The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-06-28

by a progressive one who studies con-
ditions. and recognizing an evil.
br9vely seeks for and applies a rem
/ edy, then ! assert that this man has
a record unsurpassed.
| He does not cling to a thing sim
| ply because 1t is hoary with age.
Neither viii he embrace one because
| IL Is new. He u conservative enough
TO believe that nothing should be
DESTROYED merely because II has last
ed long time. He is progressive
enough not to reject an Idea simply
because it is not covered with the
! rniidew of antiquity.
| He believes that all changes de-
mand sober consid Ter alton. but ne rec
| ogn!zes that changing conditions de-
mand changes in laws, and that wise
statesnanship embraces the idea or
steady and consistent progression.
| / 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
+r1rsr ana nEost stringent antitrust
statue ever enacted In the United
States. It 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 statue books of his state
! Jaw regarding the secrets of the bal
I BOT.
/ He advocated rhe direct primary
system twenty years ago; and applied
! II In his congressional district.
ed for the enactment Of the most rigid
corrupt practice act 20 he found upon
! the statute books.
Five years ago he advocated the
initiative and referendum In his own
state. He was not as some Others
| are disturbed 1esr the people should
destroy themselves.
As early rs tss5 M declared for the
direct election of senators. Five times
has he voted for that measure, and
! for years in congress has been It's
DISTINGUISHED advocate
| During all of his long public service.
he has been one Of the most valiant
/ champions of tariff reform.
| place before you this record, made
/ nor when lust Of office lures, but writ
ten in the story OF the years, and
I craven upon tts puutfc statutes Of
the country: and l challenge compari-
son.
| 1t is not a record Of protestation
! and promises. of faith without works.
/ but il is record Of performance, or
/ faith crvstalli2ed into acts.
! All his life this man has been
| Democrat. He has not been an occa-
| sional Democrat. Fl does not belong
to that classeof Democrats who steal
out o. nights, sleep In strange polit-
lea beds and then come trailing home
about the time they can smell the
breakfast bacon frying.
tYa is nor a. fair weather soldier. he
has marched In the procession when
there was no band 10 lead, He did
81 60 s,<,e % fnO2fRn he vol
ar oered for life.
Forty wears ago, he cast his first
! ballot. He has voted the Democratic
ticket ever since. and voted II
straight He has done so, not from
prejudice of opinion, or servility of
mind. but because he knows that not
withstanding all mistakes, ali blum
ders and all shortcomings, the Demo
cratic party was. and is. the one sin
gle force standing to defend the tenn
pie OF liberty and equality.
In every campaign from 1872 to the
preser- hour, this soldier has been In
every battle. He has never removed
his uniform. laid down his sword. or
taken a furloUgh.
In the great campa ign OF 1895. when
desertion thtnned our ranks and dis
aster engulfed our hopes. he helped
to raise our banner on rhe stricken
field. and stood with those who cried,
/ Courage Courage Justice is inn
mortal Courage. soldiers of the De-
| mocracy! Grid up your loins for bat
, ties vet to come
saw him then, grim. determined.
undismsyed. | heard his clarion voice
| ring forth without a single note Of
| fear.
I | saw him upon other fields, when
i days were dark and the long years
/ heaping despair to many stout and
/ loyal heart: and vet there does not
| live a man who ever saw him quit his
/ post 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
| prevail"