Los Angeles herald., 1908-02-14
FIRST BIG
GUN FIRED
FOR BRYAN
WISCONSIN STATE CONvEN-
TON IN SESSION
JOHN r. DOHERTY SOUNDS KEY,
NOTE OF CAMPAIGN
Revision of Tariff and Protest Against
Policy of MiItarism Urged-Jef-
fersonian Principles Strongly
Lauded by Speakers

Free trade is gone--nothing but free
soup remains.
Protective tariff and favored railroad
rates have been the twin agents which
brought about the Industrial combinations.
The Democratic party must go into this
campaign with protest against the policy
of militarism and war
In the application OF Jeffersonian princi-
pies l believe lies the real hope for the
success of this republic"
By Associated Press.
MILWAUKEE,, Feb. 13--The Demo-
cratic state convention to name dele
gates to the national convention at
Denver was called to order this after
noon by State Chairman H. II. Man
son, who introduced John F. Doherty
of La Crosse as temporary chairman.
Mr.. Doherty, in sounding the key
note, lauded the principles of govern
ment proclaimed by Jefferson and
made respondent and illuminated in
the light of that master intellect, Will
liam j. Bryan"
Among other things, the speaker said
the Democratic party should demand
a revision of the tariff. He said:
I'm the application of Jeffersonian
principles l believe lies the real hope
for the success of this republic.
False ideas may thrive for time.
The intervention of political acci-
dent may give an undeserving party
a limited lease of power, but Just as
sure as this government will continue
to live, just so sure will the people
finally assert themselves, just so sure
will they demand justice and equal
opportunity for all men.
What Triumph Means
Let us not entertain the notion that
the triumph of Democracy means nee
essarily the triumph of the poor as
against the rich. 1t is natural that
such ideas should prevail.
Forty years of Republican ascen-
dency, forty years of high tariff, forty
years of legislation for favored inter-
ests, forty years of millionaire max
ing. with all the accompanying evils
of monopolies, pools and trusts, has
naturally brought to the support of the
Republican party the organized forces
of predatory wealth. while 1t has, also,
Just as naturally, brought from the
Democracy, both in platforms and in
the hustings, a bitter arraignment of
the money power. But we must not
forget that the Democratic principle of
equality does not mean equality in
wealth, equality in social standing,
equality in brain power, equality in
energy-that cannot be.
at means equality of opportunity,
and the limitation bears upon the poor
as we'll as the rich. Jefferson himself
was a rich man. and he countenanced
no principle that would array class
against class, rich against poor, en-
ployer against employed.
The Danger Today
There is perhaps today as much
danger, if not more that the man OF
wealth may be injured, that capital
may be despoled, as there is that the
poor man may be crushed under foot.
To do an injury or injustice to one
class is lust as un-Democratic as 1t is
TO do Injustice to the other. 1t is not
Democratic to attach stigma to the
word corporation 1t is not un-Demo-
cratic to honor the man of honest
wealth, of honest industry. the man
who is the employer of labor at honest
wages and who treats his employees as
men and not slaves.
First and foremost, the Democratic
party should go before the people in
the approaching campaign and demand
revision of the present tariff. Re
publican legislatures have petitioned,
Republican leaders pleaded and Repub-
lican newspaper have appealed for q
revision of the tariff. but these sacred
schedules still remain And they will
remain until an outraged public opinion
shall again place the Democracy IN
power.
Then will the full dinner pail
somewhat denied and marred, but
filled to overlooking by soup from the
panic of 1907, be consigned to its last
resting place in the graveyard of party
slogans. 1t will be buried under the
auspices of the Ancient Order of
Stand Patters and the uniformed rank
will march with muffled drums and
measured step to the tomb.
The Political Cemetery
There it will lie alongside of the al
most forgotten creations of the past.
On one side of the weather-beaten slab,
In letters faded and obscure, we may
read. The Foreigner Pays the Tax
Further up the slope, or DER new
mound in characters still bright ana
undimmed, will be the melancholy
words, The Tariff Should Be Revised
by Its Friends While yonder, where
q" 2 willow droops as if still weeping
the dead. we will see dim outlines
I y that was once Free Trade-FTee
So = but the free trade is gone and
not ,lg but free soup remains.
There. alongside it's fellows, The
Full Dinner PAIL will be consigned to
eternal rest, 'unwept, unhonored and
unsung.
while I believe trusts would exist
in certain products without a protec-
tive tariff, the protective tariff. coupled
with favored railroad rates, have been
the twin agents which have brought
about the industrial combinations
"And the Democratic party must go
into this campaign with a protest
against the policy of militarism and
war"
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Doherty's
speech the usual committees were APP
pointed, after which an adjournment
was taken until tomorrow afternoon.