The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-05
HITS REFORMERS.
Jerome Attacks Muck Rakers
and Trust Busters
In a Speech Before a Conference
Of Democrats.
HE NAMES NO NAMES
But 1t Is Easy to See Who Was
in His Mind.
Be Independent and Vote the
Democratic Ticket.

Albany, n. Y, Sept 5.-District At
torney w. T. Jerome of New York ad-
dressed a conference of Democrats in
this city today. Mr.. Jerome mentioned
no names in his address. He dealt
with the general purpose, general con-
dition and possibilities of the Demo-
cratic party. He declared it his under
standing that the conference was in
the interest of no particular candidacy.
least of all to dictate to or threaten
the convention of our party soon to
assemble at Buffalo"
He took direct issue with the opinion
recently expressed by Governor Folk
of Missouri and others. though he
named no one.
Real leadership is nowhere in
sight" said he, land what passes for
leadership seems to consist of dema-
gogic denunciation of existing condi-
tions and of the advocating of vague
schemes of socialism and paternaIism
which are essentially revolutionary in
character.
We are not on the threshold of the
greatest political awakening this ma
uOn has ever known, marking the
beginning of a new age but we are.
believe, about to return to our senses
and then earnestly address ourselves
to the solution of the different prob
lens confronting us by the methods
which in the past have been shown to
be entirely adequate to meet the
greatest EN- nergencies.
THE socalled muck raker' has had
great vogue, and on the whole has
done a good work. But in mere ex-
posure and denunciation English
speaking people can not rest
THE 'octopodicide' and trust bust
err is vociferous and much in evidence,
but he offers no issue upon which po-
litical parties can divide Our cleo
tions. where national political parties
are involved have become little more
than an ignob1e scramb mble. for office in
which each candidate declares how
good he will be if elected to office
vies with his opponent in claiming
trust busting and anti-corIsoratfon vir-
warmly his heart beats for organized
IN the midst of all these plain
people go about their business. See
ing n o real issues of present interest in
dividing the national parties. they
stand Indifferent to each ready and
free to choose when an issue arises
that interests them
The Republican party, he continued,
had always been conservative, opposed
to change and innovation, until today
half consciously it voices it's character
''standpatters' On the other hand
the Democrat party has been the party
of the liberal Only recently, he said,
had efforts been made to drag the par
ty from the path of progress to that
of revolution.
.'The leader has disappeared" !" said
Mr.. Jerome. THE boss who has succeed
ed him is only apparently a boss and in
reality is but the hired man of the caE-
italist whose sinister influence lays back
on party machinery and controls it for
his own selfish and corrupt ends.
THE people have practically no choice
in the selection Of candidates for office
and at the polls have only a choice be-
tween men whom they too often con-
slider as unfit for the office for which
they are running.
ss,Fhe men responsible for the present
demoralized condition of the party ma
chinery should be driven out
From a great vote getting organiz-
alton they have made it simply a dele
gate getting machine"
Unless these conditions were rene
died Mr. Jerome declared, by the en-
couragement of independent thought
and action, by conventions made open
rather than subservient to "a central
clique" the thousands of self-respect-
ing voters in the state who are Demo-
cratic in principle, but vote the Repub-
lican ticket, will continue where they
are and young men who could be
brought into our ranks IN NUMBER VIII
remain Indifferent to political anaTs or
ioin our political opponents.
The people of the Democratic party
disgraced and humiliated by years OF
misnanagement to give it no harsher
name would array themselves behind
their party candidates If they are men
of character. standing on a platform OF
real Democracy.
And in that platform he said, in
closing, they want no crazy socialism
,I4rf4r ny YoafnFr17 l4Gr0 What
they want is men and not measures.
They have little faith in new laws while
there is not honesty and capacity
enough in public servants to work the
old.
uuohes Ts NoncommittaI.