The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-29
Taa's Running Mate Starts
His Campaign Talk
SAYS PARTY HAS EASY TASK
AS Usual With Republican Speakers,
Sherman Points to Party Per-
formances and Says Demo-
Gratis Have No Chance.

Chicago, September 2S.-opening the re-
publican campaign in Cook county before
the Hamilton club tonight, James S. Sher'
man, vice presidential nominee of the
party, began a speaking tour which in
the next two weeks is to take him
through Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.
Other speakers at the opening of Mr..
Shermans tour were Congressman Mich
olas Longworth and Senator William AL
den Smith. Mrs. Longworth, daughter
of the President, occupied box at the
meeting. The presence of Mrs. Long
worth caused the attendance of large
proportion of women. Mr. Longworth
said that with the next Senate securely
republican, If the next House should be
democratic, it was perfectly apparent
that it would mean the postponement OF
tariff revision for at least two years.
Senator Smith devoted his attention
largely to comparison of the achieve
ments Of the republican and the demo-
cratic parties.
Mr. Sherman said: I
izen of Alexander Hamilton's state and
a graduate of Hamilton college should
make his first speech in this campaign
under the auspices of the Hamilton club.
As that club is conspicuous for Its de-
votion to republican principle and its IN
terest in promoting American ideas and
ideals, l feel especially honored in being
accorded the privilege of speaking under
| It's auspices al It's opening of this most
important campaign.
| "Our task as republicans, in this cam
paign, our duty as Americans. is to con-
vince a majority of the voters that re-
publican policies, republican enactments,
republican administration will produce
the greatest degree of prosperity, Of
progress of contentment, the fullest
measure of the necessaries, the comforts,
the luxuries of life, the best plane of
living, Of education, of civilization, the
surest prospect of the highest attain
ment.
Easy Task.
"Our task is easier than that of our
adversaries because we have a premise
on which to base our argument. We
have past to which We exultantly point;
a past on which we rightfully base pre-
dictions for the future. The only past to
which our democratic brethren care to
refer is three-quarters of a century gone;
to the history of Jefferson and Jackson;
they appeal to history rather than to
memory; democracy's recent past they
either hide, decry, repudiate or attempt
to excuse. Democracys peerless leader S
loftiest periods deal wholly with the ex-
pected His roseate pictures are of the
future; are attempted X-Rays. Ours are
of the past, are of things accomplished,
deeds done, results attained.
when democracy does explore past
more recent than Jacksons time, it is to
criticise and condemn the republican
party for alleged failures to do that
which democracy never attempted to do
when the opportunity was hers.
Change of Policies.
principles and great national policies
may change from time to time for one
or two reasons. Either an issue or ques-
ton may be solved and permanently set
tied, such as the slavery question:; such
as resumption of specie payments; such
as The establishment of the gold stand
ard; such as the building of the Panama
canal, or it can be abandoned temporarily
or permanently because 1t is not at the
time eXpedent or because Ii seems inn
possible of final accomplishment. OF the
latter | might mention the free coinage
of silver at ratio of 16 to /, govern
ment ownership of railroads, the initia-
81
that Mr. Bryan has advocated, but for
the time, at least has omitted from the
democratic platform which he framed.
because their further advocacy at pres
ent would be fatal to his party's chances
of success, If chance it has.
''rhese characteristics of the two great
parties, the parties which have appealed
to the American electorate for 90 years,
are not only worthy of attention, but of
analysis. Men are valued and their worth
is guaged not alone by character, but
generally by a lifelong record of ac-
complishments. Parties should be guaged
the same way. Mr.. Bryan is bound to
the traditions and blunders of the demo-
cratic party. He has seized its name.
captured its organization has written its
platforms, and by force, made himself
it's candidate. He has fathered and ad-
vocated one unwise, dangerous and de-
stroying policy after another; and each
one dying the campaign of its birth and
thousands of democratc refuse to yield
to his dictation or be bound to his char
lot wheels.
Democratic Record.
'"The democratic party, not only has a
very small record since the birth of the
republican party, but or the record 1t
has as to legislation and accomplishments
the one great law which it put upon our
statute books when it had the opportun-
ity was, a measure described by DEM
ocratic president as one of perfidy and
dishonor,' and brought harm to our coun-
try and disaster to our people.
Comparing the various platforms of
the democratic party for the last half
century we find that 1t has clung to
but one policy or principle and that is
free trade The policy mas lived through
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