The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1911-07-06
WE ARE KEEPING THE FAITH.
Speaker Champ Clark Says This Is
The Purpose of United Demo-
cratic Party.

Hon. Champ Clark, of Missouri,
speaker of the national House OF
Representatives made a speech at
Harrisburg, Penn, last week, which
should be read by every American,
for it rings true as steel. 1t should
he read by members of all parties
for it will do them good. In part
he said:
" Triumphant Democracy Is no"
tho theme of every tongue within the
broad confines of the republic. we
have laid aside the weight which did
m easily beset us-that of quarrel
ing among ourselves-and present =
solid front to the common zoe. Con
sequently from the mount OF victory
We this day look into the PROMISED
land which we will enter and possess
on March 4, 1913.
"When I remember what the
house Democrats were at the begin
ming of the Sixty-frst Congress-
vrangling, jangling, peevish, feeble
and despised minority-and how, oy
a conciliatory policy, we got togeth-
or. wrenched victory after victory
from our opponents, made OF our
selves the most superb fighting mi
noritY ever seen in Washington, and
established record on which we
swept the country in 1910, not only
electing Democratic house, put
capturing a half dozen senatorial
seats from the Republicans and
half dozen governors in northern
states, I assert without fear OF sue
cessful contradiction that no parn-
mentary minority in history ever
made a more splendid record. Every
Democrat who served in the house
of the Sixty-third Congress is en-
titled to his full share of the honor:
In the words of Admiral Winfield
Scott Schley, touching the battle OF
Santiago, There is glory enough for
ALL"
They All Saw Disaster.
"After our triumph in 1910 all
the Republican papers and orators
and many timorous Democrats de-
clared with one accord that we
would go to pieces so soon as the
new Congress was in session. In
fact, these prophets of evil were in
high glee when President Taft call
ed the extra session, because they
thought, hoped and said that the
extra session would precipltate Dem
ocratic dissolution. The new Con-
xress is now in the third month of
the extra session, and glory be! we
have not only not gone to pieces, but
have stood together shoulder to
shoulder, heart to heart, in such
magnificent fashion as to surprise
our friends and dumfounded our en-
emies.
eve have been sneered at for years
rs a party of mere negation, as ut
terly destitute of constructive ability,
and that sheer cost us dearly. BY
our deeds we have given the lie d.
rect to that monumental SANDER.
During the ten weeks that Congress
has been in session, Notwithstanding
the fact that we had in the very
nature of things to consume some
time in organizing this Democratic
house, we passed more bills in the
nature of constructive craftsmanship
than any other house ever passed
in the same time.
Sleep in Republican Senate.
''The Denver platform promised
Immediate repeal Of the tariff on
wood pulp, print paper, lumber, tim
her and logs, and that those articles
be placed upon the free list. So far
as the Democratic house is concern
ed that demand has been granted in
the reciprocity bill, and in what IS
popularly called the Farmers Free
List Bill" both of which now sleep
in the Republican senate. The IN
derwood bill to revise the wool and
wooden goods schedule will pass the
house in a few days. My prediction
is that it will also pass the senate.
Even those who do not think it goes
far enough, admit that it is step
in the right direction. In fact 1t IS
4 very long step, cutting the rates
on wool and woOlens ON an average
of about SO per cent. If the old
Droyerb that half loaf is better than
NO bread be true-and most people
think it is-it surely must be that
two thirds of a loaf is better than no
bread.
Ii 1.-THE Democrats of the house be-
lieve this is craftsmanship. We
know it is common sense. We have
abiding faith that the consumer OF
the land will indo1se our actions.
We could of rugged up bill so radi-
cal as to be defeated in the house,
or which, if passed by the house
would have certainly defeated by
Republican senate, and thereby con-
tinue the present exorbitant rate on
wooden goods; but believing that a
hill carrying substantial reductions
will become a law, and the cost Of
wooless will become thereby largely
reduced, and Tho American people
thereby more comfortably clad at
less expense, we could have justified
ourselves neither at the bar of public
opinion nor at the bar of our con.
sciences il we had thrown away the
opportunity of accomplishing the
greatest good for the masses within
0ur reach.
Win Garry Out Democratic Promises.
democrats are under obligations
to carry out Democratic promises.
We are also under obligations to
raise revenue enough to run the gov
eminent. In this bill We are dis
charging both these obligations, But