed and extreme measures
required to rend these trusts apart to
felOnlze their union to free list their pro-
ducts, and Democracy alone, which ne1-
ther loves them nor fears them, is the
only agency in the land that can de-
feat and destroy them"
Has 1t not occurred to you that un-
derlying every act against law, liberty
and humanity, committed by the party
in power, viii be found the high prOtec-
tive tariff taxes which are in evidence
a our ports of entry. Destroy high
tariffs and you destroy trusts Destroy
the trusts and you destroy the soul and
Quench the fire Of the in perfalistic and
colonial policy that has hauled down
the nation flag and raised a counterfeit
copy of the same instead, with clots OF
blood for stars.
The Democratic party stands in this
nght where It has always stood, cham
ploning the peoples rights. 1t stands
the enemy of monopoly, the foe to op-
preston, the friend of labor and the
inspiration Of youth 1t stands for pur-
lty IN public life, economy in public
service, the abolition of privileges to the
few, for taxes no greater than govern
ment needs and for q trade unfettered
and 1ree- 1t stands for an expansion,
contiguous, constitutional and symbo-
lZeQ by StarS-tO be upOn the nations
flag. 1t stands for the enforcement Of
law as against that anarchy that lays
low loved president, takes the life OF
a governor in the capital city Of a state
and that hides behind extraditiOn laws
to save political friends, indicted for
such crimes, from the righteous process
of the law. 1t stands for duty as
against the dollar; for human liberty
against inhuman greed, for the cOnSti-
tuition side by side with the flag Nher-
ever it may be, for government by con-
sent at home, abroad or in the sun
kissed isles of the sea It stands where
Jefferson stood at the dawn of the ma
ton; 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 stand until the grasp of greed IS
released from the flag, until the foes of
liberty are driven from the field, until
the shadow of Imperialism has been
sent to the European he'll from whence
it came and until the banner of united
democracy shall once more fly, undim-
med and free, the herald Of glorious
victory"
Upon the conclusion of Mr.. stringer's
address, which was greeted with cheers
the temporary organization was made
permanent.
The membership of the committee on
resolutions was announced and that
body left the hall to prepare its report
1t was understood that several changes
would be made and in addition it was
said that the Philippine plank would be
entirely rewritten and the declaration in
favor of territorial government in the
islands would be altered in favor Of a
more drastic criticism of the admins
tration's policy.
IF they report anything looking like
a savage attack on the army" said J.
Nick Perrin. of the Twenty second dis
trict there win be something doing
There are lots of US who do not like
criticism of the American soldier and
we VIII fight anything that looks too Sc
we're"
The chances of John P. Hopkins be-
ing made chairman of the state central
committee were dimmed this morning
whe nhe failed of election to the state
central committee from his own district.
Thomas J. McNally being chosen in his
stead.
Hopkins one chance now to be chair
man is to be appointed a member at
large and win in that direction His
friends are confident that this will be
done. but his opponents say. otherwise.
Work on the platform proceeded slow
" and it was soon evident that nothing
would be heard from the committee IN
til later in the afternoon. Congressman
J. r. Williams and Judge Thompson of
Springfield, led the opposition to the
idea Of ignoring the Kansas City plat
form
Pending the report OF the committee
on resolutions, the convention took re-
cess until 2:30 D. m
At Work on Coffelt Jury.