The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-02-23
THE DEMOCRATS ACTIVE
Leaders at Washington Shaping
Things for Next Year.
SENATOR'S AND CONGRESSMEN UNITED
Coed Deal Of Talk About What the Plat
form Should Be, and All
Are Conservative.
lsneci,l 70 1ndlnnnpolts septlneIl

ESPECIAL 70 Indianapolis SeullueLj
Washington, February 10.-There Is activ-
ity in National democratic circles just now
and the next few months will witness the
Accomplishment Of good deal toward the
shaping Of the ticket and the platform for
1904 The democratic party is In better
condition than II has been for long time.
The leaders IN congress have acted sensibly
and well during the present session. In
the last or first session, Of tho Fifty
seventh congress the democratic leaders
worked at cross-purposes and did not
achieve much. Some Of them insisted In
making the main hght on the Philippine
question and were still seeking 10 put the
democratic party on record in favor Of Civ
ing up tho Philippines at once. other lead
crs foresaw that the trust and tariff qucs-
lions were forging rapidly to the front and
inssted on making those issues the para
mount democratic creed
This session nnds the democrats IN con.
gress in solid phalanH splendidly united,
fghting for tho same ends. The discussions
onanating from the democratic side have
been Of the same tenor, showing "A single
ness Of purpose that augurs well. 1t is
no longer ii question Of doubt Ms to where
the democratic lines have been pitched
for the presidential battle Of next year.
Curb the trusts" and revise the tariff
are the dominant notes Of the democratic
slogan.
Tho democratic platform of 1904, as al.
re1dy fOrpordained. is one that must nppeAl
as no other platform Of either party has
for years, 10 the judgment and conscience
OF the people The trend Of party senti.
ment AS Indicated by the discussions I'm
congress, gives the most absolute assurance
that the platform will be characterized by
conservatism and entirely free from radi.
callsm. II will neither seek to tear down
nor interfere In the slightest with legiti-
mate and wholesome corporate enterprise.
but at the same time 1t promises forciblc
and effective action IN freeing pennle from
the unreasonable exactious OF the trusts
which constitute the dominant class under
republican rule, That this platform will he
popular Is Indicated by the wave OF indigna.
ton which swept the country whom tbc
Standard oil magnate teleGraphed TO United
states senator's instruCting them that +hey
trustsy .,.,s.. ~ '-'
The democratic leaders in congress he
love that the most effective way N curb
Ing the trusts is to revise the tnrlff on
trnst-made articles, and, as FAR as they
can influence the action Of the party at
large in convention assembled the demo.
cratic National platform viii 60 as FAR.
at least in the line Of tariff revision as
to declare for the removal OF the duty
on every article made by a trust To the
end that such an outrage on the Amerl
can consumer AS the sale Of American.
made articles in faraway foreign countries
cheaper than they are sold at home SHALL
no longer he permitted
As already stated, the democratic leaders
IN congress have sounded no false notes
ana made no mistakes during the session
Which Is about to close They have sup
ported the weak and wisely -wnshy admin T
lstraton auti-trnst bills, not because tbry
believed those hills, II enncted into IowS
would he at ali effective In remedying the |
eyn conditions which harass the country, |
pnt because they were convinced that the |
bills would do no harm and that some
tiny grain Of good might flow from them
Now that the Ltttleheld bill. which wns .
me only one OF them that had any force
Is dead IN the senate through the manipu' |
lations m the trusts, the democratIr con /
grtSSmen still have the satisfaction ~ |
knowing that every democratic renrcsen+o
tive voted for It and supported If In e,nry
possible way
There will be no change in the chair
mnnship nf the democratic National com.
mittee until the National convention mcots
II IL customary for the new National com.
u'tVe 10 meet ana organize at that time
and senator James X, Jones of Arkansas
the present National chairman, Intends TO
hold on until his successor Is elected
Prominent republican politicians behold
with good deal Of concern the bright.
eninG of democratic prospects and the
lowering OF clouds on the republican bor
incn. A Federal office holder who halls
from Indiana md is prominent In ne rn,'n
ellis of the republican party said tn tbe
Sentinel correspondent: '"'
- III the republicans should nominate
Roosevelt With all ~ the mistakes he has
made snd Is making and the dpnocrnts
should nominate Judge Parker on n Mat
Iorm disclaiming credit for acquiring tho
philippines. hut accepting them ma N cor
alton T. be mot and governed ms wisely
snn vel As possible, making the principeI
plank against the trusts ami dAclarlng IA
f2r, free trade hut for as much ~ ~.
Vision Of the tarin as may be necessarv
n curn The trusts, there Is no doubt In
my mind that the democracy wonld Win
A sweeping victorH" " win