The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-04-03
IOWA'S TRIBUTE.
Address of Hon. Jerry Il. Sullivan
of Des Moines, at Bryan's Birth
day Banquet at Lincoln,
s.. Nebraska

At the Bryan Birthday banquet
recently held at Lincoln, Neb., Hon.
Jerry B. Sullivan, of Des Molnes,
was one of the principal speakers.
Mr.. Sullivan stands very close to
Secretary of State Bryan as well as
President Wilson. His address was
as follows.
mo greater opportunity ever
came to a political party than has
to the democratic party at this time.
For the first time in sixteen
years it is placed in full charge OF
our government and the serious
question of construction has taken
the place of objection and criticism.
When our party was by the congress
sional elections of 1910 returned to
power, it was not for the single pur-
pose of placing it in control OF the
government, but as protest against
the political and economic PROPOSE
lions of the republican party. Inc
people had grown careless with rela-
ton to government while those who
profited by legislation were constant
ly in touch with the powers that be
and when the people aWoke to the
true condition, they found self-inter-
GSL Ill COuIiOl vi CIV Cl VI ailNh VI eAAC
government The protest recorded
in 1910 was a timely warning that
the old order must vanish, that a
new day Lad arisen, that new order
was at hand No more was legisla-
ton to be enacted in hotels and ap-
pointments to office made in Pullman
cars. The new order was destined
to destroy the cobwebs of the past
the step.
THE success of 1912 was a rati-
fcation of the work begun two years
prior and today we are facing the
problem of making good to those
who gave us this lease Of power.
New desires and new thoughts are
today driving out those of yesterday.
Yesterday those in power believed
they were masters instead of serv-
ants, that human interests were sub
servient to property and that laws
were in the interest of the few.
This nation is today entering
upon a new era. For nearly a half
the ideals of the fathers and has
caused property rights and selfish
desires to become supreme.
! l.
the individual is given all rights
compatible with organized society.
Today millions are calling as never
before for escape from course of
dealings that is unjust and unworthy
a free people. The richest nation
on earth and yet at war with labor;
per capita wealth that is amazing
yet the peasantry of the nation not
;r,;o h1i, inc rH
framed in equality and yet strength
ening the hold of classes.
"A bill of rights marvellous in it's
statement and yet one man taxed
for the benefit of another; a govern
es have the least to say. Will our
party dedicate itself to the public
good or to private Generators?
"Our face is turned toward the
east, we are looking at the rising
around and give, one glance back
course and our place taken by those
who will move forward in the line
of human rights.
"Legislation must have for it's pur-
pose the greatest good for the coun-
u ".
cessity. The appeal comes from ev-
cry home, from every workshop,
from every farmside for the enact
mon good is the basis. The ques-
tax gatherer is not limited to the
national capital or the county court
house.
se t0 fo h oc
given thought to this subject that
the power of taxation as exempli-
fed in our tariff laws exacts a great
er tribute to it's benefciaries than
the government does for it's own ex-
istence.
"This is not only true with refer
ence to tax upon the food We con-
sumo and the clothing we wear, but
upon transportation. The tax exact
ed for transportation has crushed in
our party will not do it's duty if that
tax is not corrected. A tax on con-
sumption should be at the minimum
and it never will be if private inter-
ests are permitted to make the levy.
These questions must be solved in
the interest OF a just and humane
Vi VIC Will uOL NC pCl-
mitted to remain in power.
mo country is just that taxes the
loaf of bread or the clothing it's peo-
pie wear. Untaxed food and untax-
ed clothing is a necessity and the
party will not live that continues to
unnecessarily tax these commodities.
To tax the food we eat and the
clothing we wear is but subjecting
she individual to a hardship not JUS
titled by a democratic government.
State governments exempt from
taxation the home of those who bar
ed their breast to the bullet storm
that we might have a united country
and frequently have exempted from
taxation the home of the working
man.
''Why should not the national gov
eminent say to all, that upon food
and clothing there shall be no tax
and thereby give relief. to a class
that needs assistance and are yet the
bone and sinew Of every government.
This cry goes forth from every viii
laga and hamlet in this land and our