Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-07-20

interests of the people, and not in the
interests of favored classes.
The republican platform of 1900
denounced ''all conspiracies and COM
binations intended to restrict bust
ness, to create monopolies, to limit
production, or control prices, and fa-
vored such legislation as would eff
fectively restrain and prevent all such
abuses
IL an Admission.
The insertion of this plank in the
republican platform admitted the eX-
istence of such conspiracies and com
binations. But what has the repub-
lican party done to curb or control
them? You all know that it has done
absolutely nothing You know more
than that: that the republican party
is controlled by these conspiracies
and combinations, and that there is
absolutely no hope for relief from
such moriopolies which limit produc-
ton and control prices, until the re-
publican party is driven from power.
The people being lulled into Il spirit
of listlessness by degree of pros
perity in the country, and possibly in
tiuenced by the false argument of the
republican leaders that such pros
perity as the people of this country
have enjoyed, was due to the tariff
legislation of the republican party,
these combinations and conspiracies
which have controlled that party,
have been able to exact vast tribute
from the people in the way of increas-
ed prices for the necessities of life.
1t seems to me, however, that the
time has come when the people of the
country are opening their eyes to the
fact that the mass of the people
have not been receiving their share
of the prosperity which this country
in common with other countries of
the western world has been enjoying
but that the lions share of this pros
perity has come to those who control
these vast accumulations of capital.
Aside from the injustice of tariff
taxation, which has enabled a few
men to acquire great wealth at the eX-
pense of the masses is the danger to
such government as ours which
comes from the power of wealth to
control and influence Legislation. Il
power so vast and so influential that
if not checked il will soon make ours
a government of plutocracy. and not
a government Of the people. How
ever men may differ as to the neces-
sity or advisability or Il general re-
vision of our tariff laws, ii seems to
me that among thinking and honest
men, there can be no question as to
the duty of the government To repeal
or at least reduce to n revenue basis
the tariff on all goods. the produc-
ton of which is practically monopo-
LIED in this country. In a campaign
with such an issue we would undoubt-
eddy have the aid of many who have
heretofore been ardent believers in
the policy of protection to American
industries, for today the eNactiOns of
the steel trusts and other like mono
poles protected by the tariff. are
bearing heavily upon manufacturers,
who are compelled To buy of these
trusts at such prices and upon such
terms as they see fit To exact.
should Be Carefully Done.
ANY reduction of tariff taxation
should. of course. be so measured as
not to necessitate or justify either
the loss of employment by the work
ing man, or the lessening of his wa
ges. and that this could surely he
done is evidenced by the enormous
profits which some of those protected
interests have accumulated, showing
plainly that they could have had ade-
quate returns upon their capital and
paid their laborers full and just wa
ges under a system of tariff taxation
which was less burdensome upon the
people.
There are other issues which may
we'll demand the attention of our
party, but l have already, perhaps,
consumed too much of your time, in
view of the fact that there are others
to address you, who will more fully
discuss the issues requiring the care
full attention of the people.
cannot refrain. however. from
appealing to all democrats who be-
lieve in the broad, cardinal principles
of democratic faith. to put aside all
feelings of animosity, which may have
been engendered by reason of differ
ences of opinion over issues presented
| in the democratic platforms in the
past. Let us be animated by the
spirit which the father of our coun-
try said should animate the people in
considering the federal constitution,
ga spirit of amity and mutual conces-
SION
This. my friends, was the spirit
which always animated Thomas JEFF
ferson, the great founder of our
party, in the consideration of ques'
tions of public policy. Mr.. Morse. in
his life of jefferson, in analysing and
discussing his character says: JEFF
ferson set forth a broad faith or re-
ligion in craftsmanship, making sPeci
al measures only single blocks in the
wide pavement of his road" He be
lieved in compromise and concession
as being necessary to the wise govern
ment of the people. He retired from
office with reputation and popu
larity hardly inferior to that of Wash
ington. No personal influence of {