Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-01-17
Meet to Celebrate Because
it is Already
Here.
SPEAK AT BALTIMORE
Champ Clark, Senator Bailey
and Governor Harmon Dis
CusS Party Affairs.

Baltimore, Md, Jan. 17.-Prominent
democrats from all sections of the
country today took part in the Jackson
day celebration. Governor Harmon,
Champ Clark, and Senator Bailey
were the principal speakers today.
Bailey declared that nationwide
harmony and a wise settlement Of the
tariff problem in the next congress
would be the controlling factors that
would lead 10 democratic success in
1912.
HARMON GIVES IDEAS.
Governor Harmon gave his ideas on
tariff revision. He favored a fair dis
tribution of tariff taxes and not a dis
tribution among manufacturers of the
rights TO collect tribute from the con
sumers."
CLARK Is HEARD.
Declaring that the gathering of demo
Gratis was not for the purpose Of
achieving harmony but for the main
tenance of harmony already achieved,
Representative Clark warned the demo
cratic conference that much remain
ed to be done TO assU> democracy
a secure hold on what il already has
attained Even more was necessary,
he cautioned. to make certain of the
further political gains which he de
cared TO be due the party.
RATHER G.. O. y, DEFEAT
when we analyEe the figures of
the last election" he said, "it will be
seen that the result was not as much
a victory for the democrats as a de
feat for the republicans. Our success
was the result largely Of the stayat-
home vote Therefore. we are really
in a state of probation The country
has concluded to give us another
chance to demonstrate our fitness 10
conduct the government after 16 years
of exclusion from power.
Really we are in a state of proba-
ton We hold our destiny in our
own hands. We have a golden oppor-
tunity Coupled with it are grave re
sponsibilities. We are equal to the op-
portunity If we meet the responsible
tiles with wisdom, courage and pa
triotism, we will have a long lease of
power"
WAS A SURPRISE.
At the outset of his remarks Mr..
Clark admitted that the victory of No
vember was a surprise to the rank and
file of the democratic party. He added
that with the inspiration born of vic
tory the party had more than an
even chance of sweeping the country
from sea to sea in 1912"
This glorious result can be accom-
plished' he continued, by the very
simple process of carrying out reliG-
iously the promises which we made in
order to win last November Even
II we were not disposed 20 redeem our /
promises as a matter OF principle. I
when We look upon the wreck of the
republican party we have most val /.
uable object lesson of the low state
TO which a great organization may fall
by failure to live up 10 its promise,
because all those having eyes see and
having ears hear. know that the c. o. .
p was brought TO deaths door be
cause in 1909 ii failed 10 do what in
1908 it promised 10 do. Unless we de
Slie 10 SNARE us IdlS We WOulu az wen .
not to follow its bad example"
NOT PARTY OF NEGATIoN
Resenting the imputation that the .
democratic party was a party Of ne
cation, Mr. Clark pointed out that
Thursday of the present week would
see the democrats OF the house in con-
ference in Washington to select the
democratic members of the ways and
means committee. This accomplished,
he said. the members would proceed TO
the consideration of the tariff and
when the next congress convened
there would be ready a systematic and
thoroughly considered plan of revis-
ion
There are two ways of revising the
tariff" he continued, "one by a gen
eral bill. the other by particular bills
for particular schedules, or even par
ticular bills for particular items. The
consensus of opinion among the demo
Gratis seems 10 be that the latter is the
preferable method and that we should
proceed 70 revise il by separate hills.
taking the most obnoxious schedules
first"
NO ILL-ADNISED TINkERING.
There is 10 be no drastic OF in-ad-
vised tinkering with the tariff laws.
Mr.. Clark assured his hearers. and he 7
referred sharuIy Ia criticism, that any