Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-01-13

troll had been achieved, when along
comes his fidus Achates with confess
sion of utter failure by his party, his
president ard his congress to accom-
plish the needed reform.
And these have had the hardihood to
aver that the Democratic party is not
constructive!
This confession, then, opens again
the whole question Of rate regulation,
waterad stocks, rebates, discrinira-
tions, pools, corporate control Of poll,
tics, greed for dividends and the trust
competition issue.
Fifty years of Republican govern
mental supremacy have not suficed to
even make good start toward the
solution Of the problem. Shall not the
minority in the congress rightly claim
attention by the country to its offer
ings on this subject? Shall not It
profit the nation to reread the Democ-
racy's declarations in the late cam.
pGign? Shall not radical Democrats,
too, tell their reactionary brethren
that this is not the time for stand still
SO called Democrats to be given right
Of way for 1912?
Permit this citation Of fact-that
Bryan received 100000 more votes in
1908 than Parker had in 1904 and that
Taft had paltry 1900 more than
Roosevelt in that same year.
1 have heretofore noted that it was
obvious that a well ordered plan is
being quietly put into operation to cap
ture the Democratic organization for
the next national campaign. de-
sire to remind these political gentle
men that hitherto the radical Demcc
racy has been quite tenacious of their
views, has not been easy prey to Sc
cret manipulators and has kept In
mind faithfully that this contest now
being waged is one eternally central il,
all great political struggles, a fight be-
I tween those who would and have been
able to use government for their own
selfish ends ard those who would re-
store government to the people.
Enlisted For a War.
Gentlemen, please keep in mind that
! lack of votes on Nov 3 last year did
not alter the convictions of those Bry-
an followers ard that they don't care
| one fig whether one man or another be
their candidate so long as he has the
| love Of GCd in his heart ard love of
his fellow man dominates his political
activities. You will make better politi-
cal guesses if you remember these
! basic facts.
| "It was for war, not for CAM
paign or BATTLE" these radical Dem
ocrats enlisted.
| Really l had almost forgotten the
| tariff. which in these days, like the
poor, we always have with US. We are
| RECALLED with stories of strengthening
of "peace pacts" between Cannonitcs
and Taftites, with occasional muttcr-
inSs against keeping the tariff in poll
tics. am disposed to the opinion that
before long we will witness the adop-
ton of some plan for settlement of
this issue outside the domain OF parti-
san politics. Surely all who observe
doings here devoutly hope fer such a
day.
! In Ohio Charles 2. Taft continues to
attempt to collect his senatorship from
the Republican party in return for his
contribution of-well. considerable dol
lars to the late campaign funds of his
distinguished brother. And Theodore
Z. Burton has broken out a. Toledo in
diatribe against bosses in politics.
Having known street car magnates In
politics IL Cleveland, those who tried
with Mr.. Burton TO crush Tom L.
johnson and succeeded in part, the
Ohio congressman should be an expert
OF political bosses. When tried on hiE.
he doesn't like It. No wonder
Washington. D. G.
WILLIS J. ABBOT.