The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-08-22


to formulate the policy, enact the
legislation and control the govern
ment, and point to the election OF
1908 for proof. The protest OF every
man who voted for President Taft
and who Is now dissatisfied with the
presidents management OF public af-
fairs proves that for four years
minority has been the majority In
America.
The social Condition which we call
Democracy and which finds its avenue
OF expression at the polls through our
party, is unalterably opposed to special
privilege whether granted by the law
or seized by ruthless ambition. It is
true the mother of all special privilege
is the high protective tariff. All who
voted the Democratic ticket at the last
presidential election were unalterably
opposed to this system OF unjust taxa
ton and sufficient number of those
who voted the Republican ticket were
likewise convinced OF its iniQuity to
make an overwhelming majority
against 1t. Save a favored few, all
we're agreed that relief, to greater
or less extent, should be afforded to
the people from the unjust exactions
of this sytem. All knew that we could
not educate the people Of America In
discriminatory, enlarge their views OF
life and happiness and then by the
high cost of living deprive them of
their pleasures without making Of
American life seething caldron of
discomfort Theoretically speaking,
therefore, the majority Of votes, hav-
ing put party in power upon 2
platform. pledged to relieve the peo-
pie OF their burdens, has been ruling
under constitutional limitations But
this Is not so. Immediately after the
election the minority became the ma
jority In the sense that 1t assumed
control OF legislation with reference
TO special privilege. All the members
of the Democratic party and all the
protesting members of the Republic
AN party have been in the minority
when It came to counting votes where
lthe count fixed the cost OF living. It
may be said that this is mere acct
dent OF politics, single illustration,
and that it will not occur again. But
1t is no accident. 1t is only one Of the
many Illustrations 1t simply dis
closes the utter folly Of man remain
ing member Of a party when the
party policy ceases to voice his inner
spirit. The Republican party does not
recede now from It's protective theory.
It's return to power will mean again
the rule Of minority and the theo-
retical idea Of Democracy will continue
to be the practical aristocracy OF spe-
cial privilege IN this country.
Choice for the Voter.
The voter who cannot satisfy him
self this year is indeed censorious.
Eliminating the verbiage OF platforms,
taking their substance and viewing the
candidates placed on them, the voter
who believes that the cost OF produc-
ton at home and abroad should be
equalized to the manufacturer Of this
country and who wants an oligarchy to
rule, may vote the straight Republic
an ticket; the voter who believes in a
similar protective theory but who pre-
fers to an oligarchy that the president
shall be the state, may vote the Pro
gressiye ticket; the, voter who believes
this government should be turned into
q socialism, may vote the Socialistic
ticket; the voter who thinks that
church and state are not separate In
America and that the people have a
right to settle religious questions and
to determine by ballot what Is good
and what is bad. may vote the Prohibit
ton ticket; and all those who insist
that it is not the business Of the gov
eminent to equalize the cost of pro-
duction at home and abroad to the
manufacturer until it equalizes the diff
ference In the purchase price to the
consumer at home and abroad, who
believes that the only equalization JUS
tifable In our government is the
equalization Of opportunity, who thinks
that public Office Is a public trust, who
does not believe that disgruntled and
defeated politicians are genuine re
formers, and who think that reforms
are not born with sore toes, may
vote the Democratic ticket.
respectfully urge all those who are
opposed to special privilege to ally
themselves this year with the historic
Democracy, the cornerstone OF whose
edifice Is the Declaration OF hide
pendence and the keystone Of which is
the Golden Rule. At Baltimore, it
proved its right to be because there 1t
arose and by its proposed policy met
theNneeds and wants Of people,
Results Of Economic Injustice.
1t is idle for a thoughtful man ii
America, whether millionaire or pau,
per, to longer play the ostrich, Safe.
ty does not consist In hiding ones
head in the sands Of either sentiment
or hope. 1t is foolish for the vastly
rich to keep on insisting that more
and more shall be added to their riches
through spacious system of special
legislation ostensibly enacted to run
the government, In reality enacted to
loot the people. It Is worse than ig.
norance for them to smile at the large
body Of intelligent Americans who re.
gard themselves fortunate If the debit
and credit accounts Of life balance at
the end Of each year; and to assume
that the mighty many, who are becom-
ing convinced that that social system
which we call Democracy Is but gilt
tering generality, will long endure the
industrial slavery being produced. The
f0ur has come when natrfotfen1 ua,st