Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-30
.HANDLEY ADDRESS
THRILLS At BEACH
Candidate for Congress Delivers
Convincing Speech to Voters
at Santa Monica X
WAR ON WITH PLUToCRACY
Tariff, He Says, Should Be Taken
Out of Politics for Bene-
fit of Public
WAR ON WITH PLUToCRACY

Lorin A. Handley received an ovation
at Santa Monica last night, where he
delivered a remarkable speech in con-
nection with his candidacy for congress
from this district. He was warmly
congratulated, not merely by the Dem
ocrats who heard him, but as well by
many Republicans of the Santa Monica
bay district.
His clear-cut arguments on the ma
tional policies which the Los Angeles
representatives in congress must be
posted on and his fearless manner of
meeting them brought out frequent ap-
plause. The eloquent appeal for con-
sideration for the old soldier proved
! especially popular with the audience.
In his speech Mr.. Handley said In
part:
THE fundamental principles of
Americanism are passing through the
most trying tests today that they have
had since the foundation of the re-
public. Overtowered by colossal
money power, many have feared for
our democratic institution. Peculiar
conditions confront, us in every line
of life. There is unrest-social un-
rest, moral unrest, economic and po-
| litical unrest. And people are de-
manding that changes be made to re-
lieve these conditions.
"There is no question about 1t, we
are living in the midst of war-a war
that Is beif4g waged with the weapons
| of peace. Anf If we fail-as we shall
not-but if we fail, 1t is the prophesy
| of no idle imagination that this con-
| fict will be concluded with engines OF
| destruction.
Senator Bristow caught the vision
and said, in other words, that less than
this has caused revolutions woodrow
| Wilson, Princeton's president, sees it
and warns us that unless we correct
the present iniquitious inequalities,
america would stagger through fields
| of blood like France. LaFollette and
Folk have recognized it, and with
burning patriotism plead with our peo-
pie to arise from their lethargy and
break down the barriers that threaten
our internal peace and domestic pros
perity.
FIGHT THREATENS PLUTOCRACY
| "Men may fear and men may warn,
and they ought, but am an oPtimist.
1 have an abiding faith in the virility
of American citizenship. 1 believe that
when once the danger is realized the
people-the supreme power in this ma
| tion yet-Will rise and destroy the
1 corporate control of our government.
democracy is waging war with
| plutocracy, and that, too, with the
people as a whole against the dishon-
est money interests of the country,
and this fight is to regain control OF
| the government for the people
1--WE have but to read the platforms
| of the two great parties to see that
the progressive men of each are stand
| ing on the same ground, and on these
| general principles the lesser parties do
not greatly differ. 1t is truly demo-
cratic battle-democrac against aris-
tocracy. The sole question, therefore,
before the people of this country is the
choice of able, honest and efficient men
who will serve the people faithfully
| in positions of public trust.
I'm the legislative department IN
which 1 am particularly interested at
| this time the battle is against an un-
scrupulous control of the house of rep
resentatives by the speaker. Cannon
ought to be and will be removed. But
il is not half so important to remove
Cannon as it is to demolish Cannon
ISM Walter Smith of Iowa, or any
man of his type, would be as great
calamity to congress as Cannon him
self. 1t is the system that must be
done away with, and the best way to
get rid of system is to get rid of
the men who represent that sytem.
The voice of the people should be heard
in the halls of congress and no power
should be allowed to stifie that voice.
'"There are public questions upon
which any man seeking the suffrage of
his fellow men should speak fully and
frankly.
'First, the tariff. This matter is
uppermost in our minds, not only be-
cause of the high cost of living result
ing from the Payne-Aldrich bill, but
because of the colossal pertidy and in
fidelity to the people on the part of
a nd in making
this law. With deliberate promise to
revise the Dingley law downward in
the interest of the consumer they ac-
tually increased the tax burden on the
people in the interest Of the big busi-
ness. -
1.-THE tariff ought to be taken out of
politics. A non-partisan commission
should be created by congress to deal
with the recurring problem and take
it out of the shameful hands of bar
tering craftsmanship. Tariff schedules
should be fixed upon scientific basis
and let every schedule stand upon its
own merit. The difference in the cost
of production at nome and abroad is
the only natural and normal method of
levying a tariff. Any more is unjust
to the American consumer, any less is
unjust to American labor. This tariff
commission should be responsible di-
rectly to congress. Congress is the
lawmaking body and congress should
have all the facts; and so should the
people,
"The chief Importance of such tar
iff commission will be found in Its
steadying influence upon industrial
conditions Every two years and par
ticularly every presidential election
disturbs business and threatens panic
because so much of our industrial life
is founded upon artificial conditions
and they tremble at every election and
the ordinary trade activities are stulti-
fed. Common sense and common JUS
tice demand that we put our business
on a sane and sound basis and remove
1t from the tumultuous field of politics.
Another matter, and one affecting
the Seventh district of California, is
the fact that a continuation of the
present system of tariff bartering will
create public sentiment so strong
against those industries depending on
such methods that not even just pro-
portion of the tariff will be granted
to them, and the only safe course for
such industries as we are developing
in the Seventh district of California is
4 =. er,. cell