The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1908-08-14

Acquired If Elected, Promises
Justice to All
Lincoln, Neb.-Wlllam jennings
Bryan was formally notified OF his
nomination by the Democratic party
for the presidency of the United
States. Henry d. Clayton Of Alabama
was the spokesman Of the notification
committee. Mr. Bryan's speech of ac-
ceptpnco follows:
Mr. Clayton and Gentlemen OF the No
tinCauon Committee. | can not accept
the nomination which you officially ten
der, without first acknowledging my
deep Indebtedness TO the Democratic
party for the extraordinary honor which
Il has conferred upon me Having twice
before been candidate for the presiden-
cy, In campaigns which ended In defeat.
n third nomination, the result Of the free
and voluntary act OF tho voters OF the
party, can only be explained by q sub
Etantial and undisputed growth In the
principles and policies for which I, with
multitude of others, have contendsd.
As these principles and policies have
given me whatever political strength !
possess. the action OF the convention not
only renews my faith in them, but
strengthens my attachment to them.
A Platform is Binding.
I shall. in the near future, prepare
more formal reply to your notification.
and in that letter of acceptance. will
deal with tho platform I'm detail II is
sufficient. NJ this time. to assure you that
am In hearty accord with both the let
ter and the spirit Of the platform. In
dorse IT In whole and In part and shall,
II elected regard lts declarations as bind
ing upon me. And. | may add, a plat
form is binding an to what It omits as
well M to what Il contains. According
TO the Democratic idea. the people think
for themselves and select officials to car
~ out their wishes. The voter5 are the
sovcreigns. the officials are the servants
employed FOR a fixed time and at a stated
salary to do whnt the soyercigns want
done and to do II IN the way the SOW
ereigns want Il done. Platforms are
entirely IN harmony with this Democratic
idea. 4 platform announces the party's
position on questions which are at Issue:
and an official is not At liberty to use tho
authority vested In him to urge personal
vicws which have not been submitted TO
the voters for their approval II one IL
nominated upon n platform which is not
satisfactory 10 him, he must. II candid,
either decline the nomination, or, In ac-
ceptnE Il, propose an amended platform
IN lieu OF the one adopted by the con-
ventIon No such situation, however,
confronts your candidate for the plat
form upon which ] was nominated not
only contains nothing from which ! dis
sent but II specifically outlines all the
remedial legislation which we can hope
TO secure during the next four years.
As | shall. In separate speeches discuss
the leading questions at issue. I shall Mt
this time confnc myself to the paramount
question, and to the far-rcaChinR pur-
pose OF our party, as that purpose Is set
forth in the platform
Shall the People Ruler
our platform declares that the over
shadowing issue which mnnifcsts itsolf In
all the questions now under discussion.
Is shall the people rule?" No matter
which way we turn; no matter to what
subject we address ourselves. the same
question confronts us: Shall tho people
control their own government and use
that government for the protection Of
their rights and for the promotion OF
their welfare or shall the representa-
tives OF predatory wealth prey upon n
defenscless public, while the offenders
secure immunity from subservent oil
cials whom they raise to power by UNI
scrupulous methods This Is the issue
raised by the known abuses to which
Mr. Taft refers.
MIR. Taft lndorses the Indictment.
MIR TAFT says that these evils have
crcpt In during tho last ten years. lie
declares that, during this time, sNne
"promincnt and influential members OF
the community, spurred by financial sue
cess and In their hurry for greater
wealth became unmindful OF the com
mon rules Of business honesty and hdel-
ity, and OF the limitations imposed by
law upon their actions" and that the
revelations of the breaches OF trusts. the
disclosures az to rebates and discrimina-
tons by railroads, the accommodating evil
dence OF the violations of the antitrust
laws. by number of corporations, and
the t4ver-issue OF stocks and bonds of in
terstate railroads for the unlawful en-
riching OF directors and for the purpose
OF concentrating the control OF the rail-
roads under unc management. all these.
he charges, "quickencd the conscience
OF the people and brought on a moral
awakening"
Why No Tariff Reform7
The presidents close friends have been
promising for several years that he would
attack the iniquties Of the tariff. We
have had intmntion that Mr.. Taft was
reaiiye under tho demands Of the highly
protected Industries. And yet the influ-
cnce of the manufacturers who have for
Is years contributed to the Republican
campaign fund and who in return have
framed the tarin schedules. has been
stg ~ient to prevent tariff reform. As the
present campaign approached, both the
president and Mr.. Taft declared in favor
OF tariff revision but set the date OF
raysslon after the election. But the pres
cure brought to bear by the protected
interests has been great enough to pre-
vent any attempt at tariff reform before
thu election; and the reduction prom
ised after the election IL so hedged about
with qualifying phrases, that no one car
estimate with accuracy the sum total Of
.,s. :. -, 40 IA. exnerted In case OF