The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-09-24
Veteran Leader Makes Ring
ing Address to Editors
At St. Louis
DEMOCRATIC VICTORY
ASSURED FOR THIS YEAR
Failure to Keep Pledge of
Revision of the Tariff
Do"nw"rd .aaIk

St. Louis, September 23.-Preliminary
to the opening of the fall campaign in
Missouri, nearly 200 democratic editors
from all parts of the state attended a
banquet here tonight and heard Con-
gresham Champ Clark outline the is
sues. His speech was considered the
keynote of the forthcoming political bat
tie.
The editors were members of the DEM
ocratic State Press association, which
convened this morning Former Gov. A.
M. Dockery was one of the speakers at
tonghts banquet.
While the democrats were in session
the republican editors were holding a
convention in another hall.
Champ Clark spoke in part as follows:
1.-THE circumstances which surround us
presage a democratic victory. Demo-
Gratis In the House got together and
fought together during the year 1910, and
thereby set a wholesome example to
democrats throughout the land.
For more than a year democratic
prospects have grown brighter until we
seem to be on the eve of sweeping
victory We Missourians have a right to
felicitate ourselves for the fact that Mis-
souri, led the way in the democratic re-
vival by sending my brother Dickinson
to Congress at the mid-winter special
election by nearly double the majority
received by his lamented and exceed
ingly able predecessor, Judge David De-
Almond, at the last preceding general
election.
Great Victory Ahead
1--WE want to win such victory this
fall as will put hope into every demo-
cratic heart betwixt the two seas and
make the elections this year and two
years hence duplicates of the elections of
1880 and 1892 The quarrels among the
republicans are similar to what they were
then: conditions are much the same now.
as then. At that time they. were loaded
down with tariff bill so obnoxious that
It could not be defended and they are
In the same woeful plight now. Why.
then. should not the results now be sim
liar to the results then? 1t is said that If
we carry the House we must shoulder
responsibility. OF course, we must, and
where is the democrat craven enough to
fear or shirk responsibility?
1--WE are admonished that if we will
only let this election go by default and
thereby leave ourselves in position of
no responsibility, the republicans will
continue to fight among themselves,
which will enable us to win everything
in 1872 II we are such fools and towards
as not to be willing to assume such re-
sponsibility with republican President
and with a republican Senate, how can
we convince men that we have the
sense, courage and patriotism to control
the House, Senate and the presidency
for the welfare and glory of the re-
public?
Taft's Letter to Mckinley
1.-THE Presidents letter to Congressman
William B. Mckinley reads very much
like a motion for a new trial In a case
which has been decided against him. Their
PROMISES to revise the tariff down were
Of their own making, their failure to re-
wise the tariff down was their own doing.
They sinned away their day of grace and
TO them is peculiarly applicable the old
saving, The mill will never grind with
the water that has passed
IT will not weary you with quoting
tariff rates. Suffice it to say that in my
Judgment, SO long as a tariff law COM
rounded of specific and ad valorem rates
stands on the statute book levying an
average of 1872 per cent on blankets, cheap
blankets which everybody must use, and
an average of 1O6 per cent on womens
and children's dress goods and on nearly
every manufactured article in proportion.
the agitation for reduction of the tariff
will go on.
ut is constantly charged that the demo-
Is not true If entrusted with power, the
democratic programme would certainly
include:
Democratic Programme
.'First. the reduction of the tariff to
revenue basis.
.,second, we would increase our trade by
reciprocity treaties with foreign nations,
particularly with Central America and
South America and with Canada.
nh lich q IL
o. GUS offices.
Fourth, we would cut appropriations TO
the needs of the government economical
lv and effectively administered.
..Fifth, we would restore our merchant
marine to its ancient commanding posi-
ton on the high seas which democrats
once gave to 1t.
sixth, we would submit constitu-
tional amendment providing for the cleo
tion of United States senators by pop
ular vote.
Seventh, we would strengthen the anti
trust laws and enforce them in every
feature. especially enforcing the criminal
part of them so energetically that the
violators thereof would cease their nefari-
GUS operations
Eighth, we would enact measures pro-
viding for a real, comprehensive
conservation of our natural resources.
"Ninth, we would provide for the i'm
provement of our vast system of water
ways on an adequate plan to make it
real and most valuable factor In our COM
mercial growth and prosperity.
'cTenth we would set the nine COM
mittees on expenditures in the nine de-
partments Of the government to work in
earnest and industriously discharging
their duties by finding out and exposing
the extravagances of the republicans,
thereby digging out the facts on which to
base economies
Challenre Withdrawn