Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-10-29
The DUTY of Progressiyes.
4 County Democrat:

rich and Cannon then all is not we'll.
As a matter of fact such is the condi-
ton, and progressive Republicans are
not in possession of power as | hope
to demonstrate. If I prove the point
it must follow that progressive"
Republicans are to surrender their
they will have to look elsewhere for
support of their principles.
When our Republic was founded the
equality of all men before the law,
About fifteen years ago it was discOv-
cred that in this state predatory
wealth was enjoying undue privileges
and Mr.. Lafollette aided and sup
ported by all good citizens resolutely
set shoulder to the wheel determined
to right the wrongs. Today some
people are so unfair as to claim all
the credit for the Republicans. Final
ly the crucial hour came, the rate
bill being under discussion. The
Governor was in distress and sent a
cry out into in the wilderness of Ne
braska for help. A politician look
ing Tor selfish glory might not have
responded, but Mr.. Bryan came and
addressed the legislature. He said in
in effect; Boys there is no time for
partisan feeling, put your shoulders
to the wheel and see to it that the
proposed measure is made law"
4Ou know the outcome. Then people
said, Bryan is great man. "
When we had the struggle at Wash
ingtOn, the Inter State Commerce
Commission VS.. the railroads, the
outcome was doubtful. Bryan went
to the capital and urged every Demo
crat to support the President, to for
get party at the risk of being recalled,
to be big enough to vote for the whole
country. Then people said that Mr..
Bryan was a great man, a statesman.
Nevertheless the President together
with the other spell binders say that
Bryan is not fit for President: that he
is "the vOluable Mr.. Bryan" merely.
Then they speak of Taft as the man of
experience, of sOlidity, tact and diplo-
matte prOclivities, etc, including men
tiOn OF his wrestling ability while at
college, and the fact that he was
seriously i'll in 1901.
The vital question is: Shall our
President be in sympathy with vested
interests or shall he be in sympathy
with all interests? the preference being
for the 10 900 900, who do not share
the great fortunes? We must admit
that Mr.. Taft is remote from the farm
err, upon whom the burdens as we'll as
the ultimate prosperity of the country
rest. How many of the farmers knew
him ten years ago? Those who did
knew that he was a judge somewhere
or other. Mr. Bryan has met the
farmer every year for fourteen years.
He has talked with him and lived with
him; he knows what the farmer needs
and i think we may rest assured that
he will shape his policies in accord
with that need. May we not say that
Mr.. Taft is not comparable with Mr.
Bryan as candidate for the adjust
ment Of the affairs of the people?
By way of further proof of this we
have the stand taken by the two men
on the Bank Guarantee Plan. | am
well aware that from the narrow view
point of the banker endless objection
may be offered. Let us be fair, and
enter into the anXieties of the Is, 600
900, poor depOsitOrs, men who have
but little to deposit, and to whom that
little means so much. What about
their side OF the case? Persons who
oppose the reform are either wOefully
ignorant or do not sympathlZe with
the depOsitOrs The plan stated brief
ly, is, to tie the banks together. to
hamper some, and make all safer.
Under the new system it will not be
advisable for speculative bankers to
run great risks, with the chance to
make enormous profits in prospect.
Naturally skillful bankers are OBJ
posed to the idea but mind you, their
objections are all on their side The
reform will curtail wild speculation
thus avoiding panics. But Mr. TAFT
is opposed to the reform. Need / add
that in so much at least Mr. Taft and
his party are not in sympathy with
the depOsitOrs at large? The new
system will make banking safer for
the poor and the rich. Bryan and his
party propose to ENSURE a reason
able security to the depositor" and
the Republican propose to fix the
tariff so as to ENSURE a reasonable
profit" to the rich manufacturer.
Which do you like best?
Four years ago the Republican
National Convention refused to accept
the four delegates Sat large" from
Wisconsin: they were kicked out. :"
You know the rest Last June The
Wisconsin delegates went to the
Chicago Convention "lOaded.n They
proposed a plank providing for elec-
ton of Senators by the people and
met defeat by vote of 866 to ia:
they submitted plank providing for
publicity of campaign funds during
the campaign" which was defeated by
a vote of $50 to 81; their plank pro
viding for physical valuation Of rail
roads as basis for fixing rates was
also defeated, 9l7 nays and only 63
yeas; Mr.. LaFOllette's platform, the
Wisconsin idea in full, was rejected
by a vote of $50 to %. Mr.. ROOse-
velt's candidate was adopted by that
convention, and the rest of the story
will be written by you on election day.
The Chicago Convention added insult
to injury by telling the Wisconsin
delegation to go to Denver 1t may
appear from the election count that a
considerable number went
In the Republican State convention
we have "sOme more" The PRO
gressives" submitted a progressive
platform, but "Yim'', the Governor
and his henchmen decided that it
would never do to insult the National
Platform and accordingly told the
others to ''git". Is there any ques-
ton as to whether | am right when /
say that the progressive" element of
the Republican party does not domi-
nate it? If it be true, as great men Of
all times assert it is, that fidelity to
principles is the only right thing,
then, are not the progressive" in
duty bound to go to Denver? There
they will find cOngenial atmosphere.
Limited space prevents me from max
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