The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-03
Three Hundred Democrats As- senbIe atDeS MOines Banquet
STEVENSON FIRST SPEAKER
Bryan, In Response to Local Democ' racy, Says Harmony, Like Happi- ness, Is Not Secured By Seek
 Ing lt-Reorganization.

Des Moines, Ia, April 2.-Three hundred democrats tonight attended a Jeffersonian banquet in the Savoy hotel. The princi- pal speakers were William J. Bryan and Adlai Stevenson. George Rheinhart of Newton presided. MT. Stevenson was the first speaker. He said fin part:
 We are almost upon the threshold of another presidential contest. The main issues of the struggle can even now be clearly defined. The party in power will stand .as in the past, for high protec- tive tariff; will oppose all attempts to tighten the burdens of enormous tariff taxation. It will stand for the trusts The unlawful combination of capital which today threatens the destruction of legiti- mate business enterprise, will find Its only defenders in the republican party. the eX- travagant appropriations by the recent congress will find justification and will pave the way for greater extravaganza yet to follow. Controlling all departments of the government, no honest effort aas been made to make good the pledges of their last national platform. With large sur plus in the treasury drawn from the chan neIs of trade by unnecessary taxation, no reduction of the tariff will be permitted. It will stand for foreign conquest.
 Abolish Unjust Taxes.
 Tn unrelenting hostility to all this' the democratic party, true to the teachings or Jefferson, will favor the abolition of all unnecessary and unjust taxes; will de- mand a reduction to the minimum of the cost of ever needed articles of eonsump-
 well a s in it's platform the antagonist of trusts. Believing that wherever there is wrong there must be remedy, it will favor such legislation as will seek to curb the spirit of monopoly and place an effeetual check upon the unlawful combinations of cap 1tal which are obstacles to legitimate business enterprise and investment Be neving with Jefferson in an economical administration of the government, It Will onpose unnecessary and extravagant ap- propriations of the public money. Con ddent that the experience of century has demonstrated the wisdom of avoid ing foreign complications and entangllng alliances 1t will oppose imperialism the spirit of empire In a word, 1t will be the high aim of the party of Jefferson and Jackson to supplant dangerous ex- neriments reckless extravaganza and cor n. al methods of administration In all de- partments of the government.
 ..Is 1t too much to believe, that with these issues In the forefront there will be. no divided councils in the demo- cratic party. Whatever differences may exist upon questions of less moment, there can be none upon the political issues in- dicated.
 s.In the approaching struggle for politi- cal supremacy, appeal will be made more earnestly than ever before to democrats to present an unbroken front"
 MT. Bryan Speaks.
 Responding to the toast Democracy" MT. Bryan spoke in part as follows:
 "Harmony, like happiness, is not se- cured by seeking for it; it comes as the reward of right-doing. The mere men- tion of harmony suggests differences that need reconciliation and the Yociferous talk about harmony among those who disturbed, left the party and lent their influence to the enemy naturally recalls the issues that created the disturbance and naturally suggests the inquiry whether the prodicals have repented or demand repentance of the party.
 .rhe difference which existed on line money question still exists, Tor While the republicans are boasting that the money question is settled money is tight in the great financial centers and the financiers of this country are resorting to extraor- dinary methods to get enough mofey Into circulation to carry on business.
 .sOn the trust question the same line of cleavage appears. The men who threat ened a panic if silver was restored, now threaten a panic if tue trusts are dis turbed, and the trust magnates are cast ing about for u democratic candidate , much like a republican that the trusts can rest easy no matter which candidate is elected.
 Reorganization means retreat and re- treat means demoralization and disaster. From the low standpoint of expert- ence retreat could not be justified. The party boiled nearly a million more votes in support of the Chicago and the Kan sas City platforms than were boiled by Mir Cleveland even before his political crimes were exposed. What would be the result today if the standard were put in tbe hands of men known to be unfaith- ful to democratic principles, or even in the hands of those that are known to be faithful fN
 ITO say that a right principle must be dropped because the party has suffered defeat in support of the principle is as ridiculous as it is cowardly. The demo- cratic party has been defeated more of- ten on the tariff issue than any other issue. still that is the issue that the re- organizers would make the paramount one.
 While circumstances determine the emphasis that should be placed upon particular issues, no party can afford to abandon a righteous position only for fear that to maintain it would be unporu- lar."
 MT. Bryan referred to the stand taken last fall by Governor Cummins of Iowa, and said that the governor, by advocat- ing tariff reform, acted as democrat to than did those who had tolted from the party in the two last national campaigns.
 There were a number of other speeches on the programme.
 Cattle Quarantined.