The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-28


II 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
people turn to the Democratic party
for relief
Republican candidates have resort
ed to every form of false pretensc.
every trick OF dema ogucry. In order
TO delude the people, one of these can
oidates has not hes'tated to attack the
courts Of law and to assail the fun
dameniais OF our government.
we recognize the truth that all
laws and the Constitution itself should
when necessary he amended to meet
changed conditions But we refuse TO
assa!i the structure of our government
or to incorporate intellectual vagaries
and fantastic experiments into our
Jurisprudence.
we stand -or government By law.
1t Is for this very reason we insist
that the Law against illegal combina-
ton must be vigorously enforced I'm
der Roosevelt the trusts t;ourished as
a green bay tree. under Taft the tree
has grown and spread its branches
until their shadow covers all the land.
Roosevelts policies in all their fun
damentals have been pcrpctuated by
TAFT. Ii either is elected these policies
will continue.
Tn. situation IS epic In such a
struggle as lies before us, give me
for a leader no summer soldier or sun
SHINE patriot. Give me no political
di!etant. who comes into camp when
honors are most g'lpe to pluck. | want
no hAlf-iiedged enanticlser who is only
f.fu y MI at ..
crow. Let ME rather have for gem
eral him who has suffered the hard
ships OF the camp. tha tolls OF the
march. the dangers of the fsid. VINO
has stood a the oloody angle. who
has proven his mettle in the baptism
Of fire.
Let me tell YOU of such leader.
He 0vas not born to luxury. He sprung
from that stock which produced the
men who suodued the West. the peo-
pie whose hearts are instinct with pa
triotic love of country and liberty.
We hear much to-day OF progress
s!ves. The term has perhaps never
been clearly defined. But If YOU mean
By a progressive one who studies con-
d!tions. and recognizing an evil, brave
~ seeks for nd applies a remedy. then
/ assert that this man has a record un-
surpassed.
He does not cling to Il thing sim
ply because it IS hoary with age.
Neither Will he embrace one because
1t is new. He is conservative enough
TO believe that nothing should be de-
stroyed merely because IL has lasted
long time. He is progressive enough
not TO reject an idea simply because
1t is not covered with the mildew of
antiquity.
"Twenty-four years ago he placed
upon the statute books OF his State
law guarding the secrets of the BAL
lot.
He advocated the direct primary
system twenty years ago. and applied
| it in his congressional district.
1t il thirteen years since he con-
tended for the enactment of the most
| rigid corrupt practice act TO be found
| upon the statute books.
rive years ago he advocated the
initiative and referendum In his own
state. He was not, as some others are,
disturbed lest the people should de-
stroy themselves.
AS early as 1855 he declared for the
direct election OF Senators. Five times
| mas he voted for that measure, and
Tor years in Congress has been its dis
| tinsuished advocate
During all OF his long public service
he has been one OF the most valiant
champions of tariff reform.
| I place before you this record, made
not when lust of office lures. but writ
ten in the story of the years and craven
upon the public statutes of the country,
and challenge comparison.
All his life this man has been A.
democrat. He has not been an occa-
| sional Democrat. He does not belong
| TO that class OF Democrats who steal
out o nights. sleep in strange political
| beds. and then come trailing home
| breakfast bacon frying
He is not a fa.r-weather soldier
He has marched in the procession when
there was no band to lead. He did not
enlist for one campaign; he volunteered
for life,
| His popularity is confined to no sec
ton. In his campaign he has remained
quietly at his post OF duty. He has not
afforded the spectacle OF presidential
candidate DANGEROUSLY paradng the
country with brass bands and red
lights. soliciting votes
| HIS campaign has been made by
| the people for him. 1t has been con-
Quoted almost without money and
without organization. He counts in his
column substantially all of the dele
gates of twenty-five sovereign States.
|
sea. and he will be supported here on
| every ballot by substantially all OF
the delegates from the territorial and
| insular possessions.
He carried his own state by a unan-
| imous vote. He carried every state
touching its borders. He carried the
| States touching borders with the home
| States of his distinguished opponents.
| He carried almost solidly that great
!
J With two exceptions he swept all the
| States west OF the Rocky Mountains.
II have said he carried these
| States: let me rather say, the loyal
Democracy. the Democracy that has
| :never gathered, that has with UNI
waverinE allegiance followed the
F., flag. carried them for him.
What ere the great Issues upon
! which We must fight the battle OF
lsl2? ls it not upon the record made
! ty the Democratic House Of Repre-.
scntatives" That record is a sto'y oil