Rocky Ford enterprise., 1904-09-23

the next payday. with the understanding
that both sides should bring In any evil
dence they might have to afiirm or dis
puts 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 views
Of the Democratic leaders themselves.
When the evening came for the ad-
journed shop-talk, the Democratic spon-
sor produced some extracts from the Con-
gressional Record. going to show that
just ten years ago Senators German.
Brice. Camden. Smith. McPhernon. Muir
ply 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 a protection measure
than It originally was.
Cleveisnd's Letter.
Some impression was made by this rec
ord, but 1t was almost completely dissi-
pated by two documents. One Of these
was the letter written by Grover Cleve-
land while President Of tho United
States, to Gen. Catchinss of Mississippi.
d-nounclnI the action of German and
his associates as "perfidy and dishonor."
1t WAS further shown that at the st.
Louis convention the New Jersey delega-
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. aud Mr.. Cleveland himself. In u
published interview before the conven.
tion. came out for Parker az the most
available Democratic candidate.
Still mora i'm In making the
minds Of the men present at the meet.
Ing. was a fortunate citation of the con-
trnstins pianks In the two platforms Of
1892. In that year. Il will be rcmem-
bcred. Grover Cleveland beat benjamin
Harrison and the entire campaign was
fought out on the iariH issue There
was no equivocntion then. Mr. Cleveland
stood for free trade. and Gen. Harrison
for protection.
The Republicans Ia their convention
adopted . protection plank which IL .
clear exposition Of the constant principle
Of the party for the last generation. aud
which reads:
I'VE believe that all articles which
cannot he producea N tho United States.
except iuxuric,. should he admitted free
Of duty. aud that on all imports comm.
Into competition with tho products Of
American labor. there shopld b levied
duties equal to the difference between
wages abroad and at home"
Like tho tariff declaration Of this year.
this plank met the approval Of the iron
men who were gathered together to dis
russ the sarin. aud tho Democrats among
them freely admitted that Il was frank
and courageous.
Openiy for Free Trade.
n At
thing OF sensation among the men when
one Of their number read the straight,
forward and equally eoara s-eus deciara.
ton OF the Democratic platform Of iso::.
which openly pronoances for free trade.
aud which declares pEo'-ctipa to Be- not
only unjust but Illegal. This plank reads
as follows:
ave declare II TO he . fundamental
principle Of the Democratic party that
the Federal government, has no coasti'u.
tioaai power TO Impose aud collect tariH
duties. except Tor the purpose Of ssss'
nac only"
II was this plank sni the fact that
Mr.. Cleveland had bsrn elected upon II.
which inan~ae~d the shaptalk meeting
iato an Informal but none tho less bind.
ins decision to the effect ths; the n~pab.
lean position on the saris. With Its con.
sissess pledge for pEoier,ion. coupled
with the Democratic position on the
tafis. and its consistent record for free
trade. made the Issue . perfectly plain
ono. which could not be disguised by any
political appeal. and which mus, be de-.
eiaed By III. working man without regard
10 other Issues which do 90; directly Goa.
ceru thrir Interests.
I'VE must rhoos. between protection
and ssco trade" said tho eldest man In
the party. for there was no chairman.
"ts we believe In protection. wc mus;
vote for Roosevelt. If ~e believe In free
trad. ~e must vote for Parker. and tha,
!. all there IL about it,