Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-06-20
The Democratic Opportunity.

This year presents the democratic
opportunity. The republican national
convention at Chicago emphasized this
fact, fact by the way ADMITTED by
republicans everywhere as well as by
democrats. The outcome of the Chi
cago doings is not received with
satisfaction by. the great mass of re-
publicans. William Allen White in his
frank but pointed analysis of the con-
vention's four days work in the Chi
cago Record-Herald says, 1.-THE presi-
dent gave Taft to the people, the peo-
pie gave the platform to the machine
and the machine got Sherman" Wal
ter Wellman, the famous correspond
ent, speaking from an unbiased stand
point in the same paper, declares that
the nomination of Sherman, together
with the platform. divides the honors
with the conservative wing of the
party-and the whole affair indicates
a hot fight before the country.
The platform means nothing, unless
10 adhere to the republican Cry of
letting us alone" On the tariff issue
it is ambiguous. On the great ques-
ton of the power of federal injunc-
ton, which the party itself recognized
as all important, the position of the
party is evasive. President Gompers
OF the American Federation of Labor,
who was on The ground pleading for a
positive declaration of this vital ques-
ton, says the unions throughout the
country will fight the adopted plank,
which is as follows:
"The republican party will uphold
at all times the authority and integ-
rity of the courts, state and federal,
and will ever insist that their powers
to enforce their process and protect
life, liberty and property shall be pre-
served inviolate. We believe, how
ever, the rule of procedure in the fed
eral courts with respect to issuance
of writs of injunction should be more
accurately defined by statute; that no
injunction or temporary restraining
order should be issued without notice
except if irreparable injury wouli re-
suit from the delay, in which. case a
speedy hearing thereafter should be
granted
Gompers to use his own language,
declares Labor Cannot be satisfied
with any makesnifts, half way prom
ises that meah nothing" What Com
pers says o. the anti-injunction PLANK
applies to[every so-called declaration
in the platform (which taken as 4
whole, is but string OF makeshifts,
subteffuges and platitudes.
rs make certain of meeting the de-
m,ands of the moneyed and trust in
'terests and insuring if possible dup
licate of the famous Cortelyou cam
paign fund of four years ago, Sher'
man, the New York trust representa-
tive, who in every recent session oil
congress has been the trusted aid OF
Cannon in blocking legislation aimed
at tariff modification or relief from
combines seeking to throttle compe
tition. was named for vice president
Sherman is described as the Mark
Hanna type of republican politician
man of moneyed interests. known
in New York state as the Utica ice
trust chief" Having amassed a for
tune during his term as congressman
he originally severed his adherence tC
democratic principles because the re
publican party offered more oppor
tunities for the attainment of his am
bition in life to become a rich man.
With those who represent the com
mon Interests of mankind in the re
public, whose supplications were ig
nored in Chicago, looking now to Den
yer for recognition at the hands of ;
party which will nominate as it
standard bearer a man of the people
whose theories of government hav'
been indicated by the highest repre-
sentative of the party that is abou
to GO out of power, the democrat
will enter the campaign in a spiri
OF, confidence and enthusiasm neve
before known.
And they will Geceive no SINAI
measure of encouragement from
republicans weary of the attitude o
their own party and anxious to cor
tribute to the deserved rebuke tina
will be administered in the Noven
Der election.