The San Francisco call., 1910-05-25
KENT PROUD OF
Being INSURGENT
Candidate for Congress Declares
for ROoseveIt=PinchOt
Policies
Campaign to Be Made Strictly
Along Anti=Administra-
tiOn Lines


welt and Pinchot and promising that in
the event OF his election he viii not
vote for Cannon for speaker. William
Kent Of Kentfeld has issued the per-
sonal platform upon which he will fight
Duncan AIcKinlay for republican nomi-
nation TO congress in the second dis
trict
Kent goes to the second district con-
gressionsl fight as a progressive and
an insurgent he purposes to make
the alleged betrayal of Roosevelt's pol
icies the dominant issue Of his hght
That his is an nti-administration fight
is freely admitted.
For himself Kent declares that he
purposes TO give the republicans OF his
district an opportunity TO record their
approval or disapprOyal of Taft. Here
is the personal platform which Kent
presented 10 a meeting Of anti-machine
leaders at Kentheld on Monday night:
Certain of my fellow citizens have
continuously urged that I go before
the republican primaries as a candidate
for congress from the second Califor-
mia district. Perhaps they feel that
the views ] hold concerning national
affairs are the views they wish TO eX-
press through their representative at
Washington. I have consented, and
here state some of the opinions which
viii 90 toward the making Of my plat
form.
FAVORS CONSERVATION
I DO not believe that present arti-
fetal conditions permit a fair sharing
OF our cOuntry's opportunities. l be-
lieve that the osevelt-PinchOt poll
cies OF conservation of our natural re-
sources against waste and greed are
the most necessary, insistent and i'm
mediate policies for our nation to en-
force by legislation and administrative
action. All our experience would prove
that the law is not rigid but flexible.
and that the Interpretation of the law
depends upon the animus of he inter-
prefer. As the obvious intent Of and
only excuse for the law is TO pro-
mote the general welfare, 1 cannot in
dorse the policy of stretching it 10
promote private interests against the
general welfare. Laws should be
passed concerning the public domain
that cannot be misconstrued by agents
Of greedy persons or corporations,
whether these agents be in or out of
public employment.
1T would seem obvious that congress
q sa self-respe body, should pro-
vide its own rules and methods OF
procedure. and should be free from
domination by the speaker. When that
domination is exercised against the
public interest it becomes doubfy in
tolerable If elected I shall not vote
for Joseph Canno for speaker or for
any man who holds his views OF
parliamentary organization or national
policy.
The Aldrich-Payne tariff law is in
my opinion violation of sound
economies and the republican platform
The burden is distributed in such g
way as oincrease the gap between
wealth and need. No tariff bill should
emanate from the counsels of its
benefciaries, but should be the produc
of a board Of disinterested experts
granted fullest powers and facilities
Log rolling is the most insidiou!
form Of corruption. If elected 1 should
consider that held a commission from
my district to- do my best for the whole
nation. What just and proper Nspecia,
service could be rendered the district
with this proviso. ] should be diligen'
in seeking TO perform. This is not Z
district that would ask its representa-
tive TO betray the nation for a chance
at the pork barrel.
WOULD DISTURB BUSINESS
Corporations are granted corporate
privileges that they may serve the gen
ersl welfare. With increasing power
they require more and more control
II is monstrous 10 suppose that, es-
Gaping moral responsibility. they should
partake Of the freemans politica
rights If to run the government Ol
TO attempt to run it is part of theil
business II is time that such 'busi.
ness should be disturbed
1T is beyond question that tn,
strength Of the republican party grew
out of the ideals OF human service
held by the founders and by Abraham
Lincoln. Such portion of the party a:
has entered into the service of specia
privilege is false TO the party's tradi.
tions and has 70 right TO assume tn,
name.
II my ideas seem independent ol
radical. and if. by any chance. 1 may
be listed as a prospective insurgent
] shall accept the epithet as a higl
compliment and shall hope that it may
be my privilege to bear some little aiC
to those who, while serving the nation
are incidentally tending to dignity auC
save the republican party.
WILLIAM KENT.
'Kentheld. Marin county. Cal, MAJ
%. 1910"