Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-10-04
HIS FORMAL LETTER TO THE
DEMOCRATIC NOTIFICA-
TON COMMITTEE.
VIEWS ON PUBLIC POLICIES
NAgk8s FOUR ISSUES AS OF PAR
AMOUNT INTEREST TO THE
ENTIRE COUNTRY.
1ar1R Reform, Imperialism, Econom-
zeal Administration and Honesty
< in Public Service - Criticises
Republican Administrations.

Others, Committee, Etc.-Gentlemen:
Ia my response to your committee, at
the formal notification proceedings,
referred to some matters not mentioned
In this letter. l desire that these be
considered as Incorporated herein, and
regret that lack of space prevents spe-
ctf1c reference to them all. wish here,
however, again to refer to my views
there expressed as to the gold standard,
to declare again my unqualified belief
h said standard, and to express my ap-
probation Of the action of the conven-
ton in reply to my communication upon
that subject.
Grave public questions are pressing
for decision. The democratic party ap-
peals to the people with confidence that
ats position on these questions will be
accepted and Endorsed at the polls.
While the issues involved are numer-
Gus, some stand forth preeminent in
The public mind. Among these are:
Fariff reform, Imperialism, economical
administration and honesty in the pub
lie service. shall briefly consider these
and some others within the necessarily
prescribed limits of this letter.
4 Imperialism.
While presented my views at the
notification proceedings concerning this
vital issue, the overshadowing impor-
lance of this question impels me to re-
Ter to it again. The issue is oftentimes
referred to as constitutionalism VS.. I'm
perialism
II we would retain our liberties and
constitutional rights unimpaired, we
cannot permit or tolerate, at any time
or for any purpose, the arrogation OF
unconstitutional powers by the execu-
tive branch Of our government. We
should be ever mindful of the words OF
Webster: Liberty is only to be pre-
served by maintaining constitutional
restraints and just division Of political
bowers"
Already the national government has
become centralized beyond any point
contemplated or imagined by the
founders of the constitution. How tre-
mendously all this has added to the
power Of the president! It has devel-
oped from year to year until it almost
equals that Of many monarchs. While
the growth Of our country and the mag
nitude Of Interstate interests may seem
to furnish a plausible reason for this
central ization Of power, yet these same
facts afford the most potent reason why
the executive should not be permitted
10 encroach upon the other departments
OF the government, and assume legisla-
tive, or other powers, not expressly con-
eerfed by the constitution.
The issue Of Imperialism which has
been thrust upon the country involves
q decision whether the law Of the land
or the rule Of individual caprice shall
govern. The principle Of imperialism
may give rise to brilliant, startling
aashing results, but the principle Of de-
mocracy holds in check the brilliant
executive and subjects him to the sober
conservative control of the people.
The people Of the United States stand
at the parting of the ways. Shall we
follow the footsteps of our fathers along
the paths Of peace, prosperity and con-
tentment, guided by the everything
spirit of the constitution which they
framed for us, or shall we go along other
and untried paths, hitherto Stunned by
all, following blindly new ideals, which
though appealing with brilliancy to the
Imagination and ambition, may prove a
will O. the wisp leading us into diff
fculties from which it may be impos-
sfble to extricate ourselves without last
ing injury to our national character and
institutions?
The Tariff and Trusts.
I Tariff reform is one of the cardinal
principles of the democratic faith, and
the necessity for it was never greater
than at the present time. 1t should be
undertaken at once in the interest Of
oil our people.
The Dingley tariff is excessive in
many Of its rates, and, as to them at
least, unjustly and oppressively bur-
dens the people. 1t secures to domestic
manufacturers, singry or in combina-
zion. the privilege of exacting excessive
prices at home and prices far above the
Jewel Of sales made regularly by them
abroad with profit, thus giving bounty
to foreigners at the expense of our own
people. 1t levies oppressive and unjust
taxes upon many articles forming, in
whole or part, the so-ealled raw ma
ferfal Of many Of our manufactured
products, not only burdening the con-
sumner, but also closing to the manufac-
turer the markets he needs and seeks
abroad. Its unjust taxation burdens the
people generally, forcing them to pay
excessive prices for food, fuel, clothing
and other necessaries of life 1t levies
rdiities on many articles not normally
tported in any considerable amount,
which are made extensively at home,
for which the most extreme protec-
ZIONIST would hardly justify protective
taxes, and which in large amounts are
exported. Such duties have been and
will continue to be direct incentive
20 the formation of huge industrial COM
Dlnations, which, secure from foreign
competition, are enabled to stifle domes-
tie competition and practically to mo-
nopolize the home market.
It contains many duties imposed for
the express purpose only, as was open.
~ avowed, Of furnishing basis for re.
duction by means Of reciprocal trade
treaties, which the republican admins.
tration, implicitly at least, promised te
negotiate. Having, on this promise, Sc.
cured the increased duties, the repub.
lican party leaders, spurred on by pro.
fected interests, defeated the treaties
negotiated by the executive. and now
these same interests cling to the benefit
- tasas tatits Htlsl - DSlxtS hetsl