Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-12
SOUNDS GOOD TOH|M
James R. Garfield Accepts Ap-
peIIation of lnsurgent.
ANNOUNCES HIS PLATFORM
Outlines Real Danger Which, He
Thinks, Threatens the Re.
publican Party.

CLEVELAND, Ohio, July 12.-Jame.
r. Garfield. former Secretary of thu
Interior. in a speech delivered las,
night before the newly formed Pro
gressive Republican Organization OF
Cleveland. set forth the platform upor
which the insurgent element Of the
republican party will enter the fall
campaign in this state Mr.. Garfield
announced his acceptance Of the appel.
lation of insurgent."
Mr.. Garfield declared that the natior
stands today in a critical situation
that problem confronted the country
whether the fight of the progressives
was TO be carried to successful issue
or whether they were to surrender and
admit that government for and by the
people was a failure. He said in part
Like the prodigal youth, we as q
nation have wasted our resources, sold
our inheritance, acquired evil habits
but, fortunately. We have realized the
need or radical changes in time to save
ourselves.
Choice Between Two.
AT the coming election we are to
choose between two great national par
ties. The. democratic party, while de-
claiming against special interest, has,
when in power. allied itself with spe-
cial interests. Many Of its leaders have
been and are the recognized representa-
1--WE o,vns sts OF .s special interests. In our
ed to be on the peoples side in the
Tight for a public utilities bill and the
democratic senators defeated that
measure. In the recent democratic
convention the progressive democrats
were ignored. 1 can see no hope fol
better things from democracy as now
controlled.
How is it with the republican party?
1t likewise has among its leaders some
interests; but on the other hand 1t has
progressive. aggressive leaders who are
the peoples representatives.
Country in Debt to insurgents.
THE country owes a debt of gratitude
to the insurgents in Congress who made
the fight against the domination of spe-
cial interests. and who placed the COM
mon good high above party regularity.
THE real friends of conservation relied
upon insurgents and their progressive
allies for the protection of the public do
main against the assaults of special in
terests.
'1nsurgent senators prevented the pas
sage of the Alaska bill, which, in it's
original form, might have turned over the
untold wealth of Alaska to q favored
few"
Having dealt in a general way with ma
tional problems and continuing his eulogy
Of the insurgents, Mr.. Garfield took up
special state problems. The recall, regu-
lation of corporations. workmen's COM
pensation act. the strengthening of child
labor laws and the development OF a
canal system were the principal planks
In the platform which he put forward.
Lauds the Recall.
In regard to the recall Mr.. Garfield
said:
There is one method Of dealing with
public service which demands our most
earnest consideration, namely. the recall
believe it to be the most direct, most
efncient way that the people have OF
dealing with the unfaithful servant 1t
is said that the recafl makes towards OF
public officers. I ask whether 1t is any
more injurious to the public welfare to
have an officer afraid of the people than
it is to have a public officer the servant
of a special interest"
Mr.. Garfield concluded his general de-
Tense of the republican party with a
warning against the reactionary.
1.-THE real danger to the party" he
said, comes from the reactionary who
Is controlled by special interests and the
standpatter who, because 1t Is the easiest
way, Is willing to return to the weak
policy Of laissez faire. To follow such
leaders means disaster