Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1908-08-21

Democracy w. Piutocrncy
Under Theodore Roosevelt personnel
autocratic govern ment has been car
ried to the furthersst extreme known
TO Am erican politics.
Although Mr.. Taft IL the Republican
candidate, 1t Is Theodore Roosevelt and
Theodore Rooseyeit's Administration
that are ON trial ane asking for vote
Of con fidence. As an opportunity for
registering public dissatisfaction with
arbitrary government, for recording
the protest against one-man power,
for measuring public conscience to-
ward sane, statesmanlike progress and
reform, the election in November must
have great Significance.
Regardless Of Mr.. Taft's great .abili-
ty, wide experience and engaging per
sonslity, he cannot escape from his
political environment. His party 10
still the party Of Protection, Privilege
and Plutocracy. Practically every
Trust promoter in the country is Re-
publican; practically every railroad
president is Republican; practically
every ruthless malefactor" IL a Re
publican.
i Although a Republican House OF
Representatives passed the Campaign
Fund Publicity bill and MI. Taft
wrote to senator Burrows indorsing
the measure, the Chicago Convention
rejected, the publicity plank, with only
"a votes for 1t to $50 against 1t. The
man who permitted this capitulation
in order that the protected Industries
might secretly be BLEED and blackmail-
ed on the eve of tariff revision Is the
man who took George h. Cortelyou
from the post OF corporation inquisitor
and mace him collector Of cor
poration campaign tributes. He is
the same man whose own candidacy
was financed in part by insurance
money f1lched from the policy holders;
who wrote the letter to my Dear Mr..
Hartman assuring him that 'syou
and are practical men" and who en-
couraged Hartman TO raise sos, 900 as
a corruption fund to nelp carry the
State OF .New York.
| In spite Of the credItaLle declaration
from the Taft headquarters that all
contributions to the campaign fund
will be made public in accordance
with the laws of New York, the record
| of ne Roosevelt surrender still stands
as representing the sentiment Of the
party.
Although Mr.. Roosevelt In his
stump speeches for two years vehe-
neatly insisted upon The restriction Of
"swollen fortunes by means Of in
come and inheritance taxes, not one
word appears in MIR. Roosevelts Chi
cago platform in favor of these just
aud equitable measures. In spite Of all
his frenzied denunciatIons of maiefac-
] tors of great wealth, all "the malefac-
tors OF great wealth. are pralsing the
platform and pIedgiDg their support 10
! the ticket.
10 make assurance doubly sure that
| the work of his convention would
command the approval OF Wall street
I'D the predatory elements in general
Mr.. Roosevelt made James S. Sherman
the party candidate for Vice President.
Mr.. Sherman represents the very ten
deneies in politics that MIR. Roosevelt
pretends to oppose so violently. Yet
MI. Roosevelt elevates this astute rep
reseEtative of Wall street politics to the
dignity of Man of My Type.
| Never III the lifetime Of the Repub-
lie has there been greater need of q
viriie, aggressive, incorporating
Opposition TO the party in power--to
Rooseveltism, militarism, jingolsm,
Capitalization, personal government
and panic. The American people need
peace, they need prosperity, they need
re-em ploymsnt--they need bread.
The World will treat Mr. Bryan with
scru iulous fairness and justice. 1t will
endeavor to treat him more than gen.
erously because il SO vigorously ar
gued against his nomination. Our con-
victien is stronger than ever that Gov.
Johnson or Judge Gray could have
polled tens of thousands Of votes which
Mr. Bryan cannot get. But II Mr.. Bry-
an should adhere to his admirable
speech Of acceptance and the crafty
ing pledges to bury the past, and
should prove during the campaign
that he has protited by defeat and I'M
learned his past follies in the school of
experience, If be should resoiutsly keep
his back turred upon the delusive is
sues which he has hitherto advocated;
if he should refrain from attacks upon
the Courts; if he should avoid all APP
lpeals to class prejudice; II he should