The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-11-24
CONSERVATIVE PLATFORM


This country has had enough OF
present conditions and is looking for
a change.
It understands quito vel that many
things are wrong and wherein they
are wrong.
1t sees, for instance, that his CO
lossal accumulation Of wealth in the
hands of a few men is too great a
menace to the republic:
That the process of combination
and concentration of business threat
ems to extinguish the independent
tradesman and turn us into a nation
of hired servants of one great cen
tral power:
That one of the results of the pres
ent system is to impoverish the gem
erality of men for the benefit Of those
that operate the combinations:
That railroads like the Southern
Pacific, founded in graft and contin-
ued with iniquity, are taxes upon the
cost of living and the toll of the pro-
ducers.
That it is practically useless to try
to check these evolutions or remedy
these conditions by any more regu
lative laws.
Such being the case, here Is the
chance for some congressman real
ly desirous of achieving things TO
serve his times.
Let any insurgent in congress come
forth now with distinctive construc-
tive program and see the response he
will get. Let him, for instance, stand
for things sane necessary, and con-
structive like these:
/. A parcel post to knock out the
monstrous express graft. Then
.. The government to acquire and
operate the telegraph systems. Then
3. The government to begin at once
upon a comprehensive plan to acquire
the railroad systems.
These for a constructive national
program. 70 them should be added;
l. Election of senators by the poo-
pie.
2. Initiative, referendum, and recall
The only reason why some one in
congress does not announce this as
a definite and enduring policy is be
cause o the prevalence OF the rab-
bit breed of public men.
There is widespread idea among
members of congress and others that
in this country a public man must
be eternally vigilant about every
thing he says. He must be very eau
tious lest somebody suspect him of
deadly radicalism.
This is foolishness. The fact is
you need not be afraid TO say TO
the American people anything that
is decent provided only that YOU be
lieve it yourself-anything in the
world. The peril lies in saying some
thing that you don't believe. That,
in the long run, is dangerous busi-
ness. But II you truly believe any
thing YOU need not be afraid Of it,
nor afraid to tell it from the house
tops, nor to strive for it upon every
occasion. The chances are that the
people already know far more about
It than you do, anyway.
This idea of regarding the Ameri-
can people as an ignorant violent
herd. to be guided adroitly, and eau
tiously by Heaven-appointed geniuses,
is ridiculous to anyone that knows the
country as 1t Is.
Whatever wisdom there may be IN
the state is collective. No one man
is wise enough TO give orders to the
rest OF us. We have no need Of a
political monitor, guide, uncrowned
king, or perpetual president. All we
need is somebody in congress that
will have sense enough to stand for
the reforms that the people were for
long ago.
Some day there will arise a con-
gressman that will not care a boot
about his fences, his machine, his
convention, his denomination, his dull
party bosses, nor whether he comes
back or stays at home. He will cen