The Green Forest tribune., 1908-08-14


 the people. secure the popular elec- ton Of senators. The smaller parties ara unable to secure this reform: the Repub- lican party, under it's present leadership, is resolutely opposed to it. the Democrat ic party stands for 1t and has boldly de- manded it. If l am elected to the presi- dency, those who are elected upon the ticket with me will be, like myself, pledged to this reform. and I shall con vene congress in extraordinary session Immediately after inauguration, and ask, among other things, for the fulfllment of this platform pledge.
 House Rules Despotic.
 The third instrumentality employed to defeat the will of the people is found in the rules of the house of representatives. Our platform points out that "the house of representatives was designed by the fathers of the constitution. to be the pop ular branch of our government. respon- sive to the public will and adds:
 'The house of representatives, as con trolled in recent years by the Republican party, has ceased to be a deliberative and legislative body, responsive to the will of a majority of the members. but has come under the absolute domination of the speaker, who has entire control of it's deliberations, and powers of legis- lation.
 We have observed with amazement the popular branch of oLr federal gov ernment helpless to obtain either the consideration or enactment of measures desired by majority of its members
 This arragnment is fully justified.
 Other Issues Will Be Discussed Later. Shall the people rue?" I repeat, is de- clared by our platform to be the over shadowng question, and as the campaign progresses, I shall take occasion to dis thiG CIIaStipn if m nifpSts itself in other issues; for whether we consider the tariff question, the trust question. the railroad question, the banking question. the labor question, the question of i'm perialism, the development of our water ways, or any other of the numerous prob lens which press for solution. We shall find that the real question involved in each is, whether the government shall remain a mere business asset of favor seeking corporations or be an instru- ment in the hands of the people for the advancement of the common veal
 Democrats Have Earned Confidence.
 If the voters are satisfied with the record of the Republican party and with it's management of public affairs we can not reasonably ask for a change in ad ministration; if, however. the voters feel that the people, as whole have too lit tie influence in shaping the policies of the government; if they feel that great combinations of capital have encroached upon the rights of the masses, and em- ployed the instrumentalities of govern ment to secure an unfair share of the to- tai wealth produced, then we have a right to expect a verdict against the Re- publican party and in favor of the Demo- cratic party; for our party has risked de- feat-aye, suffered defeat-n it's effort to arouse the conscience of the public and to bring about that very awakening to which MT. Taft has referred.
 Only those are worthy to be intrusted with leadership in a great cause who are willing to die for it. and the Democratic party has proven its worthness by it's refusal to purchase victory by delivering the people into the hands of those who have despoiled them. In this contest be- tween Democracy on the side and plutocracy on the other. the Democratic party has taken it's position on the side of equal rights, and invites the opposi- tion of those who use politics to secure special privileges and governmental fla vortism. Gauging the progress of the nation, not by the happiness or wealth or refinement of a few but by the pros- perity and advancement of the average man." the Democratic party charges the Republican party with being the promo ter of present abuses. the opponent of necessary remedies and the only bulwark of private monopoly. The Democratic party affirms that in this campaign it is the only party, having a prospect of success, which stands for justice in gov ernment and for equity in the division of the fruits of industry.
 Democratic Party Defends Honest
 Wealth.
 We may expect those who have com- mitted larceny by law and purchased im- munity with their political influence, to attempt to raise false issues. and to em- ploy the livery of heaven" to conceal their evil purposes but they can no long CT deceive. The Democratic party is not the enemy of any legitimate industry or of honest accumulationS. It is, on the contrary, a friend of industry and the steadfast protector of that wealth which represents service to society. The Democratic party does not seek to an- initiate all corporations; it simply asserts that as the government creates corpora- tionS, it must retain the power to regu- late and to control them, and that it should not pet nit any corporation to convert itself into a monopoly. Surely we should have the cooperation of all legitimate corporations in effort to protect business and industry from the odium which lawless combinations of capital will. if unchecked, cast upon them Only by the separation of the good from the bad can the good be made se- cure.
 Not Revolution But Reformation.
 The Democratic party seeks not revolu- tion but reformation. and l need hardly remind the student of history that cures are mildest when applied at once; that remedies increase in severity as their application is postponed. Blood poison ing may be stopped by the loss of a fin ger to-day; it may cost an arm to-mor- row or a life the next day. So poison in kl,1 h@I, .@.tt 1k h4 raI fAN soon, for the evils produced by it increase with the lapse of time. That there are abuses which need to be remedied, even the Republican candidate admits; that his party is unable to remedy them, has been fully demonstrated during the last ten years. I have such confidence in the intelligence as well as the patriotism of the people, that I can not doubt their readiness to accept the reasonable re- forms which our party proposes, rather than permit the continued growth of ex isting abuses to hurry the country on to remedies more radical and more drastic.
 The Divine Law of Rewards.
 There is Divine law of rewards. When the Creator gave us the earth, with it's fruitful soil, the sunshine with it's warmth, and the rains with their mois- ture, he proclaimed, as clearly as if his voice had thundered from the clouds "Go work, and according to your industry and your intelligence, so shall be your reward" Only where might has over thrown, cunning undermined or govern ment suspended this law, has a different law prevailed. To conform the govern ment to this law ought to be the amb- ton of the statesman: and no party can have a higher mission than to make it reality wherever governments can legiti-- mately operate.
 Justice to All.
 Recognizing that I am indebted for my nomination to the rank and file of our