The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-11-04
DEMOCRATIC SPEAKERS TRY TO
REVIVE WANING INTEREST.
CROWD HEARS THEM
Governor TooIe and Mr.. Walsh Score
The Republicans in Old
Time Way.
Wednesdays Daily.

S 1
Even though the results may be
Disappointing to them when the votes
ire counted next Tuesday, the demo
cratic speakers and candidates who
we're in the city last night have rea-
son to be satisfied with the reception
accorded them and the respectful and
courteous manner in which the peo-
ole who attended their meeting lis.
Tened to what they had to say. The
meeting was a large one, although
the enthusiasm manifested was not
as great as it might have been or as
was probably desired.
Chairman Carwile of the demo
cratic county committee presided, the
as he did at the Aeinze meet
ing, and many of those who occupied
seats on the stage also fianked him
on that occasion. This was accepted
as tolerably good proof that notwith-
standing their respective claims OF
political enmity, the %so-called factions
OF the democracy are all working for
the same end and that a complete
understanding exists between them.
Pleads For a Change.
T. ]. Walsh of Helena opened the
talking fest and made the old demo-
cratic plea for "a change" He said
it was just as bad for the people if a
party remained in power too long as
it would be with an Individual re-
tanned too long in an Office of power
and authority. Both were likely to
be resultant of evil. Like the good
democrat that he is, Mr.. Walsh pro-
ceeded to convince the people that
the present era of prosperity is more
apparent than real, but %conceding
that it were an actuallty, still the re-
publican party was not justified in
claiming credit for bringing about
that happy condition. The simple
truth was that the people were pros
porous in spite of themselves, pros
perity had forced itself upon them.
AS proof of his statement, he cited
the first Cleveland administration,
during which the country had been
more prosperous than at any time in
it's history. MIR. Walsh said but little
about the second Cleveland admins
tratiOn.
Tariff Cuts No Figure.
Mr.. Walsh assured the audience
that the tariff had nothing to do with
the matter of national prosperity. Al
though the Wilson-Gorman bill had
then as yet been passed and the
Mckinley tariff was still operative,
banks had failed in 1893. Those who
wanted information concerning he
causes of the panic Of that year were
left in ignorance by the speaker. The
republican party was denounced for
appealing to the cupidity OF the PEG.
pie by telling them of the great bene
fits they would derive by a continue,
ton of the existing protective tariff.
In this section they were told by
speakers of that party that the tariff
was responsible for the high prices
of wool. This was an untruth, ne
said. The high prices 10Y obtaining
were due to a short supply of the
staple in Australia and other foreign
countries. AS soon as the outpu,
once more attained the normal there
prices in this country were bound to
decrease, tariff or no tariff. nc
prove this, ar. Walsh quoted from
statistics prepared by an English
man.
Charged With Many Sins.
Having disposed of the tariff, Mr.
Walsh turned to some OF the othel
sins with which he charged the re
publicans. He condemned the party
for having aided in the construction
of transcontinental railroads and &C
cused it OF extravaganza in every de
partment. Imperialism was held VI
as a monster that costs the people
untold wealth without any correspon
ding benefits, and Roosevelt was de
clared to ne a dangerous man. Be
cause of his ambition and impulsive
ness the people of the nation wer'
likely to wake up any morning ant
find themselves embroiled in a wa
with some foreign power.
The Philippines were not over
looked. Inc audience was caused t.
shudder at the despotism OF a repuh
lican administration that insistei
upon governing a people without tn
consent of the governed and h dan
ger that such a course contained t.
the Americans themselves. Judg
Parker was quoted in his platitud
about the menace to a free peopl
that, insisted upon governing anothe
against its will, and proof was fu'
nished in the conditions obtaining i
Colorado, where the national admir-
istration had refused to interfere !
behalf of citizens who were forced t
submit to the tyranny and despotisr
of a military government and wer
deprived of every right guarantee
them under the national constitution
Told Partial Truth.
Mr.. Walsh gave a history OF tn
troubles in Colorado. In doing so b
told only a part of the truth. H
failed to mention the fact that a r.
publican house of the legislature ha
passed a law in accordance with tn
amendment to the constitution vote
by the people and that a democrat
senate had rejected it and then dl
t missed it's conference committee
. few minutes before the legislatul