The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1914-10-08
IAN ADDRESS BY Ole HANSON, PROGRESSIVE
CANDIDATE FOR UNITED STATES SENATOR TO
SUCCEED SENATOR JONES, THE STANDPATTER

Speech of Ole Hanson, Progressive
candidate for United States senator
delivered at State convention:
The Progressive party of Washing
ton is now gathered under this roof
for the purpose of renewing its pledges
of the past and making a further con
tract with the people for the future
and also for the purpose of beginning
the war against every friend of special
privilege in this state.
| We demand, that the brakes applied
to the wheels of progress by the reac
tionaries be thrown off whether those
brakes are exerted in the legislative
halls of state or nation, or on the SUI
preme bench of the state or nation
We do not any more believe in the
divine right of judges than we do in
the divine right of kings.
The people must govern or soften
into pulp; true, pulp without
wrinkles, but also without backbone.
We are at war. This is not pink
tea. 1t is war, war that will bring
happiness instead of sorrow, light in
stead of darkness, freedom and pros
perity instead of slavery and poverty.
You are soldiers, not the green vol
unteers of two years ago, but the sea-
soned veterans who have had their
baptism of fire and have found 1t good.
You have, chosen me to lead in this
campaign, and that choice was made
by the electorate free and untram-
melled after due consideration. 1t is
hard to find words to express my
thanks for the loyalty and squareness
with which was treated all over this
state. l thank you, thank you one
and all, and want to assure you here
and now, that in every act and deed
and word, l will keep clean and pure
and spotless the honor conferred on
me.
My life has been one that has taught
me many things not learned in books.
1t has taught me that in it's forward
march of freedom, the footsteps Of
humanity have been stained with
blood; it has taught me that one can
do no wrong in battling for the safety
and well being Of all mankind; it has
taught me that compromise is word
that must be left out of the vocabul-
airy of all true men; compromise
means defeat, and also disgrace.
We are at war. Those who oppose
us are but the remains of a once great
army; and have but little semblance
to the forces of few years ago, ex-
cept that their ammunition. now as
then, consists of pilfered, plundered
gold, wrung from the masses. a small
portion of which is biennially contri-
buted to further befoOl the electorate.
The men who lead are but the shift
ing shadows of the past trying
through a special interest press to
put the sheen of battle in their eyes,
and an enamel of lies over their crook
ed past These leaders, though, who
spring from the rank and file of the
people, have seen fit to betray their
brethren, and are as full of toadyism
as sponge is full of holes. But fear
not, my countrymen, the frost bites of
1912 will be as a summer zephyr, COM
pared with the biting cold that will
greet them when the election returns
come in November.
Those who oppose us are but the
empty shells of two years ago. Their
powder is burned and their guns are
old fashioned and rusty. They have
more worn out generals and less pri-
Yates than any army l ever saw.
True, their war chest is gorged by
contributions of those who wish to
continue to exploit the people, but
this will avail them not. In the Ian
guage of the street, the voters are
next"
Against this enfeebled troop of Of
! flee seekers and corporate lackeys, We
! will lead out the flower and strength of
the manhood and womanhood of
I. Washington; against the fixers and
workers and makers; against love OF
| money we will enlist the love of home,
and my countrymen, we will win.
Torpid with fear the old standpat
| army have flung their tattered ban
ners to the breeze, tarnished with
| fraud and torn during their 1912 de-
feat, they now are feebly shouting
their old war cry, 1--WE must take care
of the rich or the rich won't take care
of u.s."
Our army consists of the same kind
of men and women as have for cen
turtles, red with blood and sad with
+. tears, fought the battle to be free
and have struggled for the right things
while their loved ones starved in the
arms of despair. Our men and women
are not fighting for self or place OF
power, but for equal justice to all
mankind.
Every good man must abhor every
wise man must condemn, any govern
ment which does not grant equal jus
tice to all it's citizens.
A democracy without justice may
we'll be likened unto a sea without
water-a world without light-a home
without love. Establish justice, and
freedom and liberty becomes living
things and not resounding words.
| Any government which allows free
man to secure without payment, and
use without recompense the heritage
of all it's citizens, should be labelled
plainly government OF the few, by
the few, and for the few.
Any government which permits the
slavery of children, the exploitation ol
women, the impoverishment through
special privilege of its Industrious mer
cannot claim to be truly free.
|
AS long as the countries of the
world waste and squander the lives
and savings of its people in useless
and senseless war or preparation