Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-08-18
A Surprise PARTY,
Ex-senator Davis Taken Unawarei
by Prominent Democrats.
SIGNAL HONOR THRUST UPON HIN
Committee from the u. Louis Ma
tional Convention Formally Mo-
tifles the Distinguished West
virginian of NominatiOn.

formally notified OF his nomination TO
vice president by the democratic ma
tional convention at ST. Louis by ,
committee which came here to-day
Congressman John Sharp Williams
minority leader In the house and tenn
porary chairman OF the national con
vention, acted as spokesman for thu
committee. In reply ex-senator Davis
said. tf
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen of thu
Committee: The official notification
which you bring Of my nomination fol
the vice presidency of the United States
by the national democracy, gives me q
feeling of the sincerest gratitude to my
party for the honor conferred. At the
same time 1t brings to me a deep sense
Of my responsibility to my party as a
candidate and to my country in case Of
my election.
A spirit of determination to succeed In
the campaign before US appears to per-
wade the rank and file of our party in all
sections Of the country. OF that rank
and file I have for many years been a
member and have at all times devoted
my humble powers to party success, be-
lieving that success to be for the coun-
try's good. Unexpectedly called as l am
now to the forefront, l am impelled to
an acceptance of the obligation by sense
Of gratitude to my fellow-workers and
the hope that I may be able the better
to assist In restoring to power that party
whose principles and past history guar
antee safe, wise, economical and con-
stitutional administration Of the govern
ment.
find 1t, therefore, great pleasure,
standing here upon the borderland of the
two Virginias, to receive and accept the
commission you bear and to send greet
ings through you to the democracy Of the
entire country.
As an Introductory to, the few remarks
/ shall make, l desire to say that l
heartily indorse the platform upon which
l have been nominated and with the con-
vention and its nominee for president, the
present monetary standard of value as
irrevocably established.
In the campaign preceding the last cleo
ton much stress was laid by republican
speakers upon the prosperous condition
Of the country and forebodings were
heard of the ill-results, especially to the
laboring man, which would follow any
change in the political complexion of the
government 1t is true that the times
then were good, but 1t Is no less a fact
that, while there has been no change in
the party In power, many Of the evils
prophesied have come under republican
rule -Four years ago factories, mills
mines and furnaces were In active opera
ton, unable to supply the demand, but
now many are closed and those that are
atn0 nd PnhnCnn
force on short hours. Then wages were
high. labor was scarce and there was
work for all. Now work is scarce. many
wage learners unemployed and wages re-
ducad. The apprehension which now pre-
walls In business circles and the present
unsatisfactory industrial conditions of the
seem to demand a political
change.
The receipts of the government for the
year ended June 30, 1902. the first fiscal
year of the present administration,
showed a surplus over expenditures or
s91, 00O, 900, but for the fiscal year ended
June 30, 1904, instead of a surplus there
was deficit of Sal, 000, 900. From July ],
1904 to August 10, or for about month
and third Of the present fiscal year. the
of the government has ex-
,eedsd the receipts by 81, 715,0O0. There
could be no stronger evidence Of the ex-
.rayagance into which the republican
party has fallen and no more potent |
argument In behalf of change to tho |
party whose tenets have always EN- |
,raced prudence and economy In admin
steering the peoples affairs.
In the language of our platform, the /
lights Of labor are certainly no less vest
ID, no less sacred and no less inalienable
han the rights of capital" The time Is
to emphasize the truth of this
ltterance. The most sacred right Of prop
,rty Is the right to possess and own
mes self and the labor is ones own
itself being but stored up
abor. For years / worked In the ranks
is a wage-earner and know what 1t Is
o earn nv living in the sweat of my
row. I have always believed, and my
convictions came from the hard school Of
experience, that, measured by the char
.cter of work he does and the cost OF
living, a man is entitled to full compen-
alton for his services. My experience as
wage-earner and my association with
abor have alike taught me the value OF
emocratic principles for in them the
rum pSrut luo1-, ss~~ ----~~-- - :? tOr
Individual right and the highest stimulus
o that independence of spirit and love
{ self-help which produce the finest pri-
ate characters and form the base of the
est possible government.
Our republican friends are prone TO re-
er to the great commercial growth Of
he country under their rule, and yet the
ensus reports show that from 1850 to
800, under democratic rule and the Walk
r tariff, the percentage Of increase was
reater In population, wealth. manufac-
ures and railroad mileage, the factors
hitch AFFECT most largely the prosperity
I the country, than in ay decade since.
The cost Of government has largely In
reased under republican rule. The ex-
enditures per capita for the last years
OF the administration given,
aksn from the reports Of the secretary
I the treasury, were as follows:
In 1860, under Buchanan, sol; in 1885,
nder Harrison. SIT; in 1897 under Cleve-
md, $40; in 1901, under Mckinley, $3.50;
1904, under Roosevelt. $40.
The republicans now claim great con-
stency In their attitude upon the cur
,ncy question and the president in his
cent speech of acceptance said that
icy know what they mean when they |
leak Of a stable currency. "the same
ling from year to year" and yet In the
atforms OF their party in 1854, 1883 and
% they favored the double standard OF
,lue. In the platform Of 1SSs they said /,
he republican party Is in favor Of the
se Of both gold and silver as money
ID condemns the policy OF the demo-
attic administration In its efforts TO de-
onetine silver"