The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1916-05-11
WHAT DO THE PEOPLE WANT?
Speech of f. T. Meredith, Democratic
Candidate for Governor, Before
State Convention at Clinton,
Wednesday, May 10.

WIN tne uldlleES Oh "ollu-N luC
Importance now engaging the atten-
ton of our country, these are not
times to make partisan speeches. IT
ever the American people could stop
and take stock, today is the day.
Never since the Civil War has the
country faced matters Of so great mo-
ment or found itself with greater
problems demanding solution. The
gravity of the situation and the re-
sponsibility resting upon voters and
parties is overwhelming to one who
really senses it, 1t is no longer a
matter of my party, but a matter
of my country.
This convention is assembled for
the purpose Of approving the dele
gates named to the Democratic Ma
tional Convention at st. Louis, and
giving them instructions. This con-
vention will deal with national
questions, SO | am going to confine
what | have to say to national ques-
lions rather than to touch upon state
matters.
In entering upon this campaign, it
is highly important that each voter
may seriously study the situation
from his country's standpoint, not
from his party's standpoint; that he
should weigh men and judge them
carefully. There is less and less or
party spirit, and less and less OF the
worship of party as time goes on, but
there is yet too much Of it. Just the
other day, our own Senator Kenyon,
a man who | believe means to be on
the side OF the people, a man who has
NV I, VIC
he is not welded to his party as are
r'any, exhibited great glee because
the democrats as a revenue measure
had decided to leave tax on sugar.
Whether the action was right or
wrong. it meets with Nr. Kenyon
view on the tariff Then why not
commend it? Surely he could not
feel his action was an endorsement
of his position on the tariff and an
Acknowledgement that after all the
trust breeding tariff was the right
idea. No. He was playing politics.
Granted that it is highly impor-
tant that we should vote for what we
really want and not be distracted by
politicians in any party, l am going
to address myself to the question,
what Do the People Want?' In
answering this, and then asking the
further question, How Can They
Get IT," ! can arrive at but one con-
clusion. There is to my mind but
one answer Let each one answer for
h ;mself after an analysis of the stu
alton.
For sixteen years the republican
party had undisputed control of our
government and during that time
there were many measures proposed
which the people asked to have enact
ed into laws. 1t was generally under
stood that so far as the ordinary citi-
zen was concerned there was popu-
lar demand for these reforms.
Reform of Tariff.
One of the measures the people de-
manded was the revision of the tar
if downward. This had been def
nitely promised and the promises
broken. The Iowa IDEAL was popu-
lar over the whole country but no re-
lief was had from a republican con-
gress and republican president, not
withstanding the fact the demand
came with as much insistence from
the rank and file of the voters in the
republican party as in the democratic
party. The election of President Will
son was a protest. Has he kept the
faith with the people on this question
or has he failed to give the people
what the election clearly indicated
they wished, as was done by the re-
publican congresses and republican
presidents? A bill reducing the tar
if was introduced and passed very
promptly by the democratic admins
tration as an answer to the question,
What do The People Want?'
Federal Reserve Act.
Another measure that the people
had long expressed desire for was
revision of our currency laws-some-
thing that would take away from
Wall street manlpuIators the control
which they exercised over our cur
rency, the li1e blood Of American
Business. Something that would give
us an automatic currency, expanding
when the situation demanded and
contracting when the necessity was
over. Loud and long had the people
protested over manmade panics in
the interest of a clique. Long had
they called upon republican congress
es and presidents to do something,
but nothing was done.
This was one of the first problems
to which President Wilson gave his
attention. His efforts resulted in
the Feueral Reserve Banking System,
a system under which the control of
the currency is in the hands of the
people, system every voter should
thoroughly understand. This was an
accomplishment that bankers, bust
ness men, financiers, all over the
country, men of all parties commend
as the greatest piece of legislation en-
acted in many years. 1t affects di-
rectly every banker, every merchant,
every laborer, every farmer, every
manufacturer, every professional
man. A whole speech could we'll be
devoted to this wonderful law. You
men, as democrats, should know the
workings of this law thai you may go
out and tell every voter of the debt
they owe democratic administra-
ton.
Let me point to one incident where
in it was of the utmost Importance
and service to. Iowa the past season.
| will agree that ordinarily a war
in FIrOna WOu1d cauSo men to be