The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-10-04
His Letter of Acceptance
Made Public.
FIGURES THAT HIT YOU
He Shows The Costs of Different Ad-
ministrations, How We Are Pay
ing For Military Show---Im-
Observation-Disclosures
and Race Issue.

The following is the letter OF ac-
ceptance OF Henry G. Davis, Demo-
cratic ce-Presidential nominee, just
given to the public:
Elkins. w. Va. October 3. 1904.
Hon. John Sharp Williams, Chairman,
and other Members of the Com
mittee.
Dear Sirs:-In accordance with Gus
tom. and my promise when notified by
your Committee at White Sulphur
Springs. on August II, OF my nominal
tion for the office OF Vice-P President
] submit the following observations
upon some of the questions now before
the country.
Times Propitious for Change.
The times are propitious for the re-
instatement of the Democratic party
in control of the Government. The
public mind is being disillusioned of
the pretension of the Republican
party, so long and so arrogantly made.
that the material prosperity of the
country depends upon its own ascend
ancy. Thoughtful and patriotic peo-
pie are becoming more and more dis
trustful of the heady and personal ele-
ment of the present administration.
and are more than willing to see il
replaced by one that better recognizes
constitutional and other lawful re-
straints. They demand that the pres
ent wasteful extravaganza in the eX-
penditure OF the money, drawn by tax
alton from the industry of the people
shall cease. and that economy ana
honesty in the public service shall be
again regarded rs virtues in the high
places of the Government
Expenses of Government
The expenditures per capita of the
Government are increasing at an
alarming rate. When the present ad-
ministration went into power there
was a large surplus. but notwthstand-
ing the enormous taxation, the reve-
nues therefrom are not now adequate
TO meet the demands made by reckless
appropriations. The revenues fell
short during the last fiscal year of
over $40,000,000. In the first sixty
days of this fiscal year the expendi-
600, 900, and If this rate Of excess
should continue. the deficit for the
present fiscal year would be in the
neighborhood of $140.000000. This
needless deficit is due TO the extrav-
agance Of the administration. and can
only be met by imposing additional
taxes or selling bonds thereby increas-
ing the interest-bearing debt Of the
government. Which course will the
Republicans adopt2 The cost of gov
ernment during the fiscal year was
S.14 per capita, which means that
the average tax paid In some form
or another by every family of five
persons toward the e'Ipport of the Ma
tional Administration of public affairs
was over $25 which, In the case OF
wage-earners. is a considerable per-
centage of their entire earnings for the
year. No more money should be
taken from the people by taxation.
direct or indirect. than is necessary
for the needs of a government eco
nomically administered To show the
rapid growth of the cost of govern
ment ii is only necessary to give the
total expenditures i'm the last fiscal
year of the following administrations
Buchanan. 1860 $63,000,00O. Per
capita, $2.01.
Cleveland, 1892. $S45.OOO,OOo. Per
caDita $5.29
Roosevelt. 1904. $5s2OOO.OOO. Per
capita $7.14.
Army.
In answer to criticisms upon the
size and expense of maintaining the
army, the President has said that the
number of soldiers now is no greater
per capita than in former times. But
an army then was necessary TO pro-
tect settlers from the Indians and to
do other police duty In the unsettled
poI liOH OF the cbuntIN--CoHuiiio
which do not now exist. The army.
however. has greatly increased In cost.
much faster relatively than 1t has IN
numbers
The expenses We're.
Under Buchanan in 1908 16,5O0.00D
Under Hayes in 18S0... 36,O0O,Oou
Under Roosevelt in 1904. 115,000.000
Pension Order.
Million of dollars have been paid
out Of the treasury 10 pensioners upon
an executive order. the force OF which
is to supplement the law and supDlant
the wisdom Of Congress A body or
eminent lawyers and citizens or New
York Of both political parties. after
careful consideration. pronounced this
order Unconstitutional. lawless ana
most reprehensible." The conclusion
set forth in the report made by them
on this subject was. In effect, that the
pension order OF the President was
legislation by executive usurpation.
Panama.
We all hail as the harbinger OF the
new era in the commerce OF the world
the inception of the great work OF
building the canal that Is TO join the
two great oceans; but we deprecate
the action OF the present administra-
ton, which inflicted a wound upon
our national honor hv It's disregard
of the rights of a weaker nation. In
order to gain a doubtful credit for
energy in forwarding that great enter
prise Territory of a neighboring Re-
public, with which we are at peace.
was seized by band OF revolution
lists. protected by the guns OF the
United States Navy and erected into
CONTINUED on Page Four.)