The daily sentinel., 1912-06-28

| STAND with the CONSUMERS OF tne lanu
against the interests"
We hear much today of progressives.
The term has perhaps never been
clearly defined. But if you mean by
progressive one who studies conditions
and. recognizing an evil. bravely seeks
for and applies remedy then ! assert
that this man has record unsur-
passed.
He does not cling to a thing simply
because 1t is hoary with age. Neither
will he embrace one because 1t is new.
He is conservative enough to believe
| that nothing should be destroyed mere
ly because 1t has lasted a long time.
He Is progressive enough not to reject
an idea simply because 1t is not cover
ed with the mildew of antiquity. He
believes that all changes demand So
ber consideration. but be recognizes
that changing conditions demand
changes In laws and that wise states
manshlp embraces the idea of steady
and consistent progression.
l challenge attention to his record.
When other men beheld the rising
power of financial combination. but
stood inactive and appalled,, his clear
vision not only saw the danger, but
applied the remedy, He drew the first
and must stringent antitrust statute
ever enacted in the United States. Ii
has stood the test Of all the courts and
become the model for other states to
| follow
Twenty-four years ago he placed
upon the statute books of his state a
law guarding the secrets OF the ballot.
He advocated the direct primary sys-
TEN twenty years ago and applied 1t
in his congressional district
1t Is thirteen years since he contend
ed for the enactment of the most rigid
corrupt practices act to be found upon
the statute books OF any state.
His Faith In the People
Five years ago he advocated the ini-
tiative and referendum in his own
state. He was not. as some others are.
disturbed lest the people should de
stroy themselves.
As early as 1885 he advocated the
direct election OF senators. Five times
has he voted for that measure and for
years In congress has been Its dlstin-
guished advocate.
During all of his long public serv.
Ice he has been one of the most valiant
champions of tariff reform.
| 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
ru I m ria
Ii Is not a record of protestation and
promises, Of faith without works. but
1t is record OF performance, of faith
crystalized into acts
All his life this man has been Dem.
ocrat He has not been an occasion
al 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
about the time they can smell the
breakfast bacon frying
He Is not fair weather soldier. He
has marched In the procession when
there was no band to lead He did moi
enlist for one campaign. He voun
teered for life.
Forty years ago he cast his first bal.
lot He has voted the Democratic tick
ct ever since. and voted il straight
He has done so not from prejudice of
opinion or servility of mind. but be
cause he knew that notwithstanding
all mistakes. all blunders and all short
! comings. the Democratic party was
and is the one single force standing to
defend the temple OF liberty and equal.
ity.
A Soldier In Every Battle.
In every campaign from 1872 to the
| present hour this soldier has been in
every battle He has never removed
his uniform. laid down his sword OF
taken furlough.
In the great campaign Of 1896, when
desertion thinned our ranks and disas.
ter engulfed our hopes, he helped to
raise our banner on the stricken field
and stood with those who cried: "Cour-
age, courage! Justice is immortall
Courage. soldiers OF the Democracy!
Gird up your lolns for battles yet to
Gomez
| saw him then. grim, determined
undismayed ! heard his clarion voice
ring forth without a single note OF
fear.
| saw him upon other fields. when
days were dark and the long years,
heaping disaster upon disaster, brought
despair to many a stout and loyal
heart. and yet there does not live a
man who ever saw him quit his posi-
or waver in the fight
Always and ever his face has been
fair fronted to the foe; always and
ever his cry has been: CLOSE ranks
and forward! The right will yet pre-
vailr
What wonder that party leadership
came and with 1t party victoryl
We had passed through dark days.
The election of 1904 left us without
control of single state legislature
north of Mason and Dixon's line. In
all that vast territory there was but
one Democratic governor. Our repre-