The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-09

part of justice itself. II you have to
be rich to get justice, because of the
cost of the very process itself then
there Is another direction In which we
ought to be very quick to see the signs
or the times and to help those who
need to be helped.
And then there is something else.
The democrats have heard the republi-
cans talking about the scientific way in
which to handle a tariff, though the re-
publicans have never given any exhi-
billion of a knowledge of how to handle
ut scientifically. II 1t is scientific to put
additional profits into the hands Of those
who are already getting the greater
part of the profits, then they have been
| exceedingly scientific. 1t has been the
science of selfshness; 1t has been the
science of privilege. That kind of science
do not care to know anything about,
except enough to stop it. But If by
scientific treatment of the tariff they
mean adjustment to the actual trade
conditions of America and the world,
then | am with them; and l want to
call their attention, for though they
voted for 1t they apparently have not
noticed 1t, to the. fact that the bill
which creates the new trade commission
does that very thing. We were at pains
to see that 1t was put In there. That
commission is authorized and empow-
cred to inquire into and report to Con-
gress not only upon all the conditions
of trade in this country, but upon the
conditions of trade, the cost of manu-
facture. the cost of transportation--all
the things that enter into the qucs-
ton of tho tariff-in foreign coun-
tries as we'll as in the United States,
and into all those questions of foreign
combinations which affect international
trade between Europe and the United
States. 1t has the full powers which
will guide Congress in the scientific
treatment of questions of International
trade.
Being by profession schoolmaster,
am glad to point that out to the class of
uninstructed republicans, though 1 have
not always taught In the primary grade.
"At every turn the things that the pro-
gressive republicans have proposed that
were practicable, the democrats either
have done or are Immediately proposing
to do. If that is not our bill of particu-
lars to satisfy the independent voters OF
the country, would like to have one pro-
duced There are things that tho prog
ress1ve programme contained which we,
being CONSTITUTIONAL lawyers, happened
to know cannot be done by the. Congress
of the United States. That Is a detail
which they seem TO have overlooked. But
SO far as they can be done by state legis-
latures, for one. speaking for one DEM
ocrat, am heartily In favor of their being
done. Because democrats do not congre-
gate merely In Washington. They con-
gregate also in the state capitals and
they congregate there in very influential
numbers and with very influential organ
izations
Just before l came away from WASH
lngton was going over some of the fig
ures OF the last elections; the elections of !
November last. The official returns have
not all come in vet. / do not know why
they are so slow in getting to us: but so |
lar as they have come in they have given
me this useful information that taking |
the states where senators were elected |
ana where senators were not elected TAX |
ing the election of governors, and where
governors We're not elected taking the re- |
turns for the state legislatures or for tho
congressional delegates. the democrats. |
reasoning state by state, would, il 1t had |
peen presidential year, have had a ma
jorlty or about so In the electoral college, |
/, fortunately or unfortunately, this is not |
u pi esldential year, but the thing Is sig
Mncant TO me for this reason.
great many people have been speak,
lne OF the democratic party as a minority |
party. Well. If 1t is. 1t is not so much |
Vi minority party as the republican,
i
can claim to belong to the larger minor
u Ihe moral of thateis merely what.
nave already been pointing out to YOU.
tnal neither party in its regular member
SNIP has majority / do not want to
make the Independent voter too proud of |
himseif; but l have got to admit that he
IS our boss; and I am bound to admit
that the things that he wants are. so far
as l nave seen them mentioned, things
that / want
Not Independent Voter
am not an independent voter. but I
hope can claim to be an independent
person. and | want to say this distinctly
! 10 not love any party any longer than
=. oonunues TO serve the immediate and
p essihs needs OF America. / have been
preo IN the democratic party. but | love
america great deal more than I love
TIC democratic party; and when the demo-
cratlc party thinks that it Is an end In |
l'scii' tnen rise up and dissent 1t Is
means to an end; and it's power depends.
s,I ought TO depend, upon its showing
,"a. u Knows what America needs, and
= READY to give 1t what it needs That
Is the reason ] say to the independent
voter you have got us in the palm of your
mana. do not happen to be one of your
ncHper' out recognize your suprem-
Acy because ! read tho election returns
~, : nave this ambition, my democratic
ii ~, can avow 1t on Jackson Day:
! want to make every independent
,Cter III this country democrat 1t is
'ttie cold and lonely out where he is.
because, though he holds the balance of
pc"er' ne Is not the majority. and want
ann 10 come In where it is warm. III
want MN to come In where there Is a
o. of good society, good compa nionsbin.
Were there are great emotions. That Is
~hat miss In the republican party. they
- 4, not seem to have any great emotions.
,ney seem to think a lot of things old /,
nEss' put they do not seem to have any
about anything
Now there Is one thing l have gof
great enthusiasm about, | might AL
most say reckless enthusiasm. and
nat Is human liberty. The governor I
'as Just now spoken about watchful |
" aiting In Mexico. want to say a word |
'cout Mexico. or not SO much about
aexico as about our attitude toward |
Eexlco. hold 1t as fundamental prin- II
;,pie' and SO do You. that every peo-
ne mas the right to determine its own |
orm OF government; and until this re-
'ent revolution in Mexico, until the |
snd OF the Diaz reign, so per cent of
ne people IN Mexico never had look
n IN determining who should be their
Governor. or what their government
mould be. Now I am for the 80 per
,ent. 1t is none of my business, and
I Is none OF your business, how long
ney take In determining it, It's none
u my business, and. 1T Is none OF yours. |
low they go about the business. Tho |
Z untry Is theirs The government Is | |
hefrs. The liberty II they can get 4
I, and God speed them in getting II. |
y theirs. And SO far as my influence |