The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-10-01

In this connection | say and /
measure my words when say them
that have nothing but contempt and
execration for the methods that some
are using against the present occu-
pant OF the white house fApplause
on the Republican side. They do
not hesitate TO use eaaggeration, mis-
representation, and even falsehood.
in order to bring odium upon the
head of the nation Upon everything
that he proposes they cast suspicion;
they bclistle and ridicule without any
reference to the merits of the PROPOSE
ton or the suggestion that he makes.
They are even willing oftentimes to
exIose their own insincerity and lack
OF consistency in order, as they ex-
press 1t, that they may put the pres
ident of the United States in a hole
have not always agreed with the
policies of the present occupant OF
the white house, but recognize, as
believe every fair-minded man must
recognize, that never in our history
have We had president who was
more honest in purpose, more patri-
otto, more courageous in the advocacy
of that which he believed for the
highest interests of the people of the
United States than the man who is
president Of the United States today
Applause on the Republican side.
Mud singing. vituperation, and per
sonal politics are certainly to be con-
demned in every local election or
campaign; and If locally these things
are disgusting and should be con-
demned by every true lover of de-
cency, they are not to be commended
when they strive to rise to the dig
nifty of national politics. And / am
glad OF this opportunity. unhesitating-
~ and unqualifiedly, to condemn this
kind of politics, whatever its pur-
pose, no matter against whom it may
be employed.
And SO far as the government OF
the United States ceasing to be rep
resentative, / want to assert here
what every man on this floor knows
as well as / know, that there never
was time in the history of the gov
eminent of the United States when it
was SO completely representative of
the peopue as it is today. Every man
on this floor knows that any ques-
ton in which considerable number
OF the people are interested can get
hearing and fair hearing upon
this floor at the hands of the repre-
sentatiyes of the people. and that If
any measure is being demanded by a
ma jority of the people of the United
I States no power on earth can pre-
j vent its passage, whether that meas
ure be wise or unwise.
Some public officials may, perhaps
{ be justly charged with striving to be
+ too representative OF the people. In
stead of an attempt at leadership
there is often too much of a tendency
to be siayisniy subservient to the
/! popular demand. The result is toe
little craftsmanship and altogether
! too much naussating, demagogic poll
1 tics.
/ This is becoming known TO the PEG
pie as well as TO most of the mem
bership of this house. An experien
ced business man, friend of mine
puts 1t In these very caustic words:
The chief trouble Just now is thai
! there are too many men in public OF
4 yfoa .ri,a mo ovortrofpad &c 10 r.-.yor.
and politicians and undertrained a.
business men. A majority OF the
members of congress are inspired
more than anything else by desire
for reelection, and the commercial
prosperity of the United States is ;
secondary consideration AS it Seems
to be- popular 10 attack the business
Interests of the country, majority o
the congressman and senators ar,
competing with each other to see wht
can go to the farthest extreme in tina
respect. AS result the financia
situation is unsettled, capital Is timid
manufacturing interests are depress
J ed, and many laborers are out of EN-
ployment.
do not indorse to the full extern
these words, yet think there is
vast amount of truth in them.
\ But the present peculiar condition
of the public mind is only an illustra
ton of the fact that history repeat
itself In 1888 on the floor of tn
senate of the United States, DAME
: Webster, after picturfng the prosper
: ity OF New England at that time, use
: these words:
mr. President, such is the state Q
things actually existing in the cour
try, and of which / have now give
you a sample. And yet there are pei
, sons who constantly clamor agains
this state of things. They call
aristocracy. They excite the poor t
make war upon the rich, while i
8 truth they know not who are eithe
= rich or poor. They complain of OF
preston. speculation, and the perm
] cious influence of accumulate