The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1908-08-13

MOT Foe to Wealth Honestly
Acquired If Elected. Promises
Justice to All
Lincoln, Neb.-Wiliam Jennings
Bryan was formally notified of his
nomination by the Democratic party
Tor the presidency of the United
States. Henry d. Clayton of Alabama
was the spokesman of the notification
committee. Mr.. Bryan's speech of &C
ceptance follows:
Mr.. Clayton and Gentlemen OF the No
uhcauon Committee: l 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 a candidate for the presiden-
cy, in campaigns which ended in defeat,
a third nomination. the result of the free
and voluntary act of the voters of the
party, can only be explained by a sub
stanual and undsputed growth in the
principles and policies for which /, with
multitude of others, have contended.
AS these principles and policies have
given me whatever political strength l
possess the action of the convention not
only renews my faith in them, but
strengthens my attachment to them.
A Platform Is Binding.
l shall, in the near future, prepare
more formal reply to your notification.
and. in that letter of acceptance, will
deal with the platform in detail. 1t is
sufficient, at this time. to assure you that
T in artU accord with both the LET
ter and the spirit of the platform l in
dorse it in whole and in part, and shall,
IL elected, regard its declarations as bind
ing upon me- And, l may add, plat
form is binding as to what it omits as
well as to what it contains. According
to the Democratic idea, the people think
for themselves and select officials to car
ry out their wishes. The voters are the
sovereigns; the officials are the servants,
employed for a fixed time and at a stated
salary to do what the sovereigns want
DONE and to do it in the way the SOW
ereigns want it done. Platforms are
entirely in harmony with this Democratic
idea platform announces the party'S
position on questions which are at issue;
and an official is not at liberty to use the
authority vested in him to urge personal
views which have not been submitted to
the voters for their approval. If one is
nominated upon platform which is not
satisfactory to him, he must, If candid,
either decline the nomination. or, in ac-
cepting it. 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 l was nominated not
only contains nothing from which | dis
sent but it specifically outlines all the
remedial legislation which we can hope
TO secure during the next four years.
tn nra rot CnnanhaS discuss
the leading questions at issue. l shall at
this time confine myself to the paramount
question and to the far-reaChing pur-
nose of our party, as that purpose is set
forth in the platform.
Shall the People Rule?
Our platform declares that the over
shadowing issue which manifests itself 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
nuestion confronts US: Shall the people
control their own government, and use
mai government for the protection of
their rights and for the promotion of
their welfare? or shall the representa-
tives of predatory wealth prey upon
defenseless public, while the Offenders
secure immunity from subserVient OIL
Gals whom they raise to power by un-
scrupulOuS methOuS! lillS is tie iaSNS
raised by the known ABUSES ~ WHO"
Mr. Taft refers.
Mr.. Taft Endorses the Indictment.
Mr. Taft SAYS that these evils have
crent in during the last ten years. He
declares that, during this time, some
"nrominent and influential members or
she community. spurred by financial sue
cess and in their hurry for greater
u,sa,th became unmindful of the com
mon rules of business honesty ana nuei-
Nv and of the limitations imposed by
law upon their actions; and that the
ravelations of the breaches of trusts, the
'sieolosures as to rebates and discrimina-
.iops nv railroads, the accommodating EVIL
aonce of the violations of the antitrust
Iows by number of corporations, ana
tho over-issue of stocks and bonds Oh IN
tarstate railroads for the unlaWtul en-
itching of directors and for the purpose
If concentrating the control OF the ran
.s.aads under one management, all these,
oharees 'ouickened the conscience
of the people and Drought Oh i'o'"'
awakening
Whv No Tariff Reform?
rho presidents close friends have been
for several years that he would
Icx the iniquities of the tariff we
- nod intimation that Mr. Taft was
Tive under the demands OF the hlSny
.,rotectcd industries. And yet the ihilu-
20 If the manufacturers, who nave Tor
q wears contributed to the Repuohcan
"o,anaign fund, and who in return nave
framed the tariff schedules mas oeeh
sufficient to prevent tarln reform. - AS t the
s'raeent campaign approached, potn tiie
P.Sdant and Mr. Taft declared in favor
~ Tariff revision, but set the date OF
,.ision after the election. But the pres
re- rev. hrourht to bear by the protected
sun 1o.osts has been great enough to pre-
nv M any attempt at tariff reform before
W. election; and the reduction prom
s,ssd after the election is SO hedseu aooue
with qualifying phrases that no 4 tnta, ~
estIIIIH -, 10 be expected in case OF