The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-06


Measures. should be tho keynote
ALsANY. Sept. S.-The following is the
speech delivered by William Travers Jeroms
at the Democratic conference here to-day;
JerOme's Speech.
-As l understand it, we are gathered
together IA Democrats TO take counsel with
n another. We speak with no authority
nor do we assume TO. We have not as
sembled in the interests OF any candidate,
and least OF all have We come together 70
dictate to or TO threaten the convention OF
our party soon to assemble at Buffalo. On
all hands 10 Is conceded that our political
life L. in q chaotic condition.
1T Ii Increasingly difficult for one TO say
why he belongs 20 oil political party rather
than 70 another. Real leadership IL nowhere
In sight, n what passes for leadership
seems 20 consist OF demagogic denunciation
OF existing conditions and the advancing
Of vague schemes Of socialism and paternal-
ism which are essentially revolutionary
in character. We are not on the threshold
Of the greatest political awakening this
nation has ever known. marking the be-
ginning of a new age, but We are, l believe,
about to return to our senses and To earnestly
address ourselves 20 the difficult problems
confronting us by the methods which the
meet the greatest emergencies.
VOGUE OF THE MUCK RAKER.
The so-oallei Muck Raker' has had a
great vogue, and on the whole has done a
good work. but in mere exposure and de-
nunciation English speaking people canno
rest. The ~Octopodicide' and trust buster
IL vociferous me much In evidence, but he
offers no issue upon which political parties
can divide. That large aggregations Of
ca pital. whether in corporate form or in
combinations. known as trusts, have great
incidental evils is conceded by all. To
49, =. - -I.A Il 81 ~ AhAo
mankind is yet sufficiently altruistic to
work successfully a socialistic scheme.
their evil appears greatest not upon the
economic side, but in that they 90 so far
to debauch our public life, both at elections
and in the practical and too often real
bribery Of our legislative bodies and public
officers.
CHECK THE TRUSTS
That the corporations and trusts be
sternly checked and controlled is demanded
by all. additionally the Democratic party
is committed to a tariff for revenue only.
That a protective tariff is unjust; that il Is
in the interest OF the few as against the
many: that IL prevents the highest economic
productivity OF the Union; has been shown
to a demonstration to every man willing
to give the subject a candid examination
and possessed OF the ability 20 understand
the facts and the reasoning
The indirect taxation through a tariff on
IMPORTS does not arouse a locality injured
TO a vehement protest in the same way that
the manifest and exaggerated benefits oon-
ferred Upon a locality by a tariff brings it
into line with a party advocating such a
tariff. IL would be impossible to make
Pennsylvania believe that she is not bene-
6ted by a protective tariff. She undoubt-
edly Is but at the expense of other States.
~. IN s, times w az PROSPEROUS rS so@ as tn 1rI Present
tariff do not realize it, and their fear Of dis
turbing existing prosperous conditions
makes 1t difficult to raise the tariff issue
into one Of vital interest. Indeed. should
our prosperity continue, there seems little
hope for substantial revision from the
causes hitherto operating in that direction.
But. strangely enough, this may be brought
about from the present popular antagonism
to corporations, trusts and. indeed. to
wealth in individual hands.
TARIFF A HARD TIME ISSUE.
Hatred generated by injustice and cor
ruption may effect what the soundest eco
nomic considerations have failed to do.
Much al our monetary system nay need
revision, this lack Of tariff revision Is a
hard times issue. Like the poor, this has
always been with us in periods OF financial
and Industrial depression.
NoB sCRAMBLEs FOR OFFICE.
Meanwhile our elections, where national
political parties are involved, nave become
little more than ignoble scrambles for
Office, in which each candidate declares
how ROOD he will be IL elected to Office,
and vies with his opponent in claiming
trust busting and anti-corporation vir-
tues. moi forgetting to emphasize how
warm his heart heats for organized labor.
In the midst Of all this the plain people
20 about their business, sober and sensible.
industrious and prosperous. honest and
patriotic; they do their thinking quietly,
they are neither greatly alarmed nor mis-
led by the loud outcries Of the politicians
sGaotnn M Noal iaattoa ~ nraaonf tnforaak
dividing the national parties, they stand
Indifferent to each. ready and free to choose
when an issue arises that interests them.
the older men additionally associated with
one Of the great national parties, this is not
difficult. but with h younger men and hat
large class which at each election is casting
it's first vote. IL is different. Zach year
to bring a more and more general
OF public duty to be ascertained
and discharged. The younger men are
themselves whv they are affiliated
one or the other Of the national parties.
and the first voters are eager to learn to
which Of the parties their duty directs them.
In the absence Of issues or OF some para
mount issue upon which the people can
divide into two parties. there il always. fora
at Least. a tendency TO develop third
LoGRoLLIN0 METHODS.
Fortunately this country has been free
from this 40 far. At least no third party
has existed with anv considerable power
for any considerable time. The very theory
Of democratic institutions -presupposes a
majority. a real numerical majority upon
conviction, for or against important public
questions. and not a fictitious majority
bv logrolling methods. Compro-
mise. within the limits Of fundamental
toward o particular question. is
in the working OF democratic
But wherever strong third
have developed no that no one party
had a numerical majority that nation has
suffered, for agreement has not been brought
about by compromise in anv proper sense
the word. but by the sacrifice Of principle
for " or hat was In substance bribery.
"In this country few things could be 40
sinister in their relation TO our public life
az the DEVELOPMENT Of a strong third PARTY;
n party not having a numerical majority
Of the voters in its ranks. but a number I
rufficient IN make II a trading asset 10 its
However ~virtuous they might be
their professions and really upright at
the commencement Of their careers. human
no ture will seldom resist the temptations
aHsing from such conditions.
"If there we're nothing else than the fore
rOing IN say in n general way Of the con-
iitiOn OF our national political parties there
perhaps little use in saying IL. The
propositions advance1 are sufficiently OBJ
rious on reflection. But issues are not all
there 10 to political parties. Indeed. they