The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-10-31

modate their interests to one another,
or else disturb the lives and embar-
rass the fortunes of men everywhere.
No wonder that in such an age men In
America should be cried awake and
feel once more, as they felt them in
the days when their great republic was
set up. the compulsions OF humanity
and % Justice!
squarlnp Laws With Life.
These are the freshening winds
blowing out Of the life OF mankind ev-
erywhere. that have brought on new
day in American politics.
I'VE have looked once moro very crit.
icaily at our own laws and our own
practices and have set about TO square
them with the actual conditions Of our
life and the life OF the world.
-Four years ego there were two par.
ties in the field whose programme was
conceived under the influence Of these
great f0rces or progress and adjust
ment, 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 mil
lions were cast for the candidates OF
the two progressive parties, only three
and half millions for the candidate
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 vot-
ers of the United States favored then
and favor now, programme whose OBJ
ject Is to serve the changing needs Of
humanity and progress.
'trhe Democratic party was entrust-
ed with the task. These powerful
forces of the new age were put under
its direction. And under that direction
what have they accomplished?
"They have put both the business
and the life Of the country upon a
new footing.
Financial Credit Released.
"They have released the financial
credit, upon which commerce and pro-
duction alike depend, from the control
Of small groups of financiers and bank
ers Mt the speculative centers.
"They have released the commerce
and industry of the country from the
domination Of those who were building
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
4 with friendly guidance and delivered
them from nervous fear of the courts.
! 'They have released our foreign
trade from the shackles of tariff con-
trived In the interest of special groups
Of favored producers, and have created
Tariff Commission intended to SUB
/ stitute public for private influences,
facts for theories and pretensions, In
all future legislation with regard to
duties and restrictions on imports.
'"They have made provision for the
immediate and systematic development
Of our carrying trade on the seas,
"Thoy have at last supplied the
means by which the nation may b.
bound together, materially ana spirit
ually, by a network OF good roads
upon which both commodities and
sympathies may move freely from COM
munity to community.
"They have put the farmer upon q
footing Of perfect equality with busi-
ness men and men of all other callings
In respect to his access to commercial
credit; have placed a great bureau Of
the Government at his service in seek
ing and finding his best markets; have
protected him by the establishment Of
definite standards in the sale OF his
products, and have put the scientific
knowledge of the world at his disposal
by practical demonstration at the ex-
> pense of the Government upon the
farms themselves.
Have Emancipated Labor.
"They have emancipated the labor
ers of the country from the unjustifled
restraints which the courts had put
upon them by mistaken applications Of
old law to new circumstances and con
ditions.
"They have released the children OF
the country in large part from hurtful
labor; have sought to safeguard the
lives and the health of our laborers In
dangerous occupations; and have put
agencies of the Government itself al
the service of those who seek employ.
ment And most of these things have
been done within the brief limits Of a
single administration.
"And still the great work n not finish
ed. 1t can never be rounded Off and con
cluded so long as circumstances change
and the fortunes and relations of men
shift and alter. The question you have
to decide one week from next Tuesday
is whether it shall be prematurely In
terrupted, perhaps for a generation t.
come, and all the generous forces Of
the age and Of the world thrown bacl
upon themselves in discouragement anC
confusion.
"The programme remaining is as grsa
as the programme accomplished. Tn
procedure Of our courts 10 antiquate
and hindrsnce, not an aid, In the jus
administration Of the law. We mus
aImDlifV and reform IL aa other an