Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-24
ROASTING THE TRUSTS
IOWA DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
IN SESSION AT CAPITAL.
Temporary Chairman Makes a Few
Vigorous Observations on
Prevailing Conditions.


delegates evenly divided upon the reaffir-
nation of the Kansas City platform the
state democratic convention was called to
order this morning in the new Auditorium
by George F. Rhinehart of Newton. chair
man of the state central committee.
A conference was held this morning by
the followers of the silver idea. and it was
decided to fight to the end any desire to
keep out Of the platform to be adopted
reference to the Kansas City plank s. A
Brewster of Ottumwa is the leader of the
silver forces, while Judge Van Wagenen
of Sioux City Is looked upon as leading the
anti-silver crowd.
But two candidates are In the field for
the nomination Of GOVERNOR b. sullivan
of Creston and Judge Adam Van Wagenen
Of Sioux City.
AT the district caucuses held in the fore
noon the gold men won decided victory
Seven out of eleven selected gold men TOT
their member on the committee on resoiu-
tons, the division standing: For gold, first
second third, fourth, fifth, ninth and
eleventh.; for silver, sixth, seventh, eighth
and tenth
]. H. Quick of Sioux City was introduced
as temporary chairman. apd in addressing
the convention he said:
Vigorous Protest.
This convention is evidence that its
members are not entirely satisfied with
the prevailing conditions III state and ma
ton. We are here both protesting against
things which we condemn and demanding
remedies.
Our presence here is proof that there
are wrongs of which we know. Such be-
ing the case. unless we can oher to the
people remedies, our deliberations Will eno
in failure The party which lays bare its
opponents mistakes does less than hair us
duty. 1t must be for things as well as
against things If 1t would be called to
power or retained in it.
What, then. are the conditions against
which we protest? Is not the nation pros
porous? 1t is true that all over the lana
labor seems discontinued and labor dis
turbances agitate the people. Capital Is
arrayed against labor, and labor against
capital. But, strange to say, we nave
grown to regard these strifes as some
thing to be expected, and 1t may be said
by some that their existence Is no PROOF
that we are not prosperous
It is true that in many occupations
wages are lower than ten years ago, and
that where they have seemed to advance
the cost of living has advanced still more
Yet employment is more easily obtained.
the mills and factories are running, the
railways are gorged with traffic and all
the processes of production are going on,
pouring out golden streams of wealth.
Trusts Are a Public Foe.
OF what then do we complain? Against
what public foe Is it duty to unfurl
the banners of democracy? Where Is the
adversary against whom a Jefferson would
lead the hosts of the people, and on whose
armor would be rained the ringing blows
of a jackson? If these mighty ones of the
past were with us today where Is the evil
at which they would bid us strike? In
what respect do we Americans OF today IN
our personal and national life fall short OF
the Americans Of the day of JEFFERSON ana
Jackson?
The answer must come spontaneously to
the mind of every man present. Within
the past few years we have all become con-
scious of a great and ominous change IN
the conditions under which we live,
change which fills every thoughtful man
with regret and foreboding, a change
which has crept across the spirit OF Amerf-
can institutions and cast over all a sinister
shade of doubt and fear, dimming the
bright sunlight of freedom which we once
regarded as our inalienable bfrthright.
Controlled by Powerful Glass.
This change has not come about by vio-
lence and bloody revolution. but by the in
sidious advances, the secret usurpations of
a class of powerful men, class constantly
narrowing until it is now scarcely more
than group.
It has not been accomplished by open and
avowed attacks upon the right of suffrage,
of freedom of speech or of the press, or
upon any of the express rights upon which
we have been taught to look as the safe
guards of liberty, but 1t has come with the
gradual cornering of our mines, our coal
| and oil fields. our highways, the great orig
| inal sources Of production, the means OF
| transportation the avenues OF employ
| ment until the time has arrived when the
| once free-born American is born into a
monopolized and fenced-up world in which
| he must walk in the mighty shadow of the
| owners of his country and ask of them the
! right to labor, to life, liberty and the pur-
| suit of happiness.
Here lies the wrong at which the spirits
of Jefferson and Jackson bid us strike.
| This issue we must meet. If the democratic
party has any mission today, that mission
| Is to set itself in battle array against these
new masters of our people. these industrial
| Caesars for whom we have coined a new