Los Angeles herald., 1908-07-08

THEODORE A. BELL
greeted with an outburst Of applause,
as was that of Urey Woodson, the Sec
Rotary.
Temporary Chairman Bell was es-
corted to the platform by COMMITTEES
of two delegates and spoke as follows
I'VE have assembled at time when
the public conscience is demanding
honesty of purpose in the men who
undertake to direct the affairs of
state. The public eye is keenly sensi-
tive to every political movement, and
our proceedings here will be approved
| according to the decree OF sincerity IN
the work of this convention.
There is widespread belief, found
ed upon evidence of a convincing char
acter, that the party in power has not
been true to its trust, that it has be-
trayed the common interest into the
hands of the enemies of good gov
eminent, thereby FORGETTING its right
and destroying its ability to rule in
the name of the people.
Apparent to everyone is the fact
that way down deep in the heart of the
Republican convention at Chicago there
was a feeling of anger and resentment
over the popular clamor for reforms;
and 1t is equally patent that there Is
no DO1a noe Ou lIlS pdib VI
the Republican party of granting any
reforms, if the machinery of that
party can De retained In present hands.
Its paper platform, divided like an
cient Gaul into three parts-barren
promises, makeshifts and evasions-lt
is hoped will make a good campaign
| transparency; but no one seriously be-
Iieves that the Republican party really
| indorses the neutral manuscript which
| held the convention together until It
could ratify the nomination OF a presi-
Dental candidate.
Would Protect Liberties
Approaching our great task in
manly manner, imbued with the lofti-
est sentiments of patriotism, ambitious
to throw every safeguard around the
liberties of our people, determined to
stamp out the abuses that are con-
Stunning the substance of the nation,
let us proceed to our appointed duty
with the sustaining consciousness that
we ara responsible alone to God and to
our country for the justice of our
cause.
There are three things that the
convention should do. 1t ought to
| present in a plain and intelllglpie
manner the serious industrial and po-
litical conditions that are disturbing
the peace and happiness of our coun-
try. We should then proceed to
courageous exposure of the Republican
policies that are cooperating with pri-
Vate greed in the general oppression
of the people.
exhibit a readiness and an ability to
grasp the problems of the hour and
| to effect their solution in a manner
that will satisfy the sober, common
| sense of the multitude whose interests
are at stake.
Among the great evils that affiict
the country at the present time is the
abuse of corporate power. At first the
advancing aggressions of the corpora
lions are not discernible to the COM
mon eye, for every move is carefully
/ covered up until sufficient political
strength is attained to defy the pro-
test of the people.
THUS the constant and insidious in
vasion of the peoples rights finally
results in a species of arrogance and
defiance so formidable IN its appear
ance that the body of the people, In
fear of even worse aggressions, hest
y tate to assert and exercise their right
full authority over these colossal enc
mics of the commonwealth.
And so we behold a subVersion OF
our free institutions, a government
voluntarily subordinating itself to self
ish private ends, special privilege re.
sorting to cunning, bribery and intimi
dalton to maintain its unholy power
! while the masses timidly hope tina
: when avarice has at last reached thu
point of safety 1t will then benevo
lently permit the people to RESUME
their rightful share in the government
of themselves.
whenever the mutterings of TIL
people become too threatening the or!
of confiscation goes up and appeal
are frantically made to the sacred
rights of property This is intended t
alright the hearts of honest men II
the enjoyment of the fruits of thei
industry and thrift and by thus play
ing upon their prejudices and fears t
deter them from casting their inf1u
enee upon the side of wholesome re
. form The cry of confiscation is tn
historic defense of usurpation.
Says Nation Is In Peril
Let the people take warning
Whenever the wrongs of today becom
the rights of tomorrow the nation i
! in deadly peril.
"The Democratic party is not tn
enemy of property; but to the con
trary, IL has always stood and will
continue to stand firmly against ever,
: species of aggression that would de
! stroy or weaken the right of any mai
to enjoy the rewards to which his pa
thence. his skill, his industry and hi
economy entitle him.
, "Our party approves that feeling o
/ pride which always accompanies tn
possession of property, and 1t com
: mends an individual ownership in tn
soil that will bring to the homes o
America more of the convenience
comforts and Inquiries of life. Agains
, the evils of special privilege we urg
the benefits of equal opportunity i