Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-02


States Senate was the attorney for the
Chesapeake and Ohio railway. while Guilty
is looked upon as the field agent OF stan
dard Oil.
cratic national executive committee not
known as a special representative OF that
corporation class which Is constantly seek
Ing special privilege Of city, state or ma
tional government Is the last-named MEM
Der, Mr.. Ryan. And the only reason for
the selection of the latter over Roger c.
Sullivan. the undoubted political represen-
tative of the gas, traction and other cor
porations of Chicago was family row
then on between two Illinois factions.
Precedent Was Violated.
In addition to this precedent was again
violated by the dictated election Of De
Lancy Nicoll. also Of New York city. as
vice chairman of the national COMMITTEES.
instead Of some member Of that committee.
while George Peabody of New York city
and late treasurer of the Palmer and Buck
of the committee.
And following this, what?
A campaign against Roosevelt attempted
to be made by that committee on antitrust
and anti-corporation campaign contributing
lands.
l do you the credit, Mr.. Chairman, to
think that you personally did not select this
committee or these officers. They were
forced upon you, and dictated to you. But
how deplorable the weakness that would
submit to such dictation.
And in every section of the country this
corporation care to secure control of party
machinery is being constantly evidenced.
In MY own state, while loyal democrats
were lately assembled in convention en-
gagged in nominating ticket generally
good, headed by two splendid young demo-
Gratis as candidates for governor and lieu
tenant governor, but with little hope of
electing them this element quietly and
assduously at work, have, / am informed,
for the first time since 1896 secured q ma
jority of the state committee and elected
nine so-called conservatives of the eleven
members Of that committee and have
chosen q chairman from their own number.
The complete lack Of confidence on the
part of the democratic masses in the
party itself when Differed by such men
was not only shown in the election Of 1904,
but was reflected in the action of Mr..
Bryan when he objected to being received
by corporation or trust representatives in
New York, and in Illinois demanded the
retirement Of Roger Sullivan from the ma
tfonal committee.
Out of the contentious Of the two antago-
nistic forces within the party has grown
Its present condition, with pendulum
swinging first one way then the other: the
character of its candidates, If not< its
platform, one year giving the lie to it's
professions of the next.
Principles That Are True.
The principles Of Jeffersonian democracy
are true; and could the party by it's con-
slant acts and uninterrupted course con-
vince the people that it was to remain
steadily in the hands of the advocates of
those principles it would speedily be placed
in power.
Can it do it? In my Judgment not while
the majority of the people place sub
serviercy to party before the UNFOLDING of
ia,
action; and not unless it makes bitter and
unrelenting war on the agent Of every
predatory corporation, however disguised.
in its ranks a democrat. defeating at
the polls the candidates named by any
organization they control. There must be
absolute independence in voting.
1t is by reason of the prejudice Of good
men for a party name that the self-serving
element in politics has been able to so
largely control all branches of our govern
ment. refer to republican as well as
democrat
If absolute independence of action at the
polls were observed by the voters of all
parties; If they had no veneration whatever
for the mere party name; if their votes
were as readily cast against the unfit
nominees of their own party as against
those of their opponents If real indie
pendence instead of partisan feeling were
cherished, the corrupt control Of political
affairs would come to a speedy end.
Intending in the future to ally myself
with any movement looking to the Guilt
walton of independent action along the
lines of priciple among all the people, I
cannot in 4lonor or justice to myself. con-
tinue to take part, az a member of the Or
ganization, in the democratic councils; and
l therefore return my commission. perhaps
with regret that should deem 1t neces-
sary, but certainly not with any weakness
of resolution.
/ have the honor to be, sir,
Very truly yours,
(Signed) c. A. WALSH.