The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-07-07

Theodore A. Bell of California, upon
taking the chair as temporary chair
man of the Democratic national con-
vention, spoke, in part, as follows:
1--WE have assembled at time when
the public conscience is demanding
honesty of purpose in the men who
undertake to direct the affairs Of the
state. The public eye is keenly SEN
sitive to every political movement: and
our proceedings here will be approved
according to the degree OF sincel ity
appearing in the work Of this conven-
ton. There is a widespread belief,
founded upon evidence OF Il ccn;inc.ng
character, that the party in power has
not been true to it's trust. that it has
betrayed the common interest into the
hands of the enemies of good govern
ment, thereby forfeiting it's right and
destroying it's ability to rule in the
name of the people.
Apparent to everyone is the fact
that way down deep in the heart Of
the Republican convention at Chicago
there was feeling Of anger and re-
sentiment over the popular clamor for
reforms; and it is equally patent that
there is no bona fide intention on the
part of the Republicans Of granting any
reforms, if the machinery of that party
can be retained in present hands. IT'S
paper platform, divided like ancient
Gaul into three parts barren prom
1ses, makeshifts and evasions, it is
hoped will make a good campaign
transparency; but no one seriously be-
ieves the Republican party indorses
that neutral manuscript which held
the convention together until it could
ratify the nomination of a presidential
candidate.
Approaching our great task in a
manly, digniied manner, imbued with
the loftiest sentiments Of patriotism,
ambitious to throw every safeguard
around the liberties Of our people, de-
termined to stamp out the abuses that
are consuming the substance of the ma
ton, let us proceed to our appointed
duty with the sustaining consciousness
that we are responsible alone to God
and to our country for the justice Of
our cause.
''There are three things that this
convention should do. 1t ought to
present in plain and intelligent man
ner the serious Industrial and present
conditions that are disturbing the
peace and happiness Of our country
We should then proceed to courage
GUS exposure Of the Republican policies
that are cooperating with private
greed in the general oppression Of the
people. Most important of all, we
must exhibit a readiness and an abil-
ity to grasp the problems Of the hour
and to effect their solution in a man.
ner that will satisfy the sober, COM
mon sense of the multitudes whose in
terests are at stake.
Among the great evils that afflict
the country at the present ii me is the
abuse of corporate power. At first
the advancing aggressions Of the cor.
porations are not discernible to the
common eye, for every mo We is care
fully covered up until sufie ient poiti-
cal strength is attained To defy the
protests Of the people. Th us the con-
slant and insidious invasion Of the
peoples rights finally n suits in
species Of arrogance and defiance so
formidable in it's appearan ce that the
body of the people, in fear Of even
worse aggressions, hesitate to exer-
else their rightful authority over these
colossal enemies of the conn onwealth.
And SO we behold subversion of our
free institutions, government volun-
tarily subordinating itself to selfish.
private ends, special privileges resort
ing to cunning, bribery ard intimida-
ton to maintain it's unholy power,
while the masses timidlt ask that
when avarice has at last reached the
point of safety it will the1 benevolent
ly permit the people to fsume their
rightful share in the government them
selves.
'.The Democratic party b not an enc
my Of all corporations. It recognizes
their great value in. tie industrial
world. Through the agacy of incor-
poration scattered wealth is brought
together and given driving force that
1t would not otherwise POSSESS. Great
enterprises are THEREBY undertaken
and the undeveloped rqources of the
country added to the wealth Of the
world. No rational MIN can be OPP
posed to corporations al such and the
assertion that the Democratic party is
waging an indiscrimin{te war against
this convenient form Iof transacting
business has No found lion in fact: i