Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-09-29
REPUBLICAN
CAMPAIGN
is OPENED

1t was large and appreciatiove
dience that greeted Mrs. J. Ellen Fos
ter, at the Court House, Saturday
night. This was the opening of the
campaign in La Plata county. Mrs.
Foster had been sent by the National
Republican committee TO spend few
weeks in Colorado Many of our peo-
pie had heard Mrs. Foster when she
was here ten years ago and those who
heard her then were glad of the oppor-
tunity to go again.
The court room was beautifully
decorated in the national colors, the
band played number Of patriotic airs
and A. C, Sloan, accompanied
by the piano, sang an original
song praising the president.
Mr.. c. w Varnum. who is accom-
panying Mrs. Foster on her tour
through the state, was introduced by
Mr.. f. C. Perkins.
Mr.. Varnum dealt briefly with the
national and state situation. He had
noticed that the people on the West
ern slope were thinking people, and
that in a thinking campaign the Re
publicans always won out He pointed
out the inconsistency of the Demo
Gratis of the state in opposing Govern
Or Peabody because of his law and or
der course, and then putting up Mr..
Adams for governor. who was running
on almost as good law and order plat
form as Governor Peabody.
Mrs. Foster was introduced by Mr..
Vainum. She referred to her previous
visit here ten years ago and recalled
with pleasure many faces among her
acquaintance made then and many
familiar scenes.
She went back to the beginning OF
our government and took up the con
stitution, for the purpose of showing
how there came to be different polit-
ical parties. The constitution was a
written document and strange to say,
various widely different constructions
were placed upon its meaning. o..
party said it meant this thing and an
other party said 1t menat that. She ex-
planned that the difference of the opin-
ion of judge in the court and that OF
n man on the street was that the
judges opinion was authorized by the
the street was not.
AT the beginning of the government
everybody was united on Washington.
Then as the country began 10 be set
tied and interests became diversified,
divisions began to occur.
Reference was made to the extra
ordianry political turmoil in this state
were so many different parties in the
field. and the sepaker wondered II all
those in the room could remember
how they voted. This created consid-
cradle meriment The Socialists pre-
sented beautiful ideal of Christian
fty, but 1t was only an ideal. They
did not expect to elect their candidates
ever of electing them-but voted
merely for principle.
The first great division of opinion
was caused over the war debt and the
national bank. One party said, Let
those who contracted the bills pay
them" while the other crowd said.
why, no: let us all chip in and pay
them; it was for the good of the whole
country" And so it was that the
broad party stood together and won.
Then came the question of Internal
improvements. which have grown
from the building of the old Cumber-
land road to the great irrigation
schemes of the present time. Inter
nal improvements were opposed The
old Cumberland road may seem n
small thing TO us now, but II was a
big thing then. Sections not directly
benefited did not want the road, and
so 1t was opposed by a minority. But
the old Federalists. then the Wings
and now the Republicans. went on the
theory of the development of the whole
country for all the people, and they
won out.
Jenerson's idea was that the best
thing for the people was as little
government as possible. while the op-
posite belief was that men bearing
burdens are made nobler thereby. and
Tor their efforts toward the improve,
ment of society, they are compensated
by the comforts of society These two
Ideas had their followers which have
finally resulted in the two great par
ties of the present day
That's how you come by your ir
r'gation.' said Mrs. Foster "nothins
but this latter policy could have giver
IL to u.s."
A child is known by its fathers
nose. or Its fathers walk Theodore
Roosevelt walks as a Republican. He
is himself but the years of history Is
in his blood"
Mrs. Foster spoke at considerable
length on the tariff, commencing right
at the beginning. when everyone rec
ognized the necessity of protection
The tariff was not back number. fol
IL is just as necessary now as 1t ever
was. The first struggle of our fathers
after they had gained their freedom
was the right to work. and the protec
tive tariff was born at the time. Eng
land had Intended that we should be
an agricultural country and that we
should be supplied with manufactured
articles from the English factories.
Emphasis was laid on the fact that
xus.. An.r IL.