The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-09-16

power, extravaganza and special priVi- lege. Unlike his opponent, whose prin- cipal support came from those who have profited by the tariff, and from federal offieeholders instructed by the President, who was determined to choose his own successor, William Jennings Bryan was selected as our standard bearer for no other reason than because the people themselves wanted and insisted upon hav- ing him. He was nominated for the presidency upon a platform which he has pledged himself to supportF in re- spect both to what it contains, and to what by omission 1t rejects, adopted with substantial unanimity by the accredited representatives of our party at the na- tfonal convention; and 1t now becomes the duty of every man who calls him self a democrat to support the national ticket with earnestness and enthusiasm.
 State Platform.
 Addressing himself then to the imme- diate task before the convention, he said:
 'As I have already stated, we are here to nominate a governor and other state officers of the Empire state, and 10 formulate state platform for sub mission to the electorate. That the na- tional ticket will be aided or injured by the wisdom or unwisdom with which we perform our appointed task is obvious. We should approach this task not only With an earnest desire to do our best, but with frank recognition of the fact that we are here not to create public sentiment, but to find out what the peo- pie whom we represent want and have a right to demand from us. We are the representatives of the public-their serV- ants, not their masters-and our task will be well or badly done precisely in the degree that we have intelligence, courage and fidelity enough to satisfy and comply with their just demands.
 f We do not mistake the temper or the New York electorate, they are weary Of harangue. rhetoric and invec- tive. They want an equal enforcement of the laws and the punishment of law breakers, but they do not approve of vii carious sacrifice. They want the public protected against Inonopolies, but they want such protection through the opera tion Of general laws, independent en- tirely of the caprice of any potentate or bureaucrat. They want a square deal, put Tn determining what deals are square and what criminal, they want the law to furnish the touchstone; not the caprice of any individual or board. condemning or acquitting for personal or political reasons The people hate induIgenees as much as they do confiscation. They want less noise, less legislation on new and untried lines, and of doubtful constitu- tionality, and less interference with per- sonal and economic liberty
 What the People Want.
 The people also want and have a right to expect the greatest frankness from candidates for important public office. 1hey Ieel that if candidate for im- portant public office intends after his election to use the power and patronage or his office to effect radical changes fin existing laws, whether these changes be caieo rerorms or not, he should consult the electorate about these matters in ad- vance, so that they may cast their votes intelligently, ss'
 since the last democratic state con- 'ehtion one or our great leaders has passed away, but althou dead, Grover cleveland yet speaketh both by examnle and precept. Who among us can be selnsh or cowardly when we think of ms unswerving devotion to true de- mocrat1c principles and to duty as he saw II, and who can willingly adopt a lower standard than his of patriotic serviceY The democratic party has no ooupt made mistakes in the past. and w "ili make mistakes In the future, but It can never die, because it is the na- tural exponent of the hopes and wis
 
 eternal struggle against class privilege ana greed The closer it gets to the hearts or the toiling masses the greater becomes its influence for good.
 Hateful DespotIsm.
 A capricious despotism is hateful to americans even of the despot be intel ligent and benevolent The delegation or legislative authority, wh hether to in- olVlduals or commissions, Is probably unconstitutional, but whether this he so or not, 1t Is hateful to a free people It IS bad enough for the legislature it. self to pass two or three volumes of statutes each year, most of which are unnecessary, and many of which are posltiVely vicious, without setting up pureaucracies to exercise legislative authorities, when the leeislature itself IS not in session. But government by the delegation of legislative authority is not only hateful to the people but IL leads to gross extravagances and sooner or later to corruption. Cjven important discretionary powers affect ing property rights, which may or may not De exercised at the pleasure of an inoiVlouai or commission, and sooner or later bribery and corruption will control official action But more sari- ous still is the destruction of the prin- clple or home rule. which Irresponsible commissions to which have been dele gated the powers of a state will in the end accomplish
 Arrogance of Hughes.
 It would have been difficult for the republican party to have chosen a can- oldate Tor governor Assuming Gov hughes Is nominated) whose personal ny would have presented in clearer re- iief the essential distinction between the republican and the democratic th e. ories Of government. We are informed py the public press that the governor reluctantly consented to accept A re- nomination, because he considered that LIS HI, "ork or reform was not yet finish ed me governor apparently considers It wholly unnecessary to consult the people In advance about his legislative plans