The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-09-27
THE PUBLIC FORUM.

The Sickness of the Democratic Party
That the Democratic party in Ma
tional affairs has fallen to a state OF
inefficiency is not the accusation of
its opponents, it is the confession OF
Democrats themselves. At Saratoga,
New York. week before last, several
hundred Democrats of the state met
in conference for the purpose of find
ing. il possible, some way of restor-
ing the vitality of the party in state
and nation. The conference might
well be likened 10 a consultation OF
physicians over a sick patient. First
the members had to diagnose the
disease and then suggest a remedy.
Mr.. Thomas NJ. Osborne and Mr.. Ed
ward NJ. Shepard, two of the con-
spicuously philosophical men in the
state, who have rendered great pub
lie service, both found cause for
Democratic decline in the character
of the leadership. In other rela-
tions of life." said Mr.. Osborne, zone
does not look TO gather grapes from
thorns or figs from thistles," and
he declared that the only way 20
bring success to the Democratic
party was to intrust its political ma
chinery to men of intelligence and
character. And Mr.. Shepard warned
the Democratic organization of Neg
York City, which as everybody
knows. consists in the main OF UNI
savory Tammany Han and its no
more savory Brooklyn rivals, that IL
would only injure the party in state
and nation If it should give offense
in the character of the men it was
about to nominate for city offices.
In the first place, then, it is patel-
that many hgh-minded Democrats
thoroughly distrust their party lead
ers. In the second place, there was
some feeling, evidently, that the
Democratic party had been unfof-
tunate in its declarations of prime
pies. Some evidently felt that the
party was prone to attempt the re-
lvivification of dead issues; others
principles it had espoused. The
conference adopted a platform which
included strict construction of the
Constitution. support of legitimate
federal activities, resistance to fed
eral encroachment, tariff for revenue,
economy, popular election of United
States senators, nomination and cleo
ton reforms Though not specifically
direct nominations), anti-imperial-
ism, federal income tax. and. most
sifinificant of all the confinement of
the creation, taxation. and regulation
of corporations to the states. If
Democrats wish to seek reasons for
the inefficiency of their party. they
need look no further than this plat
form. The absorDiag problems of o.
day are those concerned with indus
try-the concentration of wealth. the
organization of capital. the rights
and powers of labor, the protection
of the natural sources of wealth and
their proper use for public Renen..
The struggle is between those VINO
wish to let industry remain unregt
lated and those who are determined
that the nation shall be sovereign
over its creatures and preserve its
own possessions. That struggle is
vital and real one. and, politically, II
is keenest within the Republican
party While this vital struggle Is
in progress. the Democratic party
has stood aside. In this Saratoea
platform there is but one reference
to this whole industrial problem, AMI
that is the futile suggestion that
corporations though they be nation
al in scope, interstate in activities,
and bulwarded by the federal courts.
should be left to the supervision Of
the states. AS soon as the Demo-
cratic party takes a stand on one
side or the other of the great s;rus-
gle that is paramount in this coun-
II try. IL will become Vitalized; but I'M
4 Ill II does that it is negligible. The
Outlook.