The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-08-13

we can not reasonably ask for a
| change in administration: if. however,
the voters feel that the people, as a
whole, have too little influence in shap-
ing the policies of the government: if
they feel that great combinations of
capital have encroached upon the
rights of the masses, and employed the
instrumentalities of government to Sc
cure an unfair share of the total wealth
produced. then we have right to ey-
pect verdict against the Republican
party and in favor of the Democratic
party; for our party has risked defeat
aye, suffered defeat-in it's effort to
arouse the conscience Of the public and
to bring about that very awakening to
which Mr.. Taft has referred.
Only those are worthy to be entrust-
ed with leadership in great cause
who are willing to die for it, and the
Democratic party has proven it's WORTH
ness by its refusal to purchase victory
by delivering the people into the hands
OF those who have despoiled them. In
this contest between Democracy on the
one side and plutocracy on the other,
the Democratic party has taken it's po-
sition on the side of equal rights, and
invites the opposition Of those who use
politics to secure special privileges and
governmental favoritism. Gauging the
progress of the nation, not by the hap
piness or wealth or refinement of a
few, but "by the prosperity and adj
vancement of the average man." the
Democratic party charges the Repub-
lican party With being the promoter Of
present abuses the opponent of neces-
sary remedies and the only bulwark of
private monopoly. The Democratic par
ty affirms that in this campaign it is
the only party, having a prospect of
! success, which stands for justice in
government and for equity in the divi-
sion of the fruits of industry.
Democratic Party Defender of Honest
Wealth..
We may expect those who have COM
mitted larceny by law and purchased
immunity with their political influence,
to attempt to raise false issues, and to
employ 1.-The livery of Heaven" to con-
ceal their evil purposes, but they can
no longer deceive. The Democratic
party is not the enemy Of any legiti-
mate industry or Of honest accumula-
tons. 1t is, on the contrary, a friend
of industry and the steadfast protector
of that wealth which represents a serv-
ice to society. The Democratic party
does not seek to annihilate all corpora
tons: it simply asserts that as the gov
eminent creates corporations, it must
retain the power to regulate and to
control them, and that it should not
permit any corporation to convert itself
into a monopoly. Surely we should
have the cooperation of all legitimate
corporations in our effort to protect
business and industry from the odium
which lawless com binations of capital
will, if unchecked. cast upon them
Only by the separation Of the good
from the bad can the good be made
secure.
Not Revolution, but Reformation.
The Democratic party seeks not revo--
luton but reformation. and need
hardly remind the student Of history
that cures are mildest when applied at
once: that remedies increase in severity
as their application is postponed. Blood
poisoning may be stopped by the loss
of finger today; it may cost an arm
tomorrow or life the next day. So
| poison in the body polite can not be
removed too soon. for the evils pro-
duced by it increase with the lapse of
time. That there are abuses which
need to be remedied. even the Repub-
lican candidate admits; that his party
is unable to remedy them. has been
fully demonstrated during the last ten
years. I have such confidence in the
intelligence as we'll as the patriotism
of the people. that can not doubt their
readiness to accept the reasonable re-
forms which our party proposes. rather
than permit the continued growth OF
existing abuses to hurry the country on
| to remedies more radical and more
drastic.
Our Party's Ideal.
The platform of our party closes with
a brief statement of the party's ideal.
1t favors "such an administration of
the government as will insure, as far
|
zen shall draw from society reward
commensurate with his contribution to
the welfare of society,""
Governments are good in proportion
as they assure to each member Of So
ciety, so far as governments can, a re-
turn commensurate with individual
merit
The Divine Law of Rewards.
There is a Divine law Of rewards.
When the Creator gave us the earth.
with its fruitful soil. the sunshine with
its warmth, and the rains with their
moisture, He proclaimed. as clearly as
If His voice had Numbered from the
clouds. go work, and according to
your industry and your intelligence, SO
shall be your reward" Only where
might has overthrown, cunning under
mined or government suspended this