Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-12-22
No need TO WAIT Until
REPUBLICANS HAVE ACTED
Senator Owen, Of Oklahoma, Says Democrats Should Meet
First This Time

Washington. December 20-"I be-
lieve the time has come when the
democratic party should take it's
rightful place in the national as the
party of affirmation, with a positive
and not critical program. 1t
should no longer occupy the attitude
of a party criticising the opposing
party" declared Senator Robert j.
Owen, of Oklahoma, today.
THE republican party is no longer
in real power" he continued. The
American people have made up their
minds to put this trust-governed, mo-
nopoly-Controlled organization out OF
the governing business in this ma
ton.
Nearly half of the members of
that party are so disgusted with it
because of these conditions that it
has been impossible to restrain many
progressive Republican Senators and
progressive Republican members Of
Congress from expressing their dis
pleasure at this stand-pat organiza-
ton.
Offensive as 0ffer of Money.
THE spirit of fundamental Jeffer-
sonian Democracy is seething in the
heart of the Republican party itself,
and has given birth to the progress
sive Republican movement, led by
such honorable men as La Toilette,
Clapp, Cummins, Bourne, Dixon and
their associates in the Senate and IN
the House.
They stand, excepting on the pro-
tective tariff doctrine, for fundament-
al Democracy, although they are de-
signated Republicans. The idea of
reconciling these men to the so-called
regular Republican management by
the giving of Federal patronage, was
almost as offensive to them as if they
had been offered money.
"The Republican party is going
through rapid disintegration The
Democratic party will be triumphant
in 1912 and the Democratic party, in
my opinion, should assume the atti-
tude of the party of affirmation, as
serting its own policies, unmindful OF
the views or the pretenses of the
Republican machine
Why Care for Machine ActiOnl
"Why should the Democrats care
for the machine national platform
declaration? 1t is the same machine
that turned Cooper and La Toilette
down at Chicago, repudiated by al
most unanimous vote the proposed
plank in favor of physical valuation
of railroads. Why should the Demo-
Gratis care what this machine may do.
that refused by like vote to approve
the election of Senators by a direct
vote of the people, Notwithstanding
that 80 per cent of the United States
favor both these reforms.
THE Democrats should take a posi-
ton, leading attitude and let the
Republican machine criticise the Dem
ocrats. The hypnotic force of an ag-
gressive constructive policy on public
opinion will be very powerful. The
man who has bold policy to declare
avows himself worthy of leadership;
the man who waits to crtiicise such 4
leader confesses himself a follower
and not a leader. AS with men, 50
with parties.
Let the Democrats give proof OF
the faith that is in them by laying
down an aggressive constructive poll
icy, by having their national con-
vention meet first and making their
national platform with complete in
difference to what may be alleged i'll
the platform to be drawn by the
stand-pat Republican machine that
will nominate Mr. Taft"