Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-06-24
Gold Men Triumph Easily
at First Test of
Strength.
J. B. QUICK'S SPEECH
Sounds Keynote of the
Great Issues in
Campaign.

Des Moines, June 24-With the dele
gates evenly divided upon the reaf-
tirmation of the Kansas City platform
the state democratic convention was
called to order this morning by y.
jackson, of Tama county, chairman
of the state central committee. \
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. J. b. Quick, of Sioux City,
was introduced as temporary chair
man, and in addressing the cOnven-
tiOn spoke as follows:
what are the conditions against
which we protest? Is not the nation
prosperous. 1t is true that all over the
land labor seems diScontented and Ia
Dor disturbances agitate the people.
Capital is arrayed against labor, and
Dor against capital. But, strange to
say we have grown to regard these
strifes as something to be expected
and it may be said by some that their
existence Is no proof that we are not
prosperous. 1t is true that in many
occupations wages are lower than ten
years ago. and that where they have
Semed to advance. the cost of living
has advanced still more. Yet, en-
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 Of what then do
we complain? Within the past few
years we have all become conscious
of a great and Ominous change in the
conditions under which we live. Il
change which fills every thoughtful
man with regret and foreboding. a
change which has crept across the
spirit of American institutions and
cast over all n sinister shade of doubt
and fear. This change has come
with the gradual cornering of our
mines. our coal and oil fields. our
highways. the great original sources
of production. the means of transpor-
tation. the avenues of employment,
until the time has arrived when the
once free born American is born into
monopulized 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 pursuits of
happiness.
Wrong to be Struck.
Here lies the wrong at which the
spirits of jefferson and Jackson bid
If the democratic party has any mis-
sion today. that mission is to set it
self in battle array against these new
masters of our people, these indus
trial Caesars for whom we have coin
ed a new name-the trusts.
''Such conditions ought not to eN-
ist in a democracy. In any democTa-
cy where the people have not been led
away from the truth, such conditions
cannot exist. In any nation where
such wealth and power are permitted
permanently to be so concentrated.
democracy cannot exist. The trust
principle and the principle of popular
government are so exactly opposed to
each other that where both are in the
field, they must fight. and one must
IdI. 1neTe VIII AWAY = ut lOuuu SOAiiC
timOrOus and venal souls who will
prefer any course which promises an
an easy campaign and success at
the polls. But l say to you that sue
cess at the polls won at any sacrifice
of true democracy will be more dis
astrOus than any defeat. There are
those Who say with great plausibili-
ty, that by making peace with Wall
street we might make sure of winning
in 1904. Such gentlemen hold out
promises of much fatness in the hon
ors and the emoluments TO be won.
The temptation is disguised under
specious words, but essentially the
thing proposed is a bargain, in which
a campaign fund and offices are offer
ed as the price of the reorganization of
the democratic party. The more un-
like the republican party we become
the better our chances to win. The
policy of imperialism abroad, and of
shameless subserviency to the demand
of monopoly at home must in time
bring destruction to the party in pow
er. We as party, must stand for the
reform which they oppose. We must
not be afraid to speak out for the
things in which we believe. In 1892
r-F--