The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1908-07-15
CHAIRMAN BELL
Delivers the Keynote Address at the
Opening Session.

Opening Session.
Theodore A. Bell of California. in
assuming his duties as temporary
chairman of the national Democratic
convention. sounded the party key
note as follows:
We 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 sen.
sitive to every political movement
and our proceedings here will be APP
proved according to the degree of sin
cerity appearing in the work OF this
convention. There Is widespread
belief, founded upon evidence OF con-
Vincing character, that the party IN
power has not been true to Its trust;
that 1t has betrayed the common In
terest into the hands of the enemies
OF good government, thereby forfeit
ing It's right and destroying its ability
to rule in the name of the people.
There are three things that this
convention should do. 1t ought to
present in plain and intelligible
manner the serious Industrial and
present conditions that are disturbing
the peace and happiness OF our coun'
try. we should then proceed to a
courageous exposure OF the Republi'
can policies that are cooperating with
private greed in the general oppres'
sion of the people. Most important
of all, we must exhibit readiness
and an ability to grasp problems of
tho hour and to effect their solution
in manner that will satisfy the So
Der, common sense OF the muititudes
whose intereste are at stake.
No rational man can be opposed to
corporations as such and the asser'
tIon that the Democratic party Is wag'
ing an indlscriminate war against this
convenient form of transacting bust.
ness has no foundation In fact. 1t is
abuse only OF corporate power that
we seek to eliminate.
Viewed in the light OF great moral
institution. the control OF corporations
should remain question OF common
concern rather than political one.
but tho shameful complacence
of the Republican party in per.
mitting its forces to be controlled and
operated by the most offending cor
porations OF the country throws the
problem into the political arena and
compels !he public to choose between
the Democratic party. that WILL and
tho Republican party that will not.
place some restrictions on incorpo-
rated greed.
Further amendment TO our laws
irving the federal government super
vision over tho Issuance of railroad
stocks and bonds is demanded.
The fixing OF transportation charges
and the control OF issuances OF rail-
road securities are inseparably con.
nccted with the actual valuation of
railroads. Tho Democratic party be-
lleves that the first thing to do is to
gccure a physical valuation of the
roads, thnt Is n valuation OF the solid
rathor than tho liquid assets OF rail-
road companies. While on the other
hand the Republican party, on n roll
call in tho convention, by an over
whclming vote, took an unequivocal
stand in favor of systom OF water
rates without giving the people tho
benefit OF a meter
The Democratic idea is that whero
the tariff enables the trusts to main
tain a system of extortion the duty
should bo removed from all trust
made goods. so that competition from
abroad may compel reasonable prices
to our own people. There is vast
difference between the protection Of
American industries and the proteG.
tion OF criminal monopolies,