Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1910-10-21
Campaign Issues.


live issues this year upon which
to wage their campaign. In fact
there are so many issues forced ON
the notice of the voters through
Republican sins of commission as
well as omission as to almost con-
found many voters. The campaign
book issued by the National Dem
Ocratic congressional committee IN
its table of contents places "The
tariff and cost of living" as tha
paramount issue of the campaign,
and Republican extravaganza"
as second in Importance.
The independent voter is more
than ever worth attention this
year, because of his greater num-
bers and his evident trend to-
wards Democracy. Nothing will
appeal more to independent vot-
er than the two leading issues as
mentioned above, for both touch.
the pocket, and after all it is the
material side that appeals in pol
iticS. But there are also great
moral issues involved in the tar
iff and in extravaganza. By reas
on of the tariff the tax is impos-
ed, and by reason of extravagant
appropriations much of the tax Ia
wasted. Such is evidently the
idea of Governor Austin L. Croth-
ers, of Maryland, who the Balti-
more Sun reports "has accepted a
number of invitations to speak
and who will make as many talks
as the duties of his office will per
nit" The Sun also publishes q
statement of Gov. CrOthers, out
lining the main issues upon which
he will speak, in which he says:
"The Republican party in its last
platform promised that if it were
again Instrumental with power it
would revise the tariff downward,
so as to lessen the burdens Of the
people. Its candidates won. Con
greSS assembled, and a shameful
reputation Of that primise was.
made by the enactment of the
Payne-Aldrich tariff law. In this
campaign the Republican party,
and its candidates, are confronted
by the failure to carry out this
solemn pledge to the people.
ga party cannot make a more
serious mistake than to violate a
platform pledge, as it involves the
embodied conscience of the entire
party adherance. AS a result Of
the failure of the Republican par,
tv to revise the tariff downward.
the cost of living has continued
: to increase, constituting a great
hardship upon the millions of the
tOiling masses and consumers Of
this country. The Payne-Aldrich
law has also served to enrich fur
ther the privileged masses, in
whose interests it was manifestly
passed.
at will not suffice now to
promise to relieve this over-bur.
dened and sinking ship by the
promise to cast Speaker Cannon,
the captain of the vessel, over
board. 1t is cOwardly for the Re-
publican party to try to visit its
sins upon Cannon alone. Cannon
is simply the product of the re-
cent policy and system of the Re-
publican party. He has stood up
firm for every move made by the.
party in the interests of the priv
Iileged classes. While it may teach
Cannon as an individual a valu-
able lesson, it by no means relieve
the party from the responsibilities
of the policy it has been pursuing.
Had Cannon served the people
with one-half the zeal he has serv-
ed the special interests, he would
not now be turned over naked to
! his enemies.
"The Democratic party; from
all indications throughout this
country, seems assured OF a tri-
umphant victory. The people are
: seeming to fully realize that there
} is no other way by which they
can be relieved from the burdens
: of exhorbitant tariff taxation sx-
5 cept by thu elect. on of Democratic
! candidates. They believe that
the tariff schedules shN1;,l'te re-
duced by the friends Of the con-
l sumer."
f j. P. Willis, Of Carrolton, Mo-,