The Teton peak., 1904-09-08


pute the contention that the Democratic
platform adopted At st. Louis did not
really mean what 1t said, but should be
taken In the light Of the personal view.
81 tns democratic leaders themselves.
When the evening came for the ad-
5ourned shop-talk, the Democratic spon-
BOZ produced some extracts from the Con-
ersssional Record, going to show that
Just ten years ago Senators German.
brics, Camden, Smith, Mcpherson, Muir
pny and others, all Democrats, held up
the Wilson tariff bill, which had been
passed by Bryan and his associates in
the House of Representatives, and made
II much more Of protection measure
than 1t originally was.
Cleveiand's Letter,
some impression was made by this rec
ord, but 1t was almost completely dissi-
patsd BY two documents. One Of these
was the letter written by Grover Cleve-
land while President of the United
States, to Gen. Catchings Of Mississippi.
denouncing the action of German and
his associates ~ ''per6dy and dishonor." I"
1t was further shown that at the St.
Louis convention the New Jersey deleRa-
ton, which was controlled in the interest
OF Grover Cleveland by James Smith,
this same Democratic protection Senator.
voted solidly on the first ballot for Par
ker. and Mr.. Cleveland himself, In 4
published interview before the conven-
ton. came out for Parker as the most
available Democratic candidate.
Still more important in making mp the
minds Of the men present At the meet
Ing. was 4 fortunate citation Of the con-
trasting planks in the two platforms Of
1872. In that year, II will be remem-
bered, Grover Cleveland beat Benjamin
Harrison and the entire campaign was
fought out on the tarf issue. There
was no equivocat ton then. Mr. Cleveland
stood for free trade, and Gen. Harrison
for protection.
| The Republicans in their convention
adopted a protection plank which is q
clear exposition Of the constant principle
Of the party for the last generation, and
which reads
| 1--WE believe that all articles which
cannot be produced in the United States
except luxuries, should be admitted free
Of duty. and that ON all imports coming
into competition with the products oil
American labor, there should be levied
duties equal to the difference between
wages abroad and at home"
Like the tariff declaration of this year
this plank met the approval Of the iror
men who were gathered together to dis
cuss the tariff, and the Democrats amonf
them freely admitted that it was franl
and courageous.
Openly for Free Trade.
r. A. A.
thing Of a sensation among the men wher
one Of their number read the straight
forward and equally courageous declara
ton Of the Democratic platform of 1892
which openly pronounces for free trade
and which declares protection to be no
only unjust but illegal. This plank read
as follows:
I'VE declare 1t to be a Fundamental
principle of the Democratic party tha
the Federal government has no constitu
tional power to impose and collect tarif
duties, except for the purpose Of reve
nue. only"
1t was this plank and the fact tha
Mr.. Cleveland had been elected upon il
which influenced the shop-talk meetin
into an informal but none the less bind
ing decision to the effect that the Reput
lcan position on the tariff with its con
sistent pledge for protection, couple
with the Democratic position on th
tariff, and its consistent record for fire.
trade, made the issue a perfectly plai
one, which could not be disguised by an
political appeal, and which must be dc
cided by the working man without regar
to other issues which do not directly cor
J cern their interests.
I'VE must choose between protectio
! and free trade" said the eldest man |
the party. for there was no chairman
"If we believe in protection, We mus
vote for Roosevelt. If we believe In fire
} trade we must vote for Parker, and tha
is all there is about it,