The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-04-21
BEVERIDGE MAKES
OPENING SPEECH
Former U. S. Senator Makes Ad-
dress as Temporary Chairman
of Progressive Convention.
OPPOSES TOLLS BILL REPEAL
Indiana Statesman Declares That thS
Democrats In Washington Are Run
ming the ReactIonary Republic
ans a Close Race.

Indianapolis, Ind, April 20-Form-
er United States Senator Albert J.
Beveridge got in his speech as tempo
rary chairman of the state Progressive
convention here, declaring that on
breaking promises, the Democrats in
Washington are running the reaction
airy Republicans a close race he
also denounced the administration
afford to repeal the canal free tolls
bill.
Mr.. Beveridge said in part: "On
breaking promises the Democrats IN
Washington are running reactionary
Republicans a close race.
THE Democrats denounced Repub-
lican extravaganza and promised econ
omy; yet so wasteful has the Demo
cratic congress been that the Demo
cratic chairman of the appropriations
committee, in open debate, on the
floor of the house, declared the other
day that whenever I think of the hor-
rible mess that 1 shall be called upon
to present to the country on behalf
of the Democratic party, am tempted
to quit my place.
Hits at Democrats.
THE Democrats denounced the Sc
cret caucus, and proceeded to end it;
yet never has caucus control been so
secret or boss rules as Democratic
caucuses during the last year.
"The Democrats denounced gag
rule, and promised free debate; yet
the records of congress show nothing
more than Democratic gag rule in the
house of representatives.
They promised to keep the public
service safe from the hunters of
spoils; yet the onslaughts of the DEM
ocratic congress on the civil service
are uneQualed since the passage of
| the law
They promised to make tariff
that would lower the cost of living
their tariff has not done that.
The Democratic national platform
pledged the American people that
American ships shall pass through
the Panama canal as freely as along
any other portion of our coast. II
to do this is dishonorable now, it
|
subsidy now it was subsidy then.
Refers to Baltimore Platform.
In reporting the Democratic plat
form to the Baltimore convention, Sen
ator Kern, chairman of the platform
committee, said that the platform was
adopted by the full committee, with
out dissenting voice" If that plat
form is dishonorable now, it was dis
honorable when Senator Kern uttered
those words If it means a subsidy
now, it meant a subsidy then
IF it is a subsidy today, it was a
subsidy when, seeking the peoples
votes, Mr. Wilson endorsed this very
plank of the partys platform and ap-
proved the very law he now attacks
1.-The Progressive national platform
made the same pledge for free Amer
lean coastwise ships through the
|, American canal built on American sol
by American money.
"If the railroads need help, let then
be helped honestly, openly and above
board; but let us not help them raiss
their rates on every ten of the peo
Piles freight by any such miserable
! subterfuge as that national honor re
Quires us to do so. Let no voter for
get that the repeal Of the free tolli
law means higher railroad rates.
Let no voter forget a far more Sc
rious thing-that when this repea
, has been jammed through congress
the canal will be neutralized as Grea
: Britain tried to get it neutralized IL
the first treaty. which failed; and tha
If armed conflict ever comes with for
: eign powers the warships of the en-
emy can pass through our canal a.
freely as our own, and as freely a
they can sail the waters of the opeI
sea-"