West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-08-13
BRIAN
+ ;cEPTs
In | 0rty Accord
Wiz Platform.
SHALL / Z PEOPLE RULE
That Is lhe OvershadowIng
Question.
REPUBLICANS RESPONSIBLE.
All Present Abuses a Result of
Their Acts, and They Are I'm
potent to Correct Them.
REPUBLICANS RESPONSIBLE.

Mr. Clayton and Gentlemen OF the
Notification Committee; | can not ac-
cept the nomination which you official
ly tender, without first acknowledging
my deep indebtedness to the Democrat
fc party for the extraordinary honor
whichft has conferred upon me. Hav-
Ing twice before been candidate for
the presidency, IN campaigns which
ended I'm defeat, third nomination. the
result OF the free and voluntary act of
the voters OF the party, can only be ex-
planned by substantial and undis-
puted grovLi in the principles and pol
icies for Wa /, with multitude OF
others, have toAtendcd. AS these prin-
ciples aud :c.es have given me what
ever polltl. o strength | possess, the
action of e. convention not only re-
news my f.. IA them, but strengthens
my attachi4,.. 10 them.
A i.f.-@:m Is Binding.
shall, l.. ...y near future, prepare
more form .'.y TO your notification,
and, In tha d, ~ OF acceptance. will
deal with Ia !..tform in detail 1t is
sufficient, : time, TO assure you
that am II l.y.rty accord with both
the letter :..i Ihe spirit of the plat
form. | e. .J,se It in whole aud I'm
part, and shall. II elected. regard its
declarations as binding upon me. And,
l may add. platform is binding as to
what it omits as we'll as TO what It
contains. According to the democratic
idea, the people think for themselves
and select officials TO carry out their
wishes. The voters are the sovereigns;
the officials are the servants, employed
for fixed time and at II stated salary
TO do what the soyercigns want done,
and TO do Ii In the way the sovereigns
want IL done. Platforms are entirely
I'm harmony with this democratic idea.
A platform announces the party's po-
sition on the questions which are a is
sue; and an official is not at liberty TO
use the authority vested I'm him to
urge personal views which have not
been submitted to the voters for their
approval. If one IS nominated upon a
platform which Is not satisfactory to
him, he must, IL candid, either decline
the nomination, or, In accepting II. pro-
pose an amended platform i'm lieu Of
the one adopted by the convention. No
such situation, however. confrOnts your
candidate, for the platform upon which
i was nominated not only contains
nothing from which | dissent. but Il
specifically outlines all the remedial
legislation which we can hope to Sc
cure during the next four years
Republican Challenge Accepted.
The distinguished statesman who re
ceived the Republican nomination for
president said, I'm his notification
speech: 'The strength OF the Republican
cause In the campaign ~ hand is the
fact that we represent the policies os-
sentlal to the reform of known abuses.
to the continuance Of liberty ana true
prosperity, and that we are determined,
as our platform unequivocally declares.
to maintain them and carry them on"
In the name of the Democratic party,
Iaccept the challenge, and charge that
the Republican party is responsible for
all the abuses which now exist I'm the
federal government, and that it Is i'm
potent to accomplish The reforms which
are imperatively needed Further,
can not concur I'm the statement that
the Republican platform unequiyocally
declares for the reforms that are nee.
essary; on the contrary, affirm that It
openly and notoriously disappolnts the
hopes and expectations OF refOrmers,
whether those reformeTs bc Republic
ans or Democrats. So far did the Re
publican convention fall short OF is
duty that the Republican candidate felt
II necessary TO add TO his platform I'm
several important particulars. fhus re-
bullng the leaders Of the party, upon
whose cooperation he must rely for
the enactment Of remedial legislation.
As ] shall, I'm separate speeches. dis
cuss the leading questions at issue, /
shall at this time confne myself 90 the
paramount question, and to the far.
reaching purpose Of our party, ms that
purpose Is get forth I'm the platform.
Shall the People Ruler
Our platform declares that the over
shadowing issue which manlfcsts Itself
10 all the questions now under discus
sion. Is "Shar the people ruler" No
matter which way we turn: no matter
TO what subject we address ourselves,
the same question confronts us: Shall
the people control their own govern.
ment, and use that government for the
protection OF their rights and for the
promotion OF their weifarc9 or shall
the representatives Of predatory wealth
prey upon a defensclcss public. while