The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-02
Iowa Committeeman Scores The
Pluto Democratic Leaders
ALL SUBStRuIENT TO PARTY
Resigns His Place and Reserves the
Right to Support or Not Support
Democratic Candidates In
Future as He Sees Fit.

ottumwa, Iowa, September 1.-Mr.
Charles A. Walsh, the Iowa member OF
the deHlocratic national committee, and
who was secretary of the national conn
mittee during the two Rfyan campaigns,
has rendered his resignation as a mem-
Der of the national committee. giving bis
reasons for SO doing in the following let
ter, which was mailed today:
ottumwa, Iowa, September l. 1906.
Hon. Thomas Taggert, French Lick. Ind.
Dear Sir-Permit me to herewith hand
you, as chairman of the democratic ma
tlonal committee, my resignation as a
member thereof, representing the state OF
Iowa thereon.
Ordinarily I would not deem It nee
essary to make known my reason for
taking such action; but having finally
determined upon 1t, in view of the fact
that 1 have been elected and twice re-
elected to the national committee, cover
ing a period of twelve years, and prior
thereto having been member of the
state, congressional and other commit
tees during the entire period of my life.
since arriving at my majority and know
Ing that such resignation, coming at
what might prove to be an inopportune
time so far as the interests OF my
friends and loyal supporters are concern
ed. viii meet with some criticism upon
their part should It go unexplained. 1
give you reasons therefor which will
show that | could in honor pursue no 9TH
er course.
For the future l intend to be In POSI-
ton to support. or not support, as | may
see ut, the candidates of the democratic
party,
| have reached the conclusion that tho
perpetuaton of corrupt corporations, boss
control of political affairs is made po--.
sllle by the slavish subservieney of the
individual TO purity name and by lack OF
independent action.
"YeIlow Dog" Party Feeling.
While have heretofore always been
known as a partisan democrat, and Will
always be a staunch supporter of demo-
cratic principles, as l understand them,
1t has been steadily borne in upon me
FOR a long time, as | came closer and
closer 70 a knowledge of the inner work.
ings of the party system, that, from the
standpoint OF true democracy there can
be nothing worse or more Injurious 10
the country than the yellow dog" party
feeln., that impels good men to support
a ticket of unit nominees merely because
they bear the party label
Within tie democratic party, as within
the republican, there are two eontending
factions, the vastly more numerous, but
during ordinary times, the least influential
l a.s4IH md g.
lleves In the principles of Jefferson, =
diffusion OF power a constant opposition
10 every form of special privilege, ask
ing Tor themselves nothing but equal
rightsand opportunity before the law. Inc
other faction, numerically inslgnlncaht,
but representing the predatory forces OF
special privilege and those who seek 10
use all government as an asset to their
private business is, by reason of wealth
and lack of conscience In using 1t vastly
more powers and usually controls the
party plan It's organization and its nonl-
ihees.
Sure of Party Machinery.
The first OF these factions ordinarily
pays very little attention TO the matter
of securing control OF the organization,
but Loyalty supports its own party can
dldates; while the other deems the Or
ganizatlon of prime Importance, seeur-
event making sure of control of the party
machinery. conscious that II candidates
opposed to its interests are named tney
may be easily and quietly betrayed At
the polls IL the campaign management Is
I'm their hands.
corporation element believes control OF
machinery to be, 1 might mention tho
fragrant violation of all party precedent IN
the appointment of the present democratic
national executive committee
The executive committee had always.
prior to the campaign OF 1904, been APP
pointed chiefly (and so far as my reeoi-
lection goes wholly from the regularly
elected members of the national commit
tee, and usually being made up OF those
members from the more doubtful states
which II was necessary to carry in order
to elect. How was the real campaign or
ganzation formed In 1901?
Names the Members.
An executive committee was made up,
carefully limited to seven members and
these seven members were William +.
Sheehan, chairman, of New York City;
August Belmont of New York City. James
smith, Jr of New Jersey, Thomas +.
Martin of Virginia, James M Guffy OF
Pennsylvania, John r. Mclean Of Ohio
and the city of Washington, and Timo-.
thy e. Ryan of Wisconsin.
are not members of the national commit
tee.
Sheehan, formerly n dscredited Buffalo
politician, builder of the most vicious po-
litical machine ever known in Erie coun-
ty, arrested for the hagrant violation Of
the civil service law, his machine finally
routed and he practically driven from
Buffalo, is now, with his partner, Judge
Parker one of the chief of corporation
lawyers Of New York, representing among
others the Brooklyn Rapid Transit COM
pauy, and has represented in legislative
halls and the courts Consolidated Gas.
Edison Electric and many others. He Is 4
director In the Cord Meyer Development
company, the company lately caught
stealing the city's water on Long Island
and in many other corporations.
Belmont is the head of the American
branch of the famous European banking
house of the Rothschilds. He organized
the company that captured the New York
subway. He Is a director In about Thirsty
special privilege seeking corporations He
maintains a legislative bureau with
se. F1. =