Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-01-12
BEFOG THE ISSUE
BRYAN'S COMMONER CALLS
DOWN THE ORECONlAN.
Portland Paper Attempts to Cloud the Issue.
Democratic Party Not in Oppositio' to
Lawful Wealth. II Is Hostile OnI .
Predatory Riches.

The Portland Oregonian, one OF the
most ultra Of the corporation organs, re.
cognizing that it can not meet the argu.
ments advanced in support OF demo-
cratic reforms, attempts to befog
the Issue, says Bryan's Commoner. 1t
assumes that the contest is between
''the haves and the have.nots." 1t &C.
cuses the democratic party of warning
against "property" and appealing to the
discontented. This is the method usually
employed by the champions of pluto.
cracy they pose as guardians of "busi-
ness" and OF property" and accuse
reformers OF desiring to overturn society.
Democracy is the friend of every legitl-
mate enterprise and it aims to project
legitimate business. The line should be
distinctly drawn between those VINO as
business men are reallv serving society
and performing useful part and those
who under The pretense OF doing business
are really plundering the public on a
gigantic scale.
The farmer is engaged in very i'm.
portant work and should be counted
among the business men. The lahoring
man fills an important place and is
business man in every true sense Of the
word. These two classes together con.
stitute a considerable majority OF the
people. Besides these there are small
merchants. the teacher and professional
classes, nearly all of whom suffer from
the abuses which the democratic party
is trying to remedy. II the classes above
mentioned really belonged to the "have
nots" that fact alone would he sad re-.
Election on the republican party which
has been a power go long. But these peo-
pie are not to be classed with the desti.
tute or with those-if there be such-who
envy the successful. They are the bone
and sinew of the land; they are the
nations strength in peace and war. The
predatory class is comparatively small in
numbers but ii is influential because it
can control newspapers Qike the Ore
gonian). corrupt lawmakers and supply
campaign funds.
The republican party is today the
political representative of predatory
wealth. 1t helps the manufacturers to
TAX the consumers through high
tariff and it shields the rich from taxation
by opposing income tax. 1t allows the
trusts to extort hundreds of millions
from the people. 1t allow. the railroads
to water their stock and then wiring from
their patrons excessive rates. 1t allows
the great corporate employers to coerce
their employees with write of injunction.
1t turns the treasury department over to
Wall street financieis. 1t burdens the
producing masses with an army larger
than we need and with constantly
growing navy. 1t is trampling upon the
doctrine OF self-government in order to
give syDdcates Il chance to exploit the
Filipinos. To be sure, the president has
shown some reform symptoms since the
election but it is too early to know how
far he will go or whether his party will
The democratic party is not the enemy
of honest wealth when it seeks to reduce
the tariff, secure all income tax, har.
monize the difference between capital
and labor, exterminate private monopo.
lies. restore the treasury department to
the people, rid the country of imperial
ism and make the government, not
merely in theory but in fact, "a govern
ment of the people, by the people and
for the people," Finding that corrup-
ton and unfair rates are unavoidable
when municipal franchises are turned
over to private corporations, democrats
generally favor the municipal ownership
Of water plants, lighting plants, street
car lines, etc. 1t is not hostility to
honestly acquired we 9TH that leads
democrats to favor municipal owner.
ship but hostility to Doodle, graft and
excessive charges. When democrats
to favor--as many do--ihe government
or state ownership of railroads it is not
evidence OF antipathy toward property
or property rights but rather evidence Of
a desire to enforce respect for the pro-
perty right of those who are compelled to
no tho ro,I In lilo ,,,onror