Amador ledger., 1904-11-04
A CHAMPION ORATOR.
A Namesake of the Vice Presidential Candi
date Harangues in Jackson for Demo
cratic Theories. Poor Turnout.

One OF the sickest meetings from a
political view point ever held in ANA
dor county was that in Loves hall last
Friday night. Posters were out an
nouncing that Il. G. Davis would ad-
dress the people on the political issues.
The posters were dOu ble- -banked-that
is there were two set. The first an
nOuncements we're devoid of any in
formation as to which side the dis
tinguished visitor would favor, and
was WITHOUT the usual authorization of
a party committee. Realizing this
oversight the democratic managers
essayed again, getting out 4x6 sheets
stating that the namesake of the vener-
able Henry Gassaway would discuss
the issues of the day from dem ocratic
standpoint. When the hour arrived
the attendance was as slim as the
posters, and before the distinguished
orator had got far along with his ex-
position of campaign issues he man
aged to succeed tolerably well in ex-
| tinguishing his audience. It was a
case OF slim, simmer, slimmest. r. G.
BOle was chairman, and introduced the
speaker.
Mr.. Davis is as far removed from a
soul-stirring orator as the pole is from
the equator; he is not even an ordinary
talker; he is not a thinker, and in
argument he is anything but convinc-
ing. At the outset he assumed a stoop-
ing attitude, which aided in making
the grOtesque picture of the evening.
The subject matter of his talk cores
ponded with everything else. He was
against protective tariff. It did not
protect the wages of the laborer, but it
did cause him to pay more for the nee
essaries of life. 1t did not cause higher
wages TO be paid in the United States
| than in other countries. The rate of
wages was controlled by the law of
supply and demand. Every dollars
worth of goods sold represented only
20 cents worth of labor. The rest went
to the manufacturers. The idea that
the tariff helped to equalize the con-
dition to the advantage of domestic
labor, by placing the foreign manu-
facturer under tribute of protective
duties was erroneous. He was against
the Dingley bill. Free trade was a
good thing. 1t built up Portland; :;
when that city was swept by fire 40
years ago, a bill admitting building
material free of duty was passed, and
it sprang up from its ashes under its
influence. Why would not free trade
then be good thing for the country
at large? The tariff system was all
wrong-it was simply licensed robbery.
1t struck at the very citadel of liberty.
Under it our country had become in
stead of a government OF the people,
by the people and for the people, a
government of corporations, for cor
pOratiOn and by corporations. In this
strain the speaker continued until the
end. He abused Roosevelt, saying
that this administration was more
despotic than Russia. That freedom
would be suppressed. if Roosevelt had
his way. He praised Parker as the
man for the emergency. Also Caml-
netti. and the only cheer heard during
the evening was at the mention of the
name of the democratic nominee for
congress in this district. To the relief
of the 'few of us left" he closed about
9 O'Clock. The chairman thereupon
wisely concluded to close the evening g
entertainment (sec). 1t was realized
that it was hopeless to attempt to in
still life into the gathering, already
chilled to human iceberg. 1t was re-
marked by democrats that the man.
aging committee was NOT entitled to
credit for securing such traEesty
upon political speechmaking to tour
the state in the interest of the party.
On the other hand republicans were
chuckling at the thought that mission
aries for the democratic ranks were
sent out to preach so strongly - al.
though unwittingly-in their behalf.
Not more than one half the seats la the
hall were occupied at any time during
the evening. 1t was fine night out
side too, but cold time inside. The
audience preferred the rays of the moon
outside to the frigidity of the demo.
cratic atmosphere within.