The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1908-07-07
ADDRESS OF TEMPORARY
CHAIRMAN THEODORE BELL
Scathing Arraignment of the Republican Party for
Its Many Promises and Its Few Acts. Republican Par
ty Controlled by the IrusTs

We have assembled at time when
the public conscience is demanding
honesty of purpose in the men who
undertake to direct the affairs OF
state. The public eye is keenly SEN
sative to every political movement,
and our proceedings here will be ap-
proved according to the degree OF
sincerity appearing in the work of
this convention. There is widespread
belief, founded upon evidence of a
convincing character, that the party
in power has not been true to it's
interest into the hands of the enem-
les of good government, thereby for
feiting its right and destroying it's
ability to rule in the name of the peo-
pie.
Apparent to everyone is the fact
republican convention at Chicago
there was feeling of anger and re-
sentiment over the popular clamor
for reforms; and it is unusally pat
ent that there is no bona fide in'en-
ton on the part of the republican
party of granting any reforms, is the
the machinery of that party can be
retained in present hands. It's paper
platform, dividing like ancient Gaul
into three parts-barren promises,
will make a good campaign transpar-
ency; but no one seriously believes
that the republican party really in
dorses that neutral manuscript which
held the convention together until it
could ratify the nomination of a pres
identtal candidate.
Approaching our great task in a
manly, dignified manner, imbued with
| the loft1est sentiments of patriotism,
am bilious to throw every safeguard
around the liberties of our people,
determined to stamp out the abuses
| that are consuming the substance OF
the nation, let US proceed to our ap-
pointed duty with the sustaining con-
| sciousness that we are responsible
| alone to God and TO our country for
the justice OF our cause.
There are three things that this
| convention should do. 1t ought to pre-
sent in plain and Ineligible man
ner the serious Industrial and politi-
cal conditions that are disturbing the
peace and happiness of our country.
We should then proceed to coura-
geous exposure of the republican pol
icies that are cooperating with pr1-
vate greed in the general oppress-
ion of the people. Most Important OF
all, we must exhibit a readiness and
an ability to grasp the problems OF
the hour and to effect their solution
in a manner that will satisfy the So
Der, common sense of the multitudes
whose interests are at stake.
| Among the great evils that afflict
| the country at the present time is
the abuse of corporate power. At first
the advancing aggressions of the cor
porations are not discernible to the
common eye, for every move is care
| fully covered up until sufficient po-
litical strength is attained to DEFY
| the protests of the people. Thus the
constant and insidious invasion OF
the peoples rights finally results in
a species of arrogance and defiance
so formidable in its appearance that
the body of the people, in fear of ev-
ler worse aggressions, hesitate to as
sert and exercise their rightful au
thority over these collosal enemies
lof the commonwealth. And so we be
hold a subversion of our free insti
tutlons voluntarily subordinating it
self to selfish, private ends, specia
privileges, resorting to cunning, brih
cry and indignation to maintain its
unholy power, while the masses tim16
ly hope that when avarice has at lasl
reached the point of safety it vii
then benevolently permit the people
to resume their righttul share in the
the mutterings of the people become
ltoo threatening the CRY of confisca
ion goes up and appeals are franti
ca11y made to the sacred rights o
lparty. This is intended to alright ths
. lears of honest men in the enjoymen
of the fruits of their industry ant
thrift and by thus playing upon thei
prejudice and fears to deter then
from casting their influence on thu
side of wholesale reforms. The or.
of confiscation IS the historic defens'
lof usurpation- Let the people TAX
warning. whenever the wrongs of t
Iday become the vested rights Of to
/ morrow the nation is In deadly per
/ In.
The democratic party Is not Tn