Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-10-15

emn promises made to the peeple in
the Democratic platform of 1912" The
Massachusetts congressman quotes
from speech by Mr.. Wilson then
nominee for the Presidency, at Wash
ington Park, N. j., August Is, 1912, in
which he made the now famous state
ment that Our platform is not mo-
laSses to catch flies. 1t means busi-
ness. 1t means what it says" He also
quotes Champ Clark, Speaker of the
House, who said last March that
there are many things worse than
being defeated for Congress or defeat
ed for the Speakership, or even worse
than to be defeated for the Presidency,
and one of them is to repudiate the
platform ON which you are elected.
Secretary of State Bryan is also quot
ed in his speech at Harrisburg, May
IA, 1918, in which he stated that The
representative who secures office on
a platform and then betrays the peo-
pie who elected him is a criminal
worse than he who embezzles money"
The platform at Baltimore, it will be
remembered, declared that we favor
the ultimate attainment of the princi
pies we advocate by legislation that
industry" Senator Thornton of Lou
isiana, a Democrat, said in speech
last July that 1t had been admitted
by Majority Leader Underwood in the.
House that free sugar would destroy
the Louisiana sugar industry, though
he feels justified in his course on
sugar because he thinks the general
welfare will be subserved by it,"
The Baltimore platform declared that
"a private monopoly is indefensible"
and expressed regret that the Sher
man antitrust law has received a
judicial construction that has deprived
it of much of it's efficiency and we ia
vor the reactment of legislation which
will restore to the statute the strength
of which it has been deprived by such
Interpretation" Senator O'Gorman
of New York, Democrat, in speech
last August asserted that he could
not believe his eyes and ears on hear
ing senator's processing allegiance to
the Democratic creed paraphrasing
every stock argument that has been
made by Republicans for 20 years
back in support of the protective tar
iff.' Senator Reed of Missouri, another
Democrat, declared Sept. % last in a
speech that the Democratic conferees
on the Clayton antitrust bill were
saying in effect: BE careful, do not
let it be proven in evidence that a man
has plead guilty to violating the
Sherman law About the same time
Senator MARITIME of New Jersey, an
other Democrat, in criticising the
Clayton antitrust bill conference
which bill the President has just
signed and made law, declared Some
influence has changed the text and
character of this antitrust bill until
it does not stand for the smaller man
or the middle man but tends to adj
vance to further supremacy the giant
monopolies."
Representative Witherspoon of Mis-
sissippi, is on record officially in a
speech denouncing the bill which in
creases the monopoly of money. 4
could not vote for this bill (meaning
the currency law because somebody
told me to do it," Senator vardaman
of Mississippi, opposed the confirma-
ton of Thomas D. Jones, a director in
the Harvester Trust as member Of
the Federal Reserve Board. The sem
ator alluded to the Harvester trust as
1.-The most iniquitous, obnoxious, out
rageous, indefensible, predatory trust
in all America" and said he would not
favor the confirmation Of one of it's
favorite directors as a member of the
Federal Reserve Board. President Will
son later withdrew this nomination.
Much is quoted in connection with
the Panama Canal free tolls repeal
bill, which became law and which was
in direct contravention to the Balti-
more platform. This bill, as is we'll
known, was fought through the Senate
and House at President Wilson's spec
ial request and made law. Represen-
tative Moon Of Tennessee. chairman Of
the House committee on postoffices
decrying President Wilson'S efforts to
influence Congress. mo President,
however great" said Mr.. Moon, can
for the purpose of enforcing his poll
cies, directly or indirectly, for a mo-
ment attempt to influence according
to his will, another coordinate branch
of the Government, without bringing
his administration into disrepute."
At Baltimore the Democrats made
much of the publicity plank by
which the names Of endorsers and
supporters of men favored for posi-
tons or the federal bench should be
made known. But the House Demo-
Gratis voted down an amendment en-
bodying that idea when creating an
additional judicial district in Penn
ers of Virginia, declared in that con-