New-York tribune., 1906-08-04
DEEDS OR WORDS ?


A reader of The Tribune writes us a letter
taking exception to our attitude toward the In
dependence League. He thinks the organization
represents a great many citizens OF independent
mind that the support which it received last
fall justifies its continuance, that the pOiti-
clans will soon realize that they have great
struggle before them and that 1.-THE people are no
longer satisfied with words and that they de
"mand deeds" He says: The usual party
''platitudes will not gather votes this fall and
1.-The campaign of deception and misrepresenta-
''tion already begun by the two old parties will
''in the end aid the third party"
Let us reason little on the subject, putting
aside these platitudes, deceptiOns and misrepre-
sentations which, fear. are purveyed by
their leaders TO the honest members of the In
dependence League quite as freely as they are
circulated by politicians among the adherents
of the old parties. Doubtless the people are no
longer satisfied with words and demand deeds.
And they are getting deeds in state and nation.
No other two years In the history OF the Amerl-
can government have shown any such earnest,
thorough and far-reaching campaign of practical
business and political reform as that OF the last
two years of Republican rule. Words, not
deeds. What more in the way of deeds could
anybody have done than has been done under
President Roosevelt to remedy 1.-The inequity and
the injustice of the present order OF things?
He brought to attention the rate and rebate
abuses which f-seeking demagOgues are now
trying TO exploit TO the injury of the party
which has really done practical work TO correct
them. The antitrust and interstate commerce
laws have been enforced with vgOr never be-
fore known. Their deficiencies have been sup
plemented by the rate bill. The President him
self aroused the popular sentiment which forced
the housecleaning by the meat packers, whose
mOnopolistic practices he was already proceed
ing against in the courts The consular service
has been reformed. pure food has been provided
for, every unfaithful official discovered has
been proceeded against regardless Of party
standing, thoroughly businesslke methods for
the protection of the taxpayers have been in
troduced, and all laws for the protection of the
wage earners have been executed more ef-
fectively.
In the state the same spirit has prevailed
The insurance scandals have been fearlessly
prObed and the most drastic remedial measures
adopted. The last Legislature is universally
recognized as the best in years. The factory
laws have been perfected; the tax laws have
been improved to force concentrated wealth,
hitherto undertaxed. TO bear it's fair share of the
government expenses; laws have been passed to
free the people from extOrtion by gas companies
and to give the people control Of the local tran
sit situation. Doubtless there are many good
prevail. But these items referred TO are only
a few which might be cited illustrative of steady
and faithful labor by the Republican party to
correct inequality and injustice and serve the
whole public The Republican party has given
the people the deeds, the Hearst organization is
giving them the words
Our correspondent does not like platitude.
deception and misrepresentation. How, then,
can he endure the monstrous dishonesty OF the
Hearst propaganda? 1t is based on the most
glaring platitudes, promises impossible of fulfil
ment and misrepresentation of every remedial
effort Of other men. 1t seeks to discredit every
thing that has been done to secure the very
reforms which the Independence League de-
mands. If Hearst's object were really justice,
he would welcome all these reforms instead of
trying TO discredit them. He would strive to
secure cooperation and understanding among
all the people instead Of preaching class hatred.
He would have convictions and stand by them,
not denOunce Murphy thief and then sud
denly cease attacks and begin intriguing for
Tammany support. He would be for the old party
or against il, not holding his thunder against
the old politicians in allegiance in order to
tort from them an Office.
Every thoughtful man must realize that there
are social. political and economic evils in this
country to be corrected. Shall they be corrected
by honest men like President Roosevelt, Gov
ernOr Higgins and their cO-wOrkers, so dealing
with each problem as it arises as to accomplish
practical benefits, or shall they be made merely
the occasion for extravagant agitation to arouse
passions and direct them to the service of a per
sonal ambition? To return to our correspon-
dents antithesis Shall we meet these evils with
sober deeds or sensational words?