Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-05-29
Elect a Democratic Congress

Democrats and Independent voters
who believe in the platform adopted
at Baltimore, and believe that the Will.
son administration and the democratic
congress are conscientiously carrying
out that platform in the interest of
the people, should beware Of the Of.
forts being made in the various parts
Of the country to divert the minds Of
the people to other unimportant is
sues which might result in a failure
to elect democratic congress and
thus prevent President Wilson and
the democratic party from fulfilling
the pledges made to the people in the
democratic national platform Of 1912.
The reform legislation promised to
the people in the Baltimore platform
was first presented in the Chicago
platform of 1896. In each campaign
since that time the spirit Of that plat
form has been reiterated in each state
and national platform promulgated
by democrats. The people have been
educated to believe that the legisla-
ton promised in democratic platforms
is for the protection of the people as
. whole. And while the democratic
party has been making these prom.
ises for eighteen years, this is the
Arst opportunity they have had to
fulfill their promises, and they have
undertaken their work in spirit and
in q manner that is meeting with the
approval of not only democrats but
Of the people generally
When the present congress adjourns
the democratic program. as outlined
In the Baltimore platform, will be
only partly completed. While the
legislation already enacted, and that
under process Of enactment by con-
gress, is sufficient to justify the re-
election Of a democratic congress, yet
there is a still more important rea-
son why democratic congress should
be returned this fall. When this SEES.
sion Of congress adjourns scarcely
more than one-half of the democratic
platform pledges will have been full
filed. A democratic congress is need
ed to help President Wilson carry out
the remainder Of the democratic pro.
gram. The remaining planks Of the
Baltimore platform are of vital in
terest to the welfare of the people.
The failure to elect democratic con.
gress this fall would not only prevent
the fulfllment Of the remainder Of
the national platform pledges, but it
would be construed by the special in
terests as an indication that the peo-
pie did not approve of the legislation
that has already been passed during
the first two years of the Wilson ad-
ministration. The interest of the
democratic party and the Welfare Of
the people make it important that the
sentiment in the approaching cam
paign should be crystallized as far as
possible around the national issues.
An effort is being made both within
and without the party to divert the
peoples minds by injecting other is
sues for consideration. The success
Of such efforts will jeopardize the
election Of democratic congress. A
majority Of the people are supporting
the presidents policies and they
should not permit the various groups
of special interests or disgruntled per-
sons to place the people in a position
in the approaching campaign where
they cannot express their approval OF
the presidents policies without en-.
dorsing principles that they do not
care to consider at this time. w. ].
Bryan, in The Commoner.