Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-07-11
THE MAN WHO CAN WIN
He Must Be Nominated by the
Democracy For President.
PLATFORM THE SERIOUS QUESTION

Only Reliable Democrats Should Be
Elected Delegates to the Nation
al COnventfOn-DisreE Canards
About the Trusts Opposing the Re-
publican Ticket.
The problem of who is to be the
nominee of the Democratic party for
president has been giving the Repub-
hcans much greater worry than the
Democrats. There is no doubt q diff
ference of opinion among Democrats as
to who shall be nominated, but. the
more important question is, Who can
be elected? When the convention meets
next summer and it can be shown that
any good Democrat will be able to
carry enough electoral votes to win, he
will be nominated beyond question. It
must be remembered that the rule that
requires a two-thirds majority of a
Democratic convention to nominate
makes it tolerably certain that the cam
didate viii be acceptable TO the great
mass Of the party.
The most serious question that the
Democrats will have to solve is a
platform that will clearly express the
issues upon which the campaign must
be fought and upon which the candi-
date must stand. The platform must
be agreed upon before the balloting for
candidates begins, and only a major
ity Of the convention is necessary to
adopt it. When the delegations from.
the different states meet In convention
they will all be animated by one i'm
pulse-to select the most available cam
didate. They will want to win.
The rank and file of the Democratic
party can add vastly to the chances OF
success, both as TO the selection of a
satisfactory candidate and of his cleo
ton, by selecting the most representa-
tive and honest members of the party
as delegates to the convention. Do not
tie them down with instructions for
any man, but leave them free to make
the best selection after conference with
their brother delegates from other
states. The opinion of the delegates
from the doubtful states must and will
have the greatest weight in making
the selection. The Democratic sky has
been gradually clearing, and with the
united effort of all who believe in the
good old doctrine of equal rights to
all and special privileges to none" q
glorious victory for the people is with
in their grasp.
Republican newspapers are taking
more than a passing interest In the
nomination of the Democratic candi-
date. They have for some time been
trying to breed strife in the Demo-
cratic ranks. Their advice and COM,
mentS are to be taken with due allow
ance for such intentions. Their efforts
from this time on will be to Kill off the
most able and loyal Democratic Candi-
dates and to cause confusion and dis
cord in the ranks of the Democracy
To listen to them is to be deceived
They are controlled by the plutocrats,
who are the trust magnates, and they,
know their downfall is at hand if
Democratic policies prevail. The tallI
of Wall street or the trusts and cor
porations opposing the Republican,
ticket is the sheerest nonsense. The
monopoly that gives the trusts power
To extOrt from the people has been
granted by the Republicans against
the protest and votes of Democrats
In every town in the country the Re
publican leader is either openly or Sc
cretly their willing tool and in many
cases their abject slave. Republican
legislatures delight in passing laws
in their interest, and Republican con-
gress but rarely says them nay when
the demand is made for legislation. In
return they have poured out their
money to elect the Republican tickets,
both state and national. Is it probable
that a divorce of these two interests
is intended or even contemplated Do
the actions of the Republican admins
tration point to any serious opposition
to the trusts? 1t is all a political play
to fool the people, but it should not
deceive Democrats.