The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-07-14
SPEECH OF FRANCIS A. CARRECHT
Delivered at the WaI|a Waa County Democratic Convention
Held at Court House Today

Following is a portion Of the speech
delivered bv Francis A. Garrecht per-
manent chairman OF the democratic
county convention, held today:
The national democratic convention
has passed into history, and while the
nominees were not the choice OF the
western democracy, it should not be
diaicuItv for any loyal democrat to
support Alton B. Parker and Henry g
Davis.
Parkers party record is clean ana
straight: he is a man of pure private
life. an upright judge of great learn
ing. an unassuming American CITIZEN
who by his own diligence and perse-
verance has attained his present high
position.
That he is something of vote get
ter would appear from the fact that IN
1897 he reversed republican majority
of nearly 1900 for Mckinley, the
wear before: and was elected by over
$4,000 majority to a fourteen year term
as chief Justice of the New York court
of appeals.
His scrupuous honor, as appeared
from his telegram to the convention be-
fore it's closing hours gives assurance
that if elected president of the United
States he will be true to the splendid
democratic platform upon which he
stands.
In the coming campaign the voters of
sue Of such overwhelming and far
reaching Importance to them that it
overshadoWs and obscures for the time
even national issues.
The issue with us is shall the peo-
pie regulate the corporations or shall
the corporations dominate the state.
Two years ago at a conference of
farmers and business men held at Col
fax. President Hill of the Great North
ern threw down the guage of battle.
TO them he made the arrogant asser-
ton that they could no more regulate
freight rates By legislation than they
could set broken bone by legisla-
ton The voters promptly ac-
cepted his challenge. and a few weeks
later, through the state platforms of
both parties. declared themselves as
favoring a railroad commission.
The republicans in the last election
carried the legislature by an over
whelmng majority. and the record
made by it was largely instrumental in
focusing public attention upon this
question: That legislature adjourned
leaving behind it an unbroken trail of
rayished promises. When the final
gaveI fell it's dying echoes sang a
requiem over a legislative body more
absolutely dominated by corporate in
fuence than any that had ever assem-
bled in this state.
The republican state platform, upon
which the vast majority of that legis-
lature was elected pledged the party
to create a railroad commission: it
pledged reforms in corporate taxation,
and it pledged that the free pass in
EQUITY would be abolished, in compI-
ance with the plain mandate of the
constitution.
When that legislature had adjourned
no railroad commission had been ere
ated. no taxation reforms worthy the
name had been instituted, and the fes-
tive legislator may still ride at will on
free transportation furnished him by
the unctuous railway lobbist Thus
We're the party pledges kept.
Nor was that all Governor Mcbride
was INUNDATED by his party associates
simply because he insisted that they
carry out the pledges made in their
state platform; a candidate was elect
ed to the United States senate who
openly advocated the reputation of
the platform: another candidate for
the same office. who had always stood
with the Eastern Washington farmers
to secure railroad legislation. was base
" betrayed by the members of his own
county in direct violation of their SOL
emn pledges. made both before and
after election.
This abject subserviency of a ma
iority of the members to the corpora
tons; this open defiance of the man.
dates of the state constitution and the
instructions of their constituents at
the behest Of the railroad lobby and the
brazen effrOntery of that lobby in med
ding with legislation which did not
concern their interest. has all combined
10 form a hideous spectacle which has
stirred the ire and aroused the con-
science of the people.
That was a republican legislature:
the republicans had majority in both