The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1912-01-17

OF the public Will TOR reduced taxa
tion and consequently the reduced cost
OF living
The Republican party under the Re
ubllcan president, failed TO fulfill itf
pledges TO the American people. and
instead Of the bread OF genuine tar
IN revision downward they offered Ia
The people the stone Of the Payne Aid
rich tariff bill
Then came the election OF 1910, in
which the people expressed their re,
sentiment OF the unrulfiled Republican
pledge Of tariff revision and once
more voiced Their wishes upon this vi.
tai economic measure by the landslide
which oyerthrew Roosevelt and the
Republican party. and gave The house
oi representatives to the Democracy
so that there have been two
mandates from the people upon this
vital question. First. in the election
OF President Taft Second. in the Dem.
ocratic landslide-both definite and ex.
plicit In the demand for tariff reform.
Therefore. when President Taft,
against an overwhelming majority OF
the Democratic house or representa-
tives. and against pronounced ma
jority OF the Republican and Demo
cratic senate. strangled with his veto
the public Will. which called for tar.
IN revision downward. he used his
veto not more for the discontinue ~
the opposition party than for the do
nial OF the peoples will and the usur-
patton OF their right TO rule
For Representative Government.
Attacking this veto In three strong
and powerful speeches. Champ Clark
has held up the theory Of real repre-
sentative government, and in a mill
tant Democracy becomes the central
figure standing for that great question.
Ii may be said simply and without
further emphasis that no man has
ever asked for the presidency in this
generation upon two stronger and
more logical claims than the speaker
OF the house.
or the three prominent candidates
for the Democratic nomination, Champ
Clark has conspicuous advantage in
another fact. The followers OF Judson
Harmon are constantly under the ne
cessity OF defending him against the
charge OF ultra-conservatism and the
suggestions growing out OF his past
Intimate associations as an attorney
for great corporations.
The friends and advocates of Wood
row Wilson are also constantly upon
the defense, because of the sudden
ness of his conversion from the ultra
to the ultra-radical view,
and because of certain surround
ing associations whose attitude to-
ward popular interests is seriously In
doubt.
II either Mr.. Harmon or Mr.. Wilson
should be nominated, lie will be con-
stantly compelled to defend himself
and to explain himself, both before
and after his nomination for the IL |
ustrious office.
Champ Ciark's Record FIawiess.
The friends of Champ Clark, on tho
1ther hand, have nothing to explain |
and nothing for which TO apologize |
There is absolutely not flaw in the
public career OF the Democratic speak
n OF the house, and not an objection
lpon the hustings or in personal con-
Fersation. He has HAWKES. record OF
IS years of faithful. capable and fear
ess service for the Democratic party.
He has gone through every office of
development to tit him for this lofty
tation. Through the kindergarten OF
bike county politics: through the pri-
nary school OF the Missouri legisla-
ure; through the high school OF the
american congress: up 10 his present
he government, every step of his
areer has fitted Speaker Clark for
erylce In the chief executives Of
ce.
TO pass after his long experience,
rom the speakership OF the house OF
To the executive office
( the White House would be o Champ
lark simply like passing from one
Dom TO another.
And in all this career there has
cen no. act and no expression which
ould give his enemies a hammer to
after his record or his capacity. He
a Progressive Democrat, and the
,ader of the Progressive Democrats
a progressively democratic age. In
Is inaugural as speaker, he assumed,
tr in advance Of the recent speeches
President Taft, the high and sensi-
lie position that the Democratic party
ad as much interest in prosperity In
lis country as any other party. and
lat ii had too much interest. both In
and in property, to endan-
er either by unwise and foolish poll
es in government.
A discreet radical and a progressive
)nservative. with nothing in his rec
d for which to apologize and explain.
submit that Champ Clark offers the
sst possible compromise between the
intentions of the conflicting factions
hich champion the cause OF Gov
nor Wilson and N Epvarunr LIap.