The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1908-10-17
Editor
THE FIRST VOTER.

WV
80 you are likely to continue. The momen-
tum that carries you into party at the
beginning of your political life is apt TO
keep you in that party unless some con-
vulsion shakes you out Of it, Start right.
and in order that you may start right.
examine the principles Of the parties and
the policies which they advocate.
There are two great political party or
ganizarions in the United States, one fifty
years old and the other more than CEN
tury old. The republican party has been
in power almost uninteruptedly for more
than half century. and under its reign
abuses have grown up which threaten the
perpemity Of the government and endan-
ger our civilization, So great are these
abuses that republican reformers are now
pointing out that something must be done
land what can be done? The first thing
is to undo the things that have been done.
and the party to undo these abuses is not
the party which has done them but the
party which has protested against these
abuses and pointed out remedies.
The republican party has turned the
taxing power over to private individuals;
il has allowed monopolies to grow up and
assume control Of the industries Of the
country by granting privileges by law and
by giving immunity to the large violators
Of the law; the republican party has per-
mitted the fortunes Of the predatory rich
to become so large that government is
corrupted, politics dabauched and business
polluted
The democratic party proposes to with
draw the taxing power from private hands
20 50 leeislate as 70 make private mo-
nopoly impossible, and to enforce the law
without discrimination 1t proposes to
protectlegitimate wealth and punish those
who attempt to plunder the public for
private gain. On which side do you stand,
young mani Are you with the masses in
their effort to restore the government to
its old foundation and make il govern
ment Of the people. for the people and by
the people. or are you with the republican
leaders in their effort to perpetuate the
party in power by selling immunity in
return for campaign contributions
There are always two parties in the
country. and one is necessarily nearer to
the people than the other. In this coun4y
the democratic party is nearer to the peS~.
pie than the republican party Its leaders
have more faith in the people and are
more anxious to keep the government
under the control Of the people. Take the
election of United States senators by the
people as a test. The democrats want to
give to the voters a chance to elect and
to control their representatives in the
United States senate. The democratic
party in the house Of representatives.
passed the first resolutions for the submis-
sion Of the necessary constitutional
amendments They did this eight years
before any republican congress did it.
The democratic party has thrice demanded
this reform in its national platform. The
republican party has not done so. Why
do democratic leaders insist upon this
reform and republican leaders oppose it?I
There can be but one answer-the demo
cratic party is nearer to the people than
the republican party. Young man. win
you stand with the people or againts
themg
The answer to this question affects you.
country. If you are with the people your
influence. be it great or small win hast
en- their victory. If you are against the
people your influence may retard that
victory. But while in the first instance
it is your country that may gain or lose
by your action, you must remember that
in the long run your own position in poli-
tics will depend upon your conduct You
cannot fool the people always You may
lead them astray if you dare. but they
viii punish you when they find you out.
You may work for the people without
their recognizing il at first. but YOU can