Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-09
SHAW At ROANOKE, VA
Speech Before the Republican
State Convention.
COUNTRY'S RESOURCES
PART PLAYED IN DEVELOPMENT
BY POLITICAL PARTIES.
Every Industrious Citizen Both Pro-
Queer and Consumer-Futility of
Democratic Promises.

secretary SHAW was the dttrdCuOll ol llae
Virginia republican state convention at
Roanoke yesterday. Cabinet officers have
not often visited Virginia on such occasions.
therefore from personal, as well as po-
litical, standpoint his coming has been an
event of Importance to the delegates.
All the citizens, without regard to party,
We'd in giving him welcome. The cham
Der of commerce showed him courtesies
Last night he delivered one of his charac-
teristic colloquial speeches before the con-
vention and was given a splendid ovation.
His speech was comprehensive in treatment
of tariff, Panama canal, Philippine Islands
and other current questions But 1t also
contained pleasant illusions to Virginia and
Virginians which would have delighted any
audience within the Old Dominion. He
touched just the line of thought most ac-
ceptable to the republican leaders in sug-
costing that the time had come for Virginia
to have representatives again IN the direc-
torate Of the governing corporation at
Washington, and to help, as her capable
sons used to help long ago in the solution
of government problems
His conversational way of talking took
with his auditors. The galleries roared
Next President he came forward, and
then all settled down to close attention to
his augment, broken only by frequent
laughter at his Quips and at his anecdotes.
all well acted AS a mimic he was as sue
cessful comedian. taking off Roswell
G. Horn, Bryan and other notables in the
course of the evening.
Il like Bryan" said he before initiating
one of the '96 speeches. II heard him for
the first time that year in my town.
! helped pay his expenses. We visit each
other. He is a fine orator. l wish l were
an orator, but l am not. 1 like logic. but
Bryan hasn't it" Laughter).
In opening his remarks Secretary Shaw
made some reference to the question of
self-government, saying that when this
public was launched the world was dis
trustful of the experiment. Many believed
that personal ambition would override
craftsmanship They believed that revolu-
ton would follow revolution. They did not
believe it would be possible for men to
walk side by side to the polls and deposit
opposing ballots, and then each demand for
the other the same protection and the same
honesty of count that he claimed for HIM
self. 1t was doubted If defeated candidates
and defeated parties would peacefully &C
quiesce in results. The experiment has
been in process of trial and development
In this country for something over one
hundred years, during which period the
machinery has sometimes creaked, but it
has not given way, and 1t never will so long
we keep our heads.
MY appeal to you, and through you to
every voter of Virginia, is that you so vote
as to conserve the peace and integrity of
the commonwealth and the best interests of
every other citizen All I ask is that the
elector be, If not as great, certainly as
the polls he demands his representative
to be in the halls of legislation"
Growth and Development.
The Secretary touched upon the growth
and development of the United States and
Virginia's resources. Concerning Virginia
he said:
Virginia is a great state Virginia is
rich in resources. rich in history, rich in
blood, and at one time she was the richest
of all the states in craftsmanship If her
wealth of craftsmanship has been less no.
ticeable IN recent years than in previous
periods. let assure you that 1T is be-
cause greater stress has been laid upon
factional politics than upon the wise solu-
ton of public questions. If Virginia has
not maintained her prestige it is because
fractional devotion to traditions has sup
planted that thoughtful consideration of
public questions which marked the careers
of the fathers. Nirginians have remained
loyal stockholders in the great corporation;
their representatives have appeared on the
board of directors, but they have not been
adequately represented on the executive
committee. 1 invite them back to their APP
propriate place among leaders of though
and leaders of action.
please do not misunderstood me- I
bring no criticism of individual citizens. l
bring no criticism of the members of the
opposition party. AS good men as ever
lived, as patriotic citizens ever breathed
as good business men as | know and as
good friends as l now cherish disagree
with me politically. l am not speaking of
the spirit or the patriotism or the states
manship even, of individuals. l speak only
of the spirit and the craftsmanship of par
ties"
Speaking along general lines, the Secre-
tary then spoke partly as follows
Spirit Of Century Republican.
THE spirit of the last half century was
republican. 1t was progressive The spirit
of the twentieth century will be republican.
1t will be progressive. Judging the future |
by the past, Is there reason to doubt that |
the communities most in harmony with the |
spirit of the century will gather most from |
the rich harvests of progress? l come to |
preach the gospel of American progress |
and to teach those principles and policies |
which have made us what are and which |
Will carry US to yet higher planes and to |
grander achievements whenever, under God |
the brain of the south and the brain of the |
north, the brain of the east and the brain |
of the west shall be allied for affirmative |
action. and when no portion of our COM |
mon country shall be longer held welded |
to negative traditions which tend only to |
rCtard.
And now, my friends, what are these |
principles that divide parties? The parties |
separate primarily on questions of political |
economy. Every industrious citizen is both |
a producer and a consumer The dominant |
party appeals to the producer. 1t tells him |
that the question of greatest Importance to |
him is the price at which he disposes of his |
products, whether those products be labor |
or the results of labor. The opposition party |
promises the American consumer the best |
market in the world in which to buy. The |
republican party promises the producer the |
best market in the world in which to sell.
Democratic Promises Futile.
Gentlemen, cannot have both. Our |
political opponents may promise high-priced |
labor and cheap products, high-priced wheat |
and cheap bread. high-priced cattle and |
cheap meat; but they make these promises |
without possibility of fullflment. When |
ever they have put their policies in opera |
ton we have had the cheap products of la !
Dor, for the products of cheaper foreign la /
Dor have found our markets in superabund- !
ance. But cheap products of labor mean |
cheap labor. Cheap factory product !
ries as a concomitant curse low wages for |
the artisan, and low wages for the artisan |
means curtailed consumption of farm prod |
ucts. Curtailed consumption of farm prod |
ucts results in reduction in the price |
thereof, while a reduction in prices means
loss to the producer of clothes, of furni-
tllre of carpets of farm machinery of