The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-10-24
Senator Piles Speaks
To Large Audience

OOA'SoIOu "ooGcIly pOlIGlCoi duuiCoo
at Odd Fellows ball Wednesday even
ing to the largest audience ever
assembled at political meeting in
this county. The big hall was packed
with people who paid the closest
attention to the senator's address
from beginning to end. Music was
rendered by the Friday Harbor band
and rousing campaign song was
sung BY the Glee club auartette of
the Taft club. of Roche Hsrbor.
consisting of Hon. John S. McMillin.
L. M. Harper, Paul H. McMillln
and Mr.. Mann. To the accompani-
ment of piano. violin and cornet they
sang song of their own composition
entitled "Ring the Bell" which was
heartily applauded.
Chairman Gould. of the County
Committee, presided and number Of
the candid ates on the county ticket
occupied seats on the platform. In
introducing the senator. Mr.. Gould
suggested that his aid be enlisted to
secure from the government a portion
of the Point Caution military reserve,
Friday Harbor. as site for permanent
buildings Tor the University summer
school of biology. The senator
expressed himself heartily in favor of
the project and promised to do all in
his mower to aid it at Washington.
if called upon.
Senator Piles began his address
Immediately after the Glee club song
by saying that "it has been a great
thing for the people of this country
that Teddy has been ringing the
bell. and that the great work which
he will leave unfinished will be taken
up by such an able successor as VIM.
H. Taft.
"The Democratic party" said the
senator. has offered no great issue.
It shifts it's issues in all campaigns.
having one issue today and another
tomorrow-if what it advocates can
be dignified by the name of issues.
The ancient democracy fought along
steady lines when it had as it's leaders
such statesmen as Allen G. Thurman
and Stephen A. Douglas and it then
stood for principles worthy of atten-
tion. Under the leadership of Bryan
it has abandoned its oldtime princi-
pies and become party of mere
expediency, catering to the passions
and prejudices rather than to the
reason of the people.
''In 1896 the paramount issue
with Mr.. Bryan was the free coinage
Of silver at the ratio of 16 to /. The
conservative element of the Democra-
cy repudiated the platform and set
up an independent ticket. Though
defeated on that issue then, Bryan
reaffirmed the same doctrine in 1900.
when he was again defeated. Then
he made tour of Europe and when
he returned he made a speech in
which he declared for the government
ownership of railroads engaged in
interstate commerce. But the Repub
lican party crushed out the free silver
heresy and there is no mention of it
in the present Democratic platform
nor does it say anything about gov
ernment ownership of railroads. 1t
declares in favor of the guaranty of
bank deposits and so does the Repnb-
lican platform in this state. Aud
vet when this very question came up
in the United States Senate last Nav.
upon the amendment to the Aldrich
bill offered by Sena tor Nelson. Of
Minnesota. to provide such guarantee
only three Democratic senators voted
for it-Senators Owen and Gore. Of
Oklahoma, and Taylor. of Tennessee.
Eleven Republican senators. of whom
1 was one. supported the amendment. :"
The senator then discussed the
declaration of the democratic plat
form against the issuance of iniunu
tions in industrial disputes and chall-
enged any Democrat to tell what it
means. He charged that it is incon
sistent and insincere and if followed
would be class legislation of the
most vicious kind. The principles
involved IN Judge Taft's decisions
were clearly stated and strongly
defended.
Party differences on the tariff
question were briefly outlined and
the results of protective and free trade
principles illustrated. The statement
| was made that in 1892. during the
Republican administration Of Presi-
dent. Harrison, when our factories
were running full time, the per capita
consumption of wheat in the United
States was six bushels. In 1904. under
the Cleveland administration. "when
the Wilson German tariff bill had
shut up the factories Of America and
opened those OF Europe the consump-
| ltion Of wheat in the United States tell