Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-01-24
GUARD The PLATFORM.

| II is quite well understood that In
the Denver convention there will be
a considerable number of delegates
from the Eastern states who will
serve as the representatives OF the
special interests In an effort to secure
the adoption of a platform which will
be satisfactory to the interests but
not in harmony with the views and
feelings of the party voters. Against
| this danger Mr.. Bryan through his
paper. The Commoner, has taken oc-
casion to warn Democrats. He says I:
| Democrats know too. that at this
time. when the American people are
demanding relief from the trust i'm.
position, the candidate and the plat.
form must be representative of the
interest of the masses. They know,
TOO, that the American people could
no more depend upon presidential
candidate chosen by the special inter
ests and the representatives OF the
special interests that seek to control
Democratic conventions than they
could depend upon presidential can
didate named by the Republican con.
ventlon ut the behest of the great
corporations"
There can be no two opinions
among true Democrats as to the
sonndnoss of this advice, for IL the
Democratic party hopes for success
In the presidential campaign this year
1t must convince the country that II
Is really Democratic and not trim
ming and shifting In the hope of Sc
curing the spells of Victory. 1t would
be the worst sort of folly for the party
10 20 before the country with any
candidate who might be suspected of
being In sympathetic relations with
the law.breaking corporations against
which the Roosevelt administration
hns been making war. In that event
the disastrous campaign of 1904 would
be repeated with additional reasons
for regret on the part OF the Demo.
crazy. Tho Brooklyn Citizen Is we'll
within the mark when It says What.
ever comes Of tho party in the com.
Ing campaigp, one thing at least must
be made manifest by Its proceedings
In the National conventlo. II II Is to
nave gay future worthy OF future con
sideEASion, and that is that II Is not
rupfs by the special interests"
,4fThis Is good advice also. for the
democratic party can suffer many de.
feats and still retain popular sun.
port which in time will carry It 20
Victory. provided 1t remains faithful
TO tho people. What II can not do Is
| TO trick the people and still hone that
they will follow its banner There.
fore Mr.. Bryan is well within the
mark when he says:
THE rank and file of the Demo-
cratic party must therefore wrIto tho
platform and name the candidate" Mr
bryan has not sought to influence the
choice other than to the extent OF
saying that the discharge of this i'm
portant duty shall not be relegated
to individuals with power to act to the
detriment of the party and the public
and to the advantage OF the very Gle
ments from whose expressions the
American people are at this very mo
| ment turning.
| The fact is Mr.. Bryan recognizes
the folly OF trying to have embodied
In the platform any proposition tina.
tho rank and file do not desire to see
there. and the acceptance of which
they will decline. Therefore this
suggestion should be taken to hear,
by the men who are to draw the plat
form. II they do so there is little
reason to doubt that we shall have I
] declaration OF principles upon which
| all honest Democrats will be willing
to stand. and from tho support ot
which no Democrats will be repealed
ty the presence of planks to which
they are opposed. Above all things
| the Denver convention must show
that II Is Democratic. and there mus
be no humhug II the ticket nominated
Is to stand any chance of winning. II
other words care must be taken ts
! shut out of the convention the
schemes Of the special interests the
! activity of which Mr.. Bryan foresees
and against which he has warned his
party.--Ncw Orleans States