Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-08-12
In Hearty kCCOrt
With Platform.
SHALL THE PEOPLE RULE
That Is the 0vershaGOwlng
Question.
REPUBLICANS RESPONSIBLE.
REPUBLICANS RESPONSIBLE.
All Present Abuses a Result Of
Their Acts, end They Ar, I'm.
potent to Correct Them.

Mr.. Clayton ana Gentlemen OF the
Notification Committee: I can not ac-
ccpt the nomination which you official
ly tender. without first acknowledging
my deep Indebtedness to the Democrat
ic party for the extraordinary honor
which 1t has conferred upon Inc. Hav-
Ing twice before been candidate for
the presidency, In campaigns which
ended I'm defeat, third nomination, the
result OF the free and voluntary act OF
the voters or the party, can only DO OK
plaincd by II substantial aud undis-
puted growth In tue principles and pol
icies for which ], with multitude OF
others. have contended. AS these prin-
ciples and policies have given me what
ever political strength I possess. the
action OF the convention not only re-
news my faith In thenl, but strengthens
my attachment to them.
A Platform is Binding.
shall. I'm the near future, prepare a
more formal reply to your notification.
and, In that letter Of acce a lance, Will
deal with the platform I'm detail. 1t Is
sufficient, at this time, to assure you
that ] am in hearty accord with both
the letter and the spirit OF the plat
form. / endorse 1t In whole and I'm
part and shall. II elected, regard its
declarations as binding upon me- And.
may add. platform is binding us to
what 1t omits as we'll as to what It
contains. According TO the democratic
idea, the people think for themselves
and select officials TO carry out their
wishes. The voters are the sovereigns
the officials are the servants, employed
for fixed time and at stated salary
to do what the sovereigns want done,
and TO do IL In the way the sovereigns
want IL done. Platforms are entirely
In harmony with this democratic idea.
A platform announces the paTty's po-
sition on the questions which are at is-
sue; and I'M 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 n
platform which Is not satisfactory to
him, he must, IL candid, either decline
the nomination, or, I'm accepting II, pro
pose an amended platform I'm lieu OF
the one adopted by the convention. No
such situation, however. confroRts your
candidate, for the platform upon which
was nominated not only contains
nothing from which I dissent, but II
specifically outlines all the remedial
Legislation which we can hope TO Sc
cure during the next -four years
Republican Challenge Accepted.
The distinguished statesman who re-
ceiyed the Republican nomination for
president said. In his notification
speech: "The strength OF the Republican
cause I'm the campaign at hand IL the
fact that we represent the policies es-
sential to tie reform OF known abuses.
TO the continuance Of liberty and true
prosperity. and that we are determined,
as our platform unequlvOcally declares,
to maintain them and carry them on"
In the name Of the Democratic party,
1 accept the challenge, and charge that
| the Republican party Is responsible for
ali the abuses which now exist I'm the
federal government. and that It Is I'm
| potent TO accomplish the reforms which
hEt hHpeihllNely heeucu. l. ufAueIs
can not concur I'm the statement that
the Republican platform uDequlyocally
declares for the reforms that nro nee
essary: on the contrary, / affirm that ~
openly and notoriously dlsappoints tho
hopes and expectations Of reformerg,
/ whether those reformers be Republic.
/ ans or Democrats. SO far did the Re
publican convention fall short Of It's
duty that the Republican candidate felt
It necessary 10 add to his platform IN
several important particulars. thus re.
boxing tho leaders OF the party. upon
/ whose cooperation be must rely for
/ the enactment OF remedial legislation.
As I shall. in separate speeches, dis
cuss the leading questions at issue,
shall at this time confine myself TO the
| paramount question. and to the far.
reaching purpose Of our party. a. that
purpose IS get forth I'm the platform.
Shall the People Ruler
Our platform declares that the over.
shadowing Issue which manifests itself
In oil the questions now under discus
sion, is "Shall the people ruler" Nc
. 80 - -.