The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1915-02-03
ROBB|NG PARTY
OF IT'S LIBERTIES
What Democratic Bosses
Are Attempting
IN the CONVENTION MATTER
Party Platform Is MOI Made
For Candidates, But
For the Voters.
AN uNAyswERABLE ARGUMENT

leaders OF the Stdtc bch"''4 ~ Si
right on bartering principles foi
votes. conceding TO Popriists here
60 Socialists there, to Prohibitions
lists yunder and pandering to every
nIoomin' ''ism" that happens. and
looks like ii would vote, till the par
Nv platform looked liked crazy
quilt: till it lost its identity in a
con fusion of humiliating platitudes
and false pretentions, and till the
average Democrat would become as
. ibewildered as the poor freshman VINO
was part Indian and balance Dago---
so mixed up he didn't know who he
was what he wanted or where ne
was going?
OF course they would. and this IS
why they should never have that
power Why. If Old Hickory could
see the uses to which they are
about to debase his eternal princi-
ple. he would kick the Whole gable
end out OF his mausoleum.
Ii is high time the people were
calling THESE political bosses TO book
and warning them in no uncertain
terms that the people rule, that
Kentucky Democracy is not to be
run by Il conspiracy of political
bosses whose slogan is. THE people
and principles be d--n. 1t is office
we went and our creed is graft.
From time-serving and policy
ridden fear-as if Democracy should
ever fear anything-Of the Prohibi-
lion vote, our leaders are about to
commit the party to an act of. fawn-
ing cowardice that ought to over
whelm any party-especally the
Democrat party-in ignominious de-
feat; for it would be deliberate
sacrifice of the very principles the
rank and file are fighting for and
holding most dear, upon that pagan
altar, EXpediency, at whose shrine
Aaltroons, place-hunters and graf
ters worship. Whenever the party
deviates from absolute honesty and
candor, it is flirting with hearse,
for who that is lighting Ter "a prin-
ciple would not rather go down in
defeat with flags flying than win
victories at the cost OF principle.
honor and self-respect?
The party platform that COM
niands public support is not a hodge
pCdge of catch-phrases and riff-rah
doctrines. all mixed up worse than d
Dutchman's supper. 1t is an an
nouncement OF clear-cut principles !
with consistent measures and poll !
cies as formulated 10y the supreme ,
authority, either in mass or delegate |
by a cOeterie OF un-
authorized, vote-mad place-hupters
who are out for Office at any price.
but by the men in the trenches who
wouldn't have an Office if ii was ,
handed them on silver platter.
The object OF primary election
is not only to select men who are
best fitted for the Office to be filled.
mt very largely TO select men who
best represent and are most loyal to
party principles and these must plant
themselves squarely upon the plat
form, from which they vary at their .
peril. 1t Is his instructions, his /
guide. and If he doesn't like the in
structions, let him withdraw. We
NJ the man to the platform Mot the
platform to the man. q. no; IL is to
hoped We are not reduced to that ex-
tremity. If the peoples platform
happens TO work injury to one can
,didate and to the advantage Of an I
other. well and good. Just let 'er
work. for il is only because one is a
better Democrat than the other. At !
the general election. the question of
mon having been settled at the pri-
mary. the people want to go out and
vote. not for men but for the prin-
clples and policies adopted In their
conventions.
Can any Democrat of clear. sound
be persuaded that ii
would DO wise or Democratic to al
low a political hierarchy to ssurp
that dangerous power. the dual func-
lion of both making and exesuting
party laws? Is not this the very
principle of aggression and tyranny
against which Democracy has hurled
it's full strength for hundred
yeaEs. Why. Il would be a com
vl6s reversal or overthrow OF the
fundamental principles OF our whole
theory OF sovereignty. OF right OF
re presentation. exposing the people
to the inevitable consequences OF
sch power--the temptation to tyr
amy and corruption. always pres