The San Francisco call., 1910-07-05
Eager for Fight


Representative Clark in his addres
said:
bring to you the glad tidings of
great JOY that the democrats in the
house OF representatives have laid
aside the weight which for years
did so easily beset US. that of fight
ing each other, and recently have
presented solid and united front
TO the common enemy. We are no
longer q feeble, wrangling, queru-
lous, dispirited body, but cour-
ageous, yigilant, virile, hopeful,
militant band, not only ready but
eager for the fray.
Special privilege, which Jefferson
fought in his day and over which
Andrew Jackson, Of blessed and
heroic memory, triumphed in his
day, is firmly intrenched in power
now through years and years of
republican maladminiStra tiOn and
can not be rooted out without
les thereof Will pour stream of
gold like unto the river Pactolus
into the republican Doodle tund,
with which to dsbauch the voters
Of the land and then recoup them
selves by more Of special privilege
granted by the men for whom they
buy the Offices. For years that end
less chain has been in operation
and il will continue TO operate
TIL our system of government is
thoroughly purged Of every variety
and every vestige Of special priv
ilege.
The tariff graft-one species of
special riVilege-became so often
SiVe that five or six years ago even
certain republicans became dissat-
isfed and began TO demand a re-
vision downward First there were
only what the doctors call sporadic
cases Of republican dissatisfaction;
but the republican dissenters in
creased so rapidly that IN the
spring OF 1908 Honorable Serene Z.
Payne, chairman Of the great COM
uittee on ways and means and ex-
officio republican floor leader IN the
house, was driven into declaring
that he violated no confidence in
stating that the republicans would
revise the tariff. His statement
was equivocal, as he did not say
whether the revision was to be
down or up, but considering all the
circun stances under which his ut
terance was made. he intended IL
70 be understood as q promise or
revision downward and. 10 do him
perfect justice, he claims that his
bill is q revision downward
UPWARD
Clearly he has been imposed
upon by his arithmeticians, for his
hill reVises il up about III per
cent on the average. His declara-
tion. however, did not allay the
clsmOr among republicans 1t
SWelleQ into EuGn a roar lndl WuSL
the republicans held their national
convention in 1908 they were
forced TO promise tariff revision
p in their platform. Again the prom
ise was eouivocal, as il did not
state whether the revision was 10
be up or down. But the demand for
tariff revision downward was so
strong and so insistent that ma
50ritv Of republican orators and ed
itors declared that the revision was
10 be downward On that promise
they won Having got in, they pro-
ceeded 10 revise it upward. SO that
in the impending campaign the
overshadoWing issue is whether
men in conducting a campaign are
under any obligation TO tell the
truth. or whether they are licensed
70 palter in a double sense-to
keep the word Of promise 10 the
ear and break ii to the hope.
Query: Is IL any less dishonest to
secure Offices under false pretenses
than to obtain money in that felon-
ious manner2
II we have the next house, as /
believe we viii have, we Will hon
estly and courageously report a bill
10 revise the tariff down TO a reve-
nue. basis, pass il through the
house and send II over to the SEN
ate. Perhaps by that time the SEN
ate, yielding TO the public demand
will also pass It. If IL does not, we
Will 20 10 the people on that issue
in 1872.