The Washington times., 1908-07-10

brought forth the Denver declaration
OF party policy.
1t was 4 unique struggle, IS COM
Jared with those OF other years, in
that there was at no time any bitter
ness. and very little even of the sug-
.yestiou OF that old-time fractional feel
ing. which in the last three campaigns
las kept Democracy rent IN twain.
The travail of tho resolutions COM
mittee this year was of a new kind.
1t was the earnest sincere effort Of q
body Of men. not widely apart as 10
essentials, TO reach the most salts
factory sSreement as 70 details There
was no contest raging about any single
fundamental issue. no irrepressible con-
nict, no impossible ehasm, as the sill
yer issue forced into both national con-
VentIons in 1896.
Il was rather an enterprise in bridS-
ing the chasm. in patching up ancient
differences, in getting to a common
ground Of undertaking. The commit
tee began with determined purpose
that It would make a unanimous re
port. The more the difficulties develop
ed, the more radical leaders and CON
servative alike were determined TO get
together and solidly support whatever
should come out. 1t was a tremendous
task in intellectual mosaic construction.
Many members Of the committee had
conferred with Mr.. Bryan. and knew
Just about the irreducible minimum or
progressiveness that he would accept
without injecting his personal views in
some such fashion as Judge Parker
did. with the famous gold standard
telegram Of 1904.
Pleasing to All.
There were the conservatives Of the
East, the radicals Of the West, and the
big labor vote all to be satisfied, as
well as Mr.. Bryan. It must be a plat
form of accommodations and adjust
Iuents, yet IL must not be q mere series
OF compromises. not apparently, at
least, for Democracy is TO stand on the
claim that It alone has a definite pro-
gram, while il is the Republican party
which has lodged md compromised.
In all the hours Of its work and the
task kept the committee in session most
Of the time for fifty hours, il grew IN
creasingly evident that the guiding star
by which TO steer the course must be
the policies Of Theodore Roosevelt. His
program, especially those parts Of 1t
which had failed to secure the sanction
OF the Chicago convention, must be
made the foundation and the corner
stone OF the Democratic structure.
Then" il was urged hundred times
in the discussion, IF they tell US we
are too radical. we will read fror-. Roose-
veIts messages; # they call US social
lists we will defend ourselves out Of the
speeches Of the man who is the great
est asset OF the Republican party"
And so, as the hours and hours Of ex-
hausting effort passed. the members of
the committee more and more realized
that the chart Of their safe course must
be that laid out by Roosevelt, for the
Republicans legislative craft to sail
The safe measure Of radicalism must be
the measure set by the Republican Pres
ident.
Defiant Of Foes.
Unconsciously at first this view came
at last 70 be frankly accepted by the
men who were making the platform
In the end there was candid realization
of the striking fact that the magnetism
which had drawn the two factions OF
Democracy together, and the cemen;
which held them together, were the
magnetism and the cement provided by
the Republican Presidents leadership OF
national thought And it was on this
basis that the committee was at last
able to complete the great task to tht
satisfaction of all its members.
The platform, as finally adopted by
the convention. is identical with the
advance draft Of the platform published
in the Washington Times yesterday
with these additions, including a re
vised anti-injunctiOn plank.
Campaign Publicity.
forced succession in the Presidency
is scarcely less repugnant to public
sentiment than is life tenure in tha
office. No good intention on the par
Of the Executive and no virtue in the
one selected can justify the establish
ment OF a dynasty The right Of tbs
people to freely select their officials l.
iuaIienabIe and cannot be delegated.
We demand Federal legislation for
ever terminating the partnership which
has existed between corporations o.
the country and the Republican partI
under the expressed or implied agree
meut that in return for the cOntribu
ton CT great sums Of money where
with to purchase elections they should
be allowed to continue substantially un
molested in their efforts TO encroaCl
upon the rights of the people
Harriman's S75o,ooo.
Any reasonable doubt as to the ex
istence Of this relation has been for
ever dlSpclled by the sworn testimony
Of witnesses examined IN the ingur
ance investigation In New York. am
the open admission, unchallenged b.
the Republican national committee. o
a single individual. that he himself a
the personal request OF the PepublI
can candidate for the Presidency raise,
over a quarter Of a million of dollar
to he used in single State during III,
closing hours OF the last campaign.
In order that this practice shall h
stopped for all time. we demand III
passage of a statute furnishing witt
Imprisonment any officer or CORPORA
ton who shall either contribute on be
half OF. or consent to the contribution
by a corporation, Of any money or thinj
OF value TO be used in Curthering tn
election of a President ana Vice Presi
dent OF the United States or of an,
member of the Congress thereof
Cash Register" Refused
We denOunce the action of the Re
publican party having complete con
troll Of the Federal Government, 70
its failure TO pass the bill. Introduce
in the last Congress. to compel tn
publication of the names Of contributor