Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1912-06-29

Reed of Missouri, presenting Speaker
Champ Clark's name to the convention
for the presidential nomination, spoke
in part as follows:
"We are here, not to nominate a
candidate, but to select president.
Today we shall contend, each against
the other; tomorrow we must be
brothers in battle for humanity
Ours Is high privilege and solemn
duty. 1t should be met in spirit of
exalted patriotism. Every considera-
tion must be subordinated to the great
cause of the people We speak not
only for party, but for nation, for
mankind and for history. We are about
to dissolve the partnership between
monopoly and government.
Sixteen years this partnership has
levied tribute under the forms Of law.
1t has taxed the crust upon the lips
of hunger. 1t has filched from the
pockets Of poverty. Monopoly has
financed the campaigns of republican
presidents. 1t has been rewarded by
immunity from punishment for viola
ton of the criminal statutes. The peo-
pie turn to the democratic party for
relief
"Republican candidates have re-
sorted to every form of false pretense,
every thick of demagoguery. In order
to delude the people, one of these can
didates has not hesitated to attack the
courts of law and to assail the tunda-
mentals Of our government.
I'VE recognize the truth that all
laws and the constitution itself should
when necessary be amended to meet
changed conditions. But we refuse
to assail the structure of our govern
ment or to incorporate intellectual
vagaries and fantastic experiments
into our Jurisprudence.
1--WE stand for government by law.
It is for this very reason we insist that
the law against illegal combination
must be vigorously enforced. Under
Roosevelt the trusts flourished as a
green bay tree; under Taft the tree
has grown and spread it's branches
until their shadow covers all the land.
Roosevelt's policies in all their funda'
mentals have been perpetuated by
Taft If either is elected, these policies
will continue.
No "Summer Soldier" Wanted.
"The situation is epic. In such a
struggle as lies before us, give me for
leader no summer soldier or sun.
shine patriot Give me no political
dilettante who comes into camp when
honors are most ripe to pluck. want
no half-fledged chanticleer who is only
Just beginning to acquire democratic
crow. Let me rather have for general
him who has suffered the hardships
of the camp, the tolls of the march,
the dangers of the field; who has
stood at the bloody angle: who has
1,roven his mettle in the baptism sof
fire. -
"Let me tell you of such leader.
He was not born to luxury. He sprung
from that stock which produced the
men who subdued the west, the people
whose hearts are instinct with patri-
otic love of country and liberty.
"We hear much today Of progress
sives. The term has perhaps never
been clearly defined But if you mean
by progressive one who studies con-
ditions. and recognizing an evil, brave
ly seeks for and applies a. remedy,
then I assert that this man has
record unsurpassed.
"He does not cling to thing simply
because it is hoary with age. Neither
will he embrace one because it Is new.
He Is conservative enough to believe
that nothing should be destroyed
merely because it has lasted a long
time. He is progressive enough not to
reject an idea simply because it is not
covered with the mildew of antiquity.
Clark Legislation Cited.
"Twenty-four years ago he placed
upon the statute books of his state a
law garding the secrets of the ballot.
"He advocated the direct primary
system twenty years ago, and applied
ii In his congressional district.
"It is thirteen years since he con-
tended for the enactment of the most
rigid corrupt practice act to be found
upon the statute books.
;zzssFive years ago he advocaed the in
itiative and referendum In his own
state He was not, as some others are.
disturbed lest the people should
destroy themselves.