The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1907-10-31

suffer.
Every question, whether Il con
Germs trade, taxation. transportation
labor or Imperialism, presents the
issue between the few aud the man,
between government administered
for the benefit of class and govern.
ment administered for the benefit OF
the whole people.
| The democratic party has no reason
for existence unless IL champions the
cause Of the people, and IL can urIy
do this when the voters control is
policy. The people are honest, and
they are Intelligent enough IN know
the cause OF their sutferings aud u
select the remedies.
The campaign OF 1905 Is approach.
ing; the public Is awake as seldonl
before. Economic problems are be.
Ing studied as they were not studied
until issd--that was the beginning,
and investigation has gone on with
accelerated speed. The time has ar.
rived To prepare for the comine cam.
paign, aud the planning must be by
the democratic masses. No man or
group Of men can dictate a platform,
or nominate the candidate. The
platform must he written by the
voters, and the candidates must be
selected by the voters, then We can
have enthusiasm aud hope OF success.
Each individual, whether he calls
himself leader or not, can propose
but the decision must be made by
the rank and Ole OF the party.
L Let the work begin; let the planks
Of the platform be hewn out aud let
the phraseology TIE discussed, so that
when the conventions ara ready TO
act, they can present The deliberate
Judgment OF the people. The plat
form ought to be written ut tho pri
maries, not at the national conven.
ton: the national convention ought
merely to give expression TO the calm
Judgment formed by the voters and
inserted IL the platforms OF the
various precincts, counties and states.
Each community has n right TO
instruct its delegates, for the dele.
gate is the representative, not Of
himself alone, bn. OF those who elect
him. TIE voters have right TO In.
strnct, and the representative IL IN
duty bound TO obey. And while II Is
generally safe To trust a man 10 obey
instructions. even when he does not
agree with them, IL Is better 10
select deslepates who are in.sympathy
with the instructions. Those who
distrust the intelligence OF the people
or have some plans which they are
not willing TO disclose to the people,
sometimes oppose instructions, aud
say; LET us select our best men
and then let them consult. Some.
times these so-called best men have u
private end TO serve; sometimes they
represent interests advesre 10 the IN.
telests OF the people; sometimes they
ara more anxious 10 carry out their
own wishes than TO give expression
TO tie wishes of those for whom they
speak. IL is best 10 instrcut. and IL
is safest To put the instructions IN
the hands ..of those who agree with
the voters ms 10 what II IL best 10 do.
IL Is not possible. of course. TO know
VIVA. questions may arise In con.
vention, but if.new questions arise,
those vino agree with the instruc
lions given 10 them are likely 10 act
In harmony with the wishes OF the
people who instruct them.
u the voters OF each party dictate
the platform and select the candi.
dies, the contest will he mn honest
one and the victory Will he acquiesced
In. The democratic party has bet.
ter chance IN such contest than In
any other kind, for II will enter the
light with enthusiasm among It's
members, and this enthusiasm will
count for more than any campaign
fund which II can collect, The
country needs 10 have Democratic
principles applied 10 every depart.
ment OF the government In state and
In nation. II the policy OF the party
~ controlled by the voters of the
party, the party will appeal not only
TO It's own members tut ~ those re.
politicians Who aie convinced ..of the
need OF reforms aud who despair OF
securing them through republican
leaders.
Democratic principles are STRONGER
Than ever before. The president has |
endorsed four democratic doctrines |
the regulation Of railroads, the prose.
cution OF the trusts, the Income tax |
and .afbitration, but the republican /
leaders have refused 81 f0ll0w him. !
What a strengths IL viii be to as 10 |
quote the president In support Of our |
doctrines while the republican lead. /
ers oppose them When have We had |
such an advantage beioreY Secretary /
TAFT goes step father than the |
president does on the tarIff question /
ana gives ns arguments which We |
Fan use IN favor Of tarin reform. and |
then he seakens on the proposition !
a s,A aala ~, I...