Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-11-02

Sea otrt. n. j.. oct. 10. l9l2.
20 the Voters Of Arertoas
an glad to have an opportunity TO state very
simply and directly Why an seeking 70 be elect
Cd President Of the United States. feel very
deeply that this - not an ambition o man should
entertain for his own sake. He must seek 20
serve q cause. and must know very clearly shat
cause II Is he 4s seeking to serve.
The cause ! an enlisted In lies very plain
20 my own view. The Government Of the United
States, nov bound BY the policies which have
become Characteristic Of Republican adnintstra-
t4on IN recent years >. 10 not free TO serve the
whole people impart1ally. and - ought TO be set
free. Il has been tied up, whether deliberately
or merely BY unintent iona1 devel opnent. stth
particular interests. which have used their pow
or, both to control the government and TO oon-
troll the industrial develop OF the country.
II be freed from suoh entangl enents and al
a1ances. Until - Is freed. 81 cannot servo the
people az o whole. Until II So freed, II cannot
undertake any programme OF social and economic
eetternent. but must bs checked and thvarted at
every turn by Its patrons and masters.
In practically every speech that make.
pus,at the front OF what have 70 say the ques-
tion Of the tariff and the question OF the trusts
but not because Of any thought Of party strategy.
because believe the solution OF these ques-
t1ons to lie et the very heart OF tho bigger
question. whether the government shall be free
or not. The government 10 not free because II
has granite Cd special favors TO particular classes
BY means OF the tariff. Tho men TO whom these
special favors have been grant cd have formed
great combtnat ions by which TO control enter-
prise and determine the prices OF commodities.
They could not have done this had It not been for
propose TO teke away these special favors and
prevent monopoly absolutely In the markets OF the
country oven much as the most elementary
part Of the method by which the government 10
TO be set FREQ.
The control to vhioh tariff Legislation has
1ed. both IN the field OF politics and IN the
field OF business, 1s what has produced the most
odious feature Of our present political sttua-
tton. namely, the absolute dominate ION Of power
ful bosses. Bosses cannot exist without bust-
ness alliances. with them politics IL hardly
distinguis shable from business. Bosses maintain
their control because they are allied With men
sho wtsh their assistance IN order 70 get con-
tracts, In order to obtain special legislative
advantages, in order TO prevent reforms whioh
will interfere with monopoly or with thetr en-
3oyment OF special exempt ions. Merely as polit-
4oal leaders, not backed BY money. not supported
by securely tntrenched special interests, bosses
would be entirely manageable and oomparattvely
powerless. BY freeing the government. there-
fore, We at the same time break the power OF the
boss. He trades, he does not govern. He
ranges, he does not Lead. He sets the stage for
What the people are TO do; he does not act as
their agent servant. but as their director.
For him the real business Of politics 80 done
under cover.
The same means that Will set the government
free from the influences which nov constantly