Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-09-29
Judge Delivers Keynote
Speech at Democratic
Convention. s
FLAYS PROGRESSIVES
Murphy in Control of Majority
of Delegates, but HeSitateS
as to Candidate.

Rochester, N. 2, Sept 3s.-The
democratic convention was called to
order by Chairman Dix at 1907.
Judge Alton B. Parker was made
temporary chairman and delivered
a speech.
Party Has Opportunity.
Judge Parker in his address said:
The democratic party stands con-
fronted with the opportunity and the
duty to render patriotic public service
Of the first magnitude. The fathers
builded for US a government under the
control of the people. Into the con-
sttution they incorporated those great
principles of liberty, the denial OF
which had been the cause and the
justification Of the revolution. They
so divided the powers OF government
as to guard against executive usurpa-
tion; put 1t beyond the power of any
save the people themselves to amend
this constitution, and sat down to en-
Joy the blessings Of a government OF
law, not Of men.
Dictator is Feared.
This was less than a century and
"a quarter ago. Today there are polit-
ical prophets in other lands who pre-
dict for US a speedy coming of the
dictator. There are in our beloved
country advocates of the policy to
gradually take from the people the
home rule powers Of the states and
confer them upon the federal govern
ment. Others, still more progressive"
would not await the action of the peo-
pie, but would seize coveted powers
whenever the passing whim or caprice
Of an executive shall suggest it. In
deed, a president of the United States
has said in substance and effect, that
If We fail 10 increase the federal pow
er through executive action, through
legislative and through judicial con-
struction. and Interpretation OF law,
we show our impotence. On divers oc-
casions he fitted the deed to the word,
and subsequently rejoiced in the ap-
plause of the unthinking.
Il Not Alone.
Nor is he alone in this advocacy.
Other champions there are of the doc
trine that the people of the states and
their officials are less competent to
ecutive branch of the federal govern
ment, the courts share therein being
particularly obnoxious. According to
this school, as large a share as can
be of the powers Of congress and the
courts shall be taken from them, and
ultimately lodged in the federal exec.
utive.
For. says their leader. in his ad-
dress to the Hamilton club, This new
nationalism regards the executive
power as the steward of the public
welfare This means that the legisla-
tive and the judicial departments OF
are no longer to be coor-
dinate departments of government, ex-
ercising their powers independently.
but are to be subordinate TO and con-
trolled by the steward of all power
the executive.
Il Great Unrest.
How comes this assault thus early
in our national life upon the most
wonderful instrument ever struck of
at a given time by the brain and pur-
pose of man? How is II possible 20
gain followers in such a cause? The
answer is, there is a great unrest
among the people. And why this un-
rest?-with the national wealth mount
ing higher and higher. with work for
everyone. and the people all enjoying
a greater measure of comfort than do
the people of any other country?
Partly because the cost OF living
Is mounting still more rapidly than
income and wages. The salaried man,
he wage Garner, the people with small
Incomes, whether from investments,
farming or business, find It yearly
more difficult TO make both ends meet,
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