The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1910-07-21
REPUBLICAN PARTY is HOPE
LESSLY DIVIDED.
Champ Clark, Democratic Leader,
Tells Why Republicans Will be
Defeated.

Tells Why Republicans Will be
Defeated.
Champ Clark, leader of the demo-
cratic minority in the house and the
most conspicuous candidate for speak
er of the next house should the next
house be democratic, was interview
ed in New York recently. To the
questions submitted he dictated the
following replies:
us the republican party really di-
viesng into factional camps and prin-
ciples that will keep them separat-
ed?"
Eyes, the gulf which separates
men like Dolliver, Cummins. Bris-
tow, La Toilette, Nelson, Cooper,
Murdoch and Madison from men of
the Aldrich-Cannon type is as wide
as that which separated Dives from
Lazarus
lis the democratic party getting
together on old time democratic prin-
ciples, and, if so, is the progressive
element controlling the harmonizing
forces?'
Eyes, to both sections of that
question. Democrats everywhere
are becoming enthusiastic once more
for old-time democratic principles,
and those who are in favor of keep
ing the party abreast of the times
will be in control.
do you expect working major
ity in the next house?"
Most assuredly. / don't believe
the republicans can raise enough
money to elect the next house, al
though they will spend a vast
amount of it no doubt"
IF the democrats in the pending
contest for control of the house
should present definite, progressive
program, what would be it's chief
features?"
''Reduce the tariff to a revenue
basis; cut down the appropriations
to the wants of the government eco
nomically and effectively admins
tered; restore our merchant marine,
not by ship subsidy, but by a return
to the wise measures by which the
democrats made it the glory of the
high seas for half century; inves-
tigate the waste, extravaganza and
corruption of the departments of
every branch of the government SER
vice; force thorough and honest
criminal prosecution of the trusts,
which have done so much to increase
the cost of living; they should be
taught that criminal statutes are in
tended for the punishment of big
criminals as we'll as for small ones
big ones preferred. Force the dis
charge of every superfluous taxeat-
er now upon Uncle SAINTS pay-rolls.' y
What do you think of Tafts first
year as PRESIDENT"
ION the whole it has been a dis
tinct disappointment. He went into
Office with the good wishes of the
entire American people. When he
failed to force revision of the tariff
downward, his reputation received q
tremendous jolt. from which it has
not yet recovered. 1t is true that
he regained some of it during the
last six weeks Of the last session
but nevertheless his status is not
nearly so good as it was March 4
1909
Some good bills were passed a
the second session of the siXty-firs
congress, but whatever of good legis
lation was effected at that session i
overbalanced by the evil of the out
rageous tariff bill enacted at the eX
traordinary session and the presi
dent could have cured the enormitie
of that bill or could of stood forth il
history as really great man by We
toing it.
'Jeffries could not come back, ant
it remains to be seen whethe
Colonel Roosevelt can"
What do you think of the rail
road rate bill as finally passed b,
congress?"
ut is better bill than the Hep
burn bill The Wickersham bill, a.
sent to congress, was awfully bad
1t was chopped to pieces and i'm
proved, and most of the choppins
and improving was done by the dem
1ocrats and insurgent republicans.
do you find the mass of thu
voters better informed in detail OF
ithe essential issues of the time thai
they were few years ago?'
They certainly are. By reason o
improved mail facilities it is safe t.
say that five voters now read dali,
or weekly paper where one dit
some twenty years ago. The news
paper is great educator, and tn
multiplication of newspapers is on
.rof the astonishing phenomena OF thl
phenomenal age"
'.What part will the Payne-Aldric,
tariff bill play in the campaign?
1.-The decisive part 1t will b
what the French call the piece d
resistance. Republicans promised t
revise the tariff down. On tina
promise they won. Having gotte
in they revised it up.
SIN the impending campaign tn
overshadowing questions will be
Are men in seeking office under an
obligations to tell the truth; is it an
less dishonest to secure offices b
false pretense than to obtain proper
ty in the same felonious manner
Promises made by men to carr
elections should be religiously live
up to when they are intrusted wit
power. Any other theory is dishol
est, dishonorable and un-American
''Will the high cost of living be a
issue that will rebound to the benet
of democrats?"
'.Of course it will, for it can
don, IN of ratod havond the shadow