The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-11-02

new O0y IN AmcTlcstu pOllllCS. W.
have looked once more very critically
at our own laws and our own prac.
tces and have set about to square
them with the actual conditions OF
our life and the life Of the world"
-Four years ago there were two
parties in the field whose programme
was conceived under the influence OF
these great forces of progress and adj
justment, the Democratic party and
the Progressive party. This year
there is but one, the Democratic party.
In the presidential election of four
years ago some fifteen million votes
were cast. OF these, nearly ten and
a half millions were cast for the can
didates of the two progressive parties,
only three and a half millions for the
candidates of the Republican party. the
party which fingered in the old ways
and felt none of the new impulse OF
a new day. More than two-thirds OF
the voters of the United States
favored then, and favor now, a pro-
gramme whose object is to- serve the
changing needs of humanity and
progress.
1.-THE Democratic party was entrust-
ed with the task. These powerful
forces of the new age We're put under
it's direction. And under that direc-
ton what have they accomplished?
"rhey have put both the business
and the life of the country upoH a
new footing.
Financial Credit Released.
"1'hey have released the financial
credit, upon which commerce and pro-
duction alike depend, from the con-
troll of small groups Of financiers and
bankers at the speculative centers.
"They have released the commerce
and industry of the country from the
domination of those who We're build
ing up their power by selfish and
unfair methods of competition.
"They have supplied those who
wished to conduct their business in
conformity with the spirit of the laws
with friendly guidance and delivered
them from nervous fear of the
courts.
"They have released our foreign
trade from the shackles of tariff
contrived in the interest of special
groups of favored producers, and have
created a Tariff Commission intend
ed to substitute public. for private
influences, facts for theories and
pretensions, in all future legisla-
ton with regard to duties and re-
strictions on imports.
"They have made provision for the
immediate and systematic develop
ment of our carrying trade on the
seas.
"They have at last supplied the
means by which the. nation may be
bound together, materially and spirit
ually, by network Of good roads
upon which both commodities and
sympathies may move freely from
community to community.
"They have put the farmer upon
footing of perfect equality with bust
ness men and men of all other call
ings in respect of his access to COM
mercial credit; have placed a great
bureau Of the Government at his
service in seeking and finding his
best markets; have protected him by
the establishment Of definite stand
ards in the sale of his. products, and
have put the scientific knowledge of
the world at his disposal by practical
demonstration at the expense Of the
Government upon the farms them
selves.
Have Emancipated Labor.
"They have emancipated the Ia
borers of the country from the unjus-
tilted restraints which the courts had
put upon them by mistaken applica-
tons of old law to new circumstances
and conditions.
'"They have released the children
of the country in large part from burt
full labor; have sought to safeguard
the lives and the health of our la
borers in dangerous occupations; and
have put agencies Of the Government
itself at the service of those who
seek employment. And most of these
things have been done within the
brief limits of single administration
"And still the great work is no,
finished. 1t can never be rounded of