Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-03-28

i
HON. CLAUDE R. PORTER.
Cedar Rapids, March 26.-(Spec-
1aD-Hon Claude R. Porter, who
two years ago was defeated for
the governorship, was given
hearty reception when he was in
troduced as temporary chairman
of the democratic state convention
here today. Mr.. Porter in his ad-
dress said:
Never in the past, in my humble
Judgment, has the need for the effec-
tive application of genuine democratic
principles In our government affairs
been so great as at the present. The
political engagement of 1896 has been
termed the First Battle" and SO it
was in the struggle of the people for
the restoration Of the rule of man as
against the rule Of dollars. 1t was,
however, but preliminary skirmish to
the contest we are now approaching.
For twelve years, predatory Wealth."
has been building and adding to it's
more perfectly understood, the lines
more clearly drawn, and our forces, I
nope, more united The result will be
more far reaching, the battle bound to
be more terrific, but Greed, trickery
and cunning must be trampled under
foot" If the Republic Is to live
Republican Rule Criticised.
For forty years the republican
party has held almost undisputed sway
at Washington. Forty years in which
to grant special privileges to the few,
forty years of close legislation, forty
years of positive executive and legis-
lative favoritism, and forty years Of
law permitted favoritism. Men do
not gather grapes of thorns or figs
Of thistles,' in the twentieth century
any more than they did in the COM
mencement of the first, and we now
have an abundant fruitage from the
seed sown. Trusts, monoplies and
combinations without number, indus
trial corporations with a capital stock
of ten figures, and whose yearly in
come and disbursements exceed those
OF the national government; railroad
unification, graft and frenzied finance
galore; wealth, created and fostered
by law, defying and trampling under
foot those laws enacted with the view
of attempting to control or curtail
their activity.
Republican orators have given us
glowing descriptions of the great bene-
fits of a protective tariff, and it alone;
told us how high tariff always brings
have told us in equally brilliant terms
OF the wonderful blessings, singly and
alone, from the gold standard Yet
under the highest tariff ever enacted,
which has been In force ten years,
and with the gold standard in full
operation; with the friends Of both in
full and complete control of every
branch Of our government, about the
first of last October, like a clap OF
thunder from clear sky, there came
upon us a panic as direful in its re-
suits as any that has been visited up
on us in generation.
That there is an urgent need for
reform along many lines all seem to
concede. That the demand for it
from the people is growing and will
continue to grow, Is also freely admit
ted. Where, then, shall we look for
relief? To what organization shall
We look to meet these demands?
Surely We have no right to expect any
thing from that party which by legis-
lation and administration has fostered
the very things about which we now
hear complaint What foundation
have we to base our hope upon that
hoe y1yI~ r+,,~1 l.
the republican party will be moved to
activity in the promotion Of any meas
ures that have for their purpose the
control of the public corporations that
have been preying upon the legitimate
business of the country of excessive
charges and rebates? Who is there
that really thinks the present lead
ers of that party in Congress honest
ly wish to effectually curb the power
of the various trusts, or that they in
tend to do ought against the posses
sors of the rightly termed Swollen
FOrtunes?"
There is but one political organi-
cation to which the people of this
country can look, inspired by any hope
OF success, and that is the party that
| had had, and now has, as its funde-
mental principle, Equal rights to all
and special privileges to none" the
party of Jefferson and Jackson, the
democratic party.
Bryan Lauded; Reforms Urged.
There must be leader In this re-
gard our party is most fortunate He
has already been chosen by the mil
lions of voters composing the rank in
file Of the democratic party, and all
that the convention will do will be to
officially announce there selection
That by no political machine, or no
/ special interest: without great wealth,