Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-09
SEEKING TO REGAIN
CONFIDENCE OF MASSES
Thomas M. Osborne Outlines Pur-
poses Of the Conference.
PARKER ADDRESSES MEETING
Edward M. Shepard, Permanent Pre-.
siding Officer, Advances Creed
of Political Principles.

SARATOGA, N. Y, September 9-De-
mocracy's proposed rejuvenation, under
taken by a committee of democrats who
are not in accord with the party's pres
ent management in New York state,
promises interesting developments during
the conference which began a two-day
session here today.
The organization leaders were not in
yited to this conference, although those
instrumental in bringing it about de-
clared that the gathering was not
against the present party organization
or against any leader, state or national
but was rather to forward the true in
terests OF the democratic party.
Democracy, they said, defeated In the
state. with a few exceptions, in elections
since 1892, is seeking to point the way to
high state of efficiency in the organiza-
ton as a means of commanding the con-
fidence and loyalty of the masses of the
party, and eventually putting the state
: again in the democratic. column.
Prominent among the conferees are
Alton B. Parker. former chief judge Of
the court of appeals and democracy's s
presidential candidate in 1901 ex-Justice
Herrick. who ran for governor the same
year; Edward NJ. Shepard, who was de-
feated for mayor of New York by Seth
Low; Thomas NJ. Osborne Of Auburn, ex-
Gustice Morgan ]. O'Brien, Augustus
Wan Wyck and District Attorney Jerome.
Purposes Of Conference Stated.
In calling the conference to order
Nhomas NJ. Osborne outlined the purposes
Epf the meeting as follows:
The first question which naturally
erises and ought naturally to arise in
VI hA f.A -
self in such an assemblage, is this: Who
ARE we?
"And the next question, inevitably fol-
lowing, is the one SO admirably and sue
scinctly formulated many years ago by
that celebrated Texas statesman: What
tAre we here for?
THE answer to the first question is
brief. Who are we? We are democrats,
democrats, let 1t be frankly admitted. of
many varieties We have here those who
have held Loyalty to the party organiza-
tion and voted the straight ticket through
fair weather and foul. through good re-
port and evil. ever since they began to
vote at all; and that strong sense of
party fealty-that steady and unwavering
loyalty to an institution-is in its way a
very noble thing. And we have also
here those who have kicked at the party
platforms and bolted the party nominees
know they are still democrats is when
they look at the republicans passing a
tariff bill; and that frank and sturdy
independence of spirit and scorn of COM
promise with conscience is also in its
way very noble thing. And we have
nearly every possible variety of demo-
crat that can exist between these two ex-
tremes.
Common Aim Of Delegates.
But in spite of our many diversities we
meet here with common bond and a
common purpose-else is this gathering
objectless and futile. Whatever our di-
rersity of action may have been in the
past, we meet with common bond of be-
lief in certain fundamental political prin-
ciples. and in politics, as in religion, the
beliefs we hold in common with others are
OF vastly more Importance than those in
which we differ. And we meet with a
common purpose-to sink our differences,
and from this moment. uniting if we may
with our fellow-democrats. to do all we
can to assist in lifting our party In this
state from the deep Slough of Despond
into which ii has fallen. We believe that
by doing each his individual share our
united force can go far toward making the
New York democracy once more powerful,
respected and successful: powerful IL its
basic principles be duly formulated into
politics, respected and successful IL or
ganized under men respected and worthy
Of respect"
Judge Parker's Appeal.
Judge Alton B. Parker, who was Sc
lected for temporary chairman, discussed
at length the increased expenses of ma
tional administration. denounced the new
tariff law, favored amendment of the
law regarding primaries and pleaded for
the enlistment of the young men of the
state in the cause of the democrats He
continued.
'All are no. less interested in honest
politics. in economy. in the discussion of
principles. than were their predecessors.
Appeals must be made to them as in q
crisis-the conditions of politics, the real
purposes of designing men must be ex-
posed, and there is not a county or dis
trict which under the new conditions will
not develop its own intellectual leader,
ready and willing, as of old. to unite with
lke-minded men in every other commu-
nifty in county or state for promoting the
od-time aims in the old-fashioned way.
But 1t will be useless for us to at
tempt such task unless we are ready
to make sacrifices, to recur to the good
methods Of other days and to use all
the newer ones. to fight for the resora-
ton of political interest and activity in
the mass of our people. and for a de-
parture from the methods under which
the thinking and action and the direction
of public affairs are left in the hands of
the few"
To Create, Not to Criticise.
I'VE are not met to propose a new
party or new organization. or to con-
denim our own party, whatever its short
comings,'' said E. M. Shepard. who was
chosen permanent chairman. quite the
contrary; for. although we ought to be
fair in dealing with our adversaries as
well as amply frank in dealing with our
selves. nevertheless, we have not met
to abate one jot or title of hostility to
the methods and policies Of republican
administration. We are met instead as
men who. because we are democrats In
political faith, would by preference al
ways be democrats at the polls, and to
that end wish our party always to be an
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