The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-02

Till act which 1t was MT. Clevelands purpose to overthrow Could any state ment be more convincing as to the ex- treme delicacy of the tariff situation and the danger of making radical issue re- garding it2
 Protective System.
 ''Whatever may be the demerits of the protective theory in the abstract, there could be no question that the protective system was now thoroughly interwoven with all our industrial conditions. Free trade was a myth The tariff would al- ways exist and whatever might be It's rates, 1t would serve as a protection to domestic industries as against foreign importations. The question was one of percentages, not of principle. The demo- cratic party if in full power, could not avoid forming a tariff act which would afford fair protection to both American labor and American capital, for the inn position of any tax upon foreign impor- tatons restrain, to that extent, foreign competition; and American labor could not receive fair wages unless American capital could be made profitable. The war which we must wage must be against a swollen and exaggerated protection which yields to capital vastly more ad- vantage than it does to labor, and which enables it to monopolize the American market at prices largely in excess of the amount necessary to pay fair wages to labor and fair interest to capital.
 Social and lndustral Legislation.
 The democratic party should promise wise, moderate and progressive action re- garding labor and social questions. We must give the laboring men of the coun- ft.tr fO ot,d baf xxyo rritb fbor, in their aspirations for fair distribution of the profits of production in which they share, and for better conditions of in- dustral and social life
 MT Newlands said he would not at tempt to show now how much could be accomplished by national legislation re- lating to the tariff, our money circulation, our control of transportation in the line of equal and just rates. and reform in labor and social conditions. He only in- sisted that as the democracy had no pre-eminent candidate. no man whose candidacy would be regarded as plat form in itself. it should stand upon clear, moderate and unequivocal declara- tion of its intentions, and that this in- vclved a complete organization of the party, not only for the conduct of the campaign, but for the framing of the is- sues.
 Organization.
 MT Newlands said that the democracy could not wait until the hurly-burly of convention time to frame it's declaration of issues. It must be framed long before by the wise men of the party and must be given out for consideration and delib- eration before the platform was finally adopted The republican party would stand upon it's platform pledges to the people. The greatest care should be ta- ken. therefore, to wisely frame these pldges.
 '"rhe democrats of the senate and house probably constituted the most rep resentative body that could be assembled for this purpose-and they should be or ganized for that purpose, as well as for harmonious action on matters of national legislation. It was more important that democrats of the senate and house should debate these questions in their party con- ferences than on the floor of congress. The debate which was to receive harmon ious action of the democratic party and the framing of issues upon which the democrats could win, should be amongst themselves. The issues should be so framed as to win the north and west. and the counsel of northern and wes- tern democrats would be of vast impor- tance in this direction.
 "Mr. Newlands suggested that the dem ocrats of the senate and house should be organized with this view-each with steering or advisory mmattee-fafrly representative of northern and western as well as southern sentiment selected either by state delegations or party eau GUS. The floor leader of the house dem pcrats could the chairman of the house commit and the leader of the senate democrats was now the chairman of the senate committee Such committees would be very efficient in aiding the floor leaders in ascertaining the sentiment of democrats of the different sections, and In communicating to their associates the views of the leaders as to party action They would be advisory to the floor leaders and supplemented by the caucus they would constitute the machinery for conference in each house and for con- ference and caucus between the demo- crats of both houses as to party action.
 Differences Adjusted.
 Differences between the senate and house democrats upon pending matters could thus be discussed and adjusted, and contradictory action, such as was apparent on the Cuban reciprocity bill could be avoided A party could not gain respect which was not at peace with itself When the senate democrats diff fered with the house democrats as to what party principles and party policy required how could they expect the democracy-at-large to be united on any question. By the methods suggested the party will could be ascertained, and a united front presented to the enemy
 Signs for Success.
 In conclusion MT. Newlands said "The signs for success are propitious. The coun- try is recovering from it's imperial de- bauch. The tendency of republican legis- lation towards the creation of privilege and concentrated wealth is viewed with alarm. The republican party itself showed its fear of the popular judgment by ac- cepting as its candidate the only radical leader in the party, though even he has been compelled to modify his utterances on questions of reform; and we have as an illustration of its weakness the fact that though determined to maintain it's abuses, it proposes as Its candidate the only man in the party who has shown any disposition to correct them. The party leaders wish the votes which he can se- cure. not the domestic legislation which he favors; and this Is an evidence of weakness in a popular contest
 with the exercise of prudence and judgment in the selection of our oandi- dates; with a clear and unequivocal state ment of our purposes in the line of mod crate and progressive reform; with thorough organization of the democracy tlN to afT n q