The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1908-10-22

form; they did not believe in any.
thing that we did. unless 1t might pos
sibly be said that they would have
been willing TO yell the old cry Of
tariff reform If we had not declared
for anything specifc-enough to have
hurt their business feeling.
1t is needless to say that these peo-
pie do not have any political or eco
nomic principles, unless they yield to
them coin of the realm-like the touch
of Midas gold.
They know no such thing as scrupIe
or principle. If there be anything in
any platform of any party that they
like. it will be found in the special
privilege platform of the republican
party. They do not really believe in
anything that is truly democratic
They do not believe in obedience to
the wishes of the common people of
the land-the business interests"
ought to rule, in their opinions
1t is hard to fathom their claims to
membership in a democratic party
But recently it has been said by tho
republican press of this state and of
our own sister state of Illinois, that at
several conferences or meetings al
legged to have been held in Chicago Cat
alleged to have been present. among
whom were Thomas Taggart, gamb-
ling king, and resort keeper, and
| crooked politician and free beer dis
penser. and Roger Sullivan, whom you
| have taught us to believe to be as bad
in political tactics and principles as a
train robber' or porch climber"), YOU
are quoted as having expressed a deep
desire to have the democratic people
of the country lay aside all past diff
ferences and affiliate with these gent
lemen and their kind everywhere. to
the end that the democratic party
might in 1908 triumph over the repub-
lican party. In response to the query,
or something akin thereto, Are these
men democrats" you are quoted as
| saying, I'VE have opened a new set OF
| books" or something of the same i'm
port. Later you were reported to
| have urged that we-including these
men and their kind-get together and
patch up our differences-'let by-gones
be by-gones." forgive and forget'-in
the future "as brother be-" ETC.
These reports have caused great
alarm among the readicaI democrats Of
this district-the rank and flle-the
common democrats of the country. I
have been loath to believe the truth Of
| these reports, and am writing you now
| in the hope that 1 shall learn the exact
/ facts relative thereto. 1 am confident
that you will make a straightforward
answer to plain questions. You have
never yet been known to evade or
equivocate.
Many questions have presented them
| selves in view of these reports, among
which we might mention:
l. If our differences with these is
fundamental, how can we affiliate with
them, or they with us?
2. Would it not be as in the past,
a house divided against itself? An ir-
repressible conflict based upon a diff
ference of principle and beliefs that
do not permit of compromise. There
could only be an unconditional surren-
der based upon conversion to princi-
pies of the party-not compromise.
3. If we are to affiliate together,
upon what basis shall 1t be? Shall II
be as equals, superiors, or subordin-
ates? Shall they be continued in con-
troll of the party organization, whip in
hand? Shall they ride in the saddle
and marshal the fight, or shall they be
made to find contentment in the ranks
Of the privates? Shall they drive the
band wagon and be the loudest to foot
the democratic horn, and in the final
windup. as in the past. claim all the