Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-01-15
WHAT ONE YEAR OF DEMOCRACY HAS DONE

Ihe year I9L3 saw the greatest govern
ment changes in the history of this
country. The new tariff, the banking
and currency law, the income tax, the
parcels post, the physical valuation of
railways and the election of United
States senators by the people have all
become effective during the ~eventful
year 1918. Political parties had for
years made promises OF reforms in the
interest of the masses of the people of
men like Bryan, LaF'ollette and others
from the lecture platforms OF the nation
pointed out governmental abuses and
corrupt practices that gradually reused
the people to demand radical reforms,
both in fundamental law and business
regulation.
The republican party had been hold
ing the reins of government upon pre-
election pledges which it mate no pre-
tense of fulfilling. The time came, how.
eyer, when this duplicity caused its
disruption and downfall. The election
OF Woodrow Wilson and a democratic
majority in both branches of congress
turned the complete responsibility Of
the government over to the democratic
party. The old time prophesies OF
calamity and incompetency greeted the
new administration from the subsidized
press and politicians OF the country
The new president took his seat last
March and promptly called an extra
session of congress Upon the d%eclara-
tions of the reform platform upon which
the new president and thu democratic
congress had been elected, Woodrow
Wilson outlined the work Of that special
session ard 1t has Deer carried out to
the letter. The interests tried all their
old tactics of bluff and corruption upon
the new administration, but utterly
failed of their purpose.
During the first nine months of the
iarty has done what the republican
purity has been promising, but failed to
perform for IL years, that is to revise
the tariff downward. 1t has reformed
che currency and banking system, which
was based on the emergencies of Civil
wal times and has given the country a
system that will prevent panics and
provide an elastic and safe money, avail
able for business of all kinds in every
section OF the country, This great re-
form movement that finally swept the
democrats into power, forced the pass
age of an income tax and a Law requiring
the physical valuation of railways. 1t
compelled recognition of the funda-
mental idea Of Jeffersonian democracy,
IN hat this is a government of the peo-
pie, by the enactment of the law for the
direct election of United States senators.
The same progressive movement that
eliminated in the democratic victory OF
last year gave US the parcels post,
which the new administration has per-
fected and proved to be a great money
saver to the masses Of the people. The
Sherman anti thrust act, which was by
republican dup)icity. made a farce and a
failure, is rapidly effective for its pur-
pose. Seeing that the present admins
tration means to enforce this law, the
trusts are scurrying ahead Of their
certain conviction. They are unmerg-
ing themselves and getting into con-
formity with a law of the land. which
they have insolently violated for years
violated because they knew the party
i'll power was secretly pledged to per-
nit 1t. Never in the history of the
United States has such important Iegis.
latlon been enacted into law within a
years time. In that short space of
time the United States has made good
its boast of popular government. 1t has
abandoned make shift and experimental
finances for a system based on sound
principles and tried usage. 1t has
doubled the efficiency of the postal SER
vice and has relieved the public land of
states of the west from the blight of So
called conservation.
With all this accomplished IN this
short space of time. the president.
without any brag or buster, quietly
TO the country that the
administration will now turn its atten-
ton to matters Of great Importance in
the line of constructive legislation. and
executive reform that will soon put the
business and the industries of the whole
country in a most prosperous condition.
No democrat or republican, who voted
for Woodrow Wilson, and no progressive
who voted for Theodore Roosevelt can
help rejoicing at this splendid record
of progressive legislation. 1t carries out
in a general way the aims and ideas of
all progressive citizens. 1t is meeting
with the general and most hearty ap-
proval of the people. 1t has already
inspired a confidence which, even now.