The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1911-07-28
PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATES
u,,v RIG Business EntrenChes It.
self in Both Parties
QUIZ ALL ASPIRANTS
o..as,ory Interests Are Always al Work
evs,v True Democrat Should leLd a
Helping Hand in Selection

Tho friends of predatory interests
40 benefciaries of special privilege
end governmental favoritism are al
a"U at work, They never sleep. With
them politics is a business because they
make make the government a business ass It.
Rs a they give their favor to a party
thev must know the tendency of the
leaders of that party. Before they
Give their support to a candidate for
ssaice thew must know just where that
candidate stands upon every public
democrats will profit by the "l9O8
lesson" taught to Republicans since
.hat wear. The Republicans took Mr..
Roseyelt's word for the political dis
position of the Republican candidate
for the presidency and they have been,
naturally, greatly disappointed.
The only way to learn the opinions OF
public man is either from his public
record or from himself.
However promising to Democrats the
situation may at this time be, it cannot
be expected that the party will win II
victory unless it goes before the people
entirely free from special interests.
with platform that deals frankly with
public questions, and with candidate
whose record and present day attitude
Justify the hope that the people may
fairly count upon the party in the in
evitable contest between the public in
terests and special interests.
The San Francisco Star recently said:
working quietly and practically un-
noticed by the body of the American
people, the special interests are already
more than a year in advance of the
national conventions, planning to bring
about the nomination of Republican
and Democratic candidates for the
presidency. Big business, naturally
enough. prefers to have candidate in
both parties, so that no matter which
way the wind blows, it will win.
A number of men are being mention
ed as presidential candidates and several
Of them have admitted that they will
be pleased to accept the Democratic
nomination. The president may exert
great influence over legislation and the
formation of policies for the public
good. He appoints judges of the Su-
preme Court and o. the lower courts.
He selects Interstate commerce COM
missiOners who have considerable con-
troll over railroad rates. Upon his bent
Of mind politically the people must de-
pend largely for the character of the
public policies they are to have during
bis official term.
Some men imagine that the office of
president is such high one that the
candidate for that Office should not be
tatschised. As matter of fact the
voters ought to find one just where
every candidate for the presidency
stands upon the important public ques-
lions; and no man who is in any degree
worthy of that high office will refuse
70 give candid answer to courteous
questions put to him concerning his atti-
tuGe on current public affairs.
The COmmoner suggests that it's read
ers put questions to those who are in
Inc attitude of candidate for the Demo-
cratic presidential nomination. Every
student of public affairs will be able to
frame his own questions, but for con-
venlence sake and by way of sugges-
uon, The Commoner submits some of
Tue queries that may in all fairness be
,oiered to every man who is regarded
candidate for the Democratic NOM
nation. If their answers are uncertain
.oo ambiguous they may be set down
~ n friendly to some particular interests.
,ne genuine reformer is not afraid to
speak out. Every candidate is, to be
su!e, entitled to his opinion, but the
rop'e nave the right 10 know what it
y IN order that they may act intelli-
gently when they come to choose their
partys candidates for the presidency.
~ Commoner readers everywhere are
NV t;Ss'sed to submit the various presiden-
ia H.. candidates questions something
hke the following.
10 you favor tariff for revenue only?
~ 70 you favor free raw material and
ms MUG pacing of revenue duty only on
manufactured goods?
tha ~ you believe that in the revision Of
sh' s ,tarlff the element of protection
'yua De given consideration?
.h. ~ you believe that the three bran
hss VI government are co. ordinate and
so rs ;acn one should keep within its
s0rmsututional sphere?
OH you approve the recent Standard
SrmSsclslon wherein the United States
"nr 'eme Court legislated the word
antitrust act? INV VIC
hsl . you favor the repeal of the Grim
yon S S'suse OF the antitrust law or do
CONF 'leye that in view of Supreme
/ sI0. legislation Congress should make
opissSa mat all restraint of trade is
hs Am vu believe that it is the duty of