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The Commoner.
VOLUME 8, NUMBER 2(
Temporary Chairman Theodore A. Bell's Address
Thcodoro A. Boll of California in taking
tlio gnvol as tomporury chairman of tho demo
cratic national convention spoko as follows:
"Wo havo assembled at a time when tho
public conscience Is demanding honesty of pur
poso in tho mon who undertako to direct tho
affairs of stato. Tho public eye is keenly sensi
tive to evory political movomont, and our pro
coodlngs hero will bo approved according to tho
dogroo of sincerity appearing in tho work of this
convention. There is a widespread belief, found
od upon evidence of a convincing character, that
tho party In powor has not been true to its trust,
that It has botrayod tho common interest into
tho hands of tho enemies of good government,
thoroby forfeiting its right and destroying its
ability to rule in tho name of tho people.
"Apparent to everyone is tho fact that way
down deep in tho heart of the republican con
vention at Chicago there was a feeling of anger
and resentment over tho popular clamor for re
form, and it is usually patent that there I. no
bona fldo Intention on tho part of tho repub
lican party of granting any reforms, if tho ma
chinery of that party can bo retained in present
hands. Itq paper platform divided like ancient
Gaul into throe parts barren promises, make
shifts and ovasions it is hoped, will make a
good campaign transparency; but no one seri
ously, bolioVos that tho republican party really
Indorses that neutral manuscript which hold tho
convention together until it could ratify tho
nomination of a presidential candidate.
NAMES THREE THINGS WHICH CONVEN
' TION SHOULD DO
"Approaching our great task in' a manly,
dignified manner, imbued with the loftiest senti
ments of patriotism, ambitious to throw every
safeguard around the liberties of our people,
determined, to stamp out the buses that are
consuming ihe substance' of tho nation, let us
proceed to our appointed duty with the sustain
ing consciousness that wo are responsible alone
to God and to our country for tho justness of
our cause. (Applause,)
"There aro three things that this conven
tion should do: It ought to present in a plain
and intelligible manner the serious inlustrlal
and political conditions that are disturbing tho
peace and happiness of our country. Wo should
then proceed to a courageous exposure of tho
republican policies that aro co-operating with
private greed in tho general oppression of the
people. Moat important of all, wo must exhibit
a readiness and an ability to grasp the problems
of tho hour and to effect their solution In a
manner that will satisfy tho sober common sonse
of the multitudes whoso interests aro at stake
(Applauso.)
trv ntmng th0 Ar,eat ovIls tlmt nffet the coun
try at the present time is tho abuse of corporate
power. At first the advancing aggressions of
the corporations aro not discernible! tc the com-
?hi 3V?r ?very move ls carefully covere J up
until sufficient political strength is attained S
Jfnnf f lllG 1)el)le ThUB tho COll-
JfSi (1 1i"si(1Ious invasion of tho people's
rights finally results in a species of arrogance
and doflanco so formidable in its appearance that
n5diy of "e People, in fear of ever worse
Sfr 011 hefJtatQ to assort and exercise their
rightful authority over these colossal enemies of
tho commonwealth.
. ..,"'flM so wo heboid a subversion of our free
institutions, a government voluntarily subordi
nating itself to selfish, private ends special privi
lege resorting to cunning, bribery and intimi
dation to maintain its unholy power, wh e the
masses timidly hope that when avarice l as it
last reached the point of satiety it wil then
te?, enitly p?rm!t thG peoi)I t0 rosu thS?
rightful share in tho government of themselves
Whenever the muttorings of tho people hecomo
too threatening the cry of confiscation goes uS
and appeals are frantically made to the sacred
rights of party.' This is intended to affright the
27n2i hest:mon ln thG enjoyment of the fruits
of their industry and thrift, and by thus nlavine
upon their prejudice and fears to deteJ'thlm
from casting their Influence on -the side of
wholesome reforms. Tho cry of confiscation f
the historic defense of usurpatior. CnflSOation :s
Lot the people trtko warning. When
tho wrongs of. today become the vested S'
of tomorrow the nation Is in deadly peril
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY DEMAND OF
DEMOCRACY
tit
'Tho democratic nartv is not the enemy of
property; but to tho contrary, it has always
stood and will continue to stand firmly against
every species of aggression that would deprive
any man of the rewards to which his patience,
his skill, his industry and his economy entitle
him. Our party approves that feeling of pride
which always accompanies the possession of
property, and it commends an individual owner
ship in tho soil that will bring to the homes
of America more of the conveniences, comforts
and luxuries of life. Against the evils of special
privilege wo urge tho benefits of equal oppor
tunity, in order that there may be more land
owners, more homes, and more happiness among
the masses.
"Tho democratic party is not an enemy of
all corporations. It recognizes their great value
in tho industrial world. Through the agency
of incorporation scattered wealth is brought to
gether and given a driving force that It would
not otherwise possess. Great enterprises are
thereby undertaken and the undeveloped, re
sources of the country added to the wealth of
tho world. '
"Our party Is not opposed to production
on a large scale, hut it ls unalterably opposed
to monopoly in production. It is easier to pre
vent monopoly than it is to control it after be
ing established. An ounce of prevention is
worth a pound of cure, and the withdrawal of.
special privileges will take away the meat upon
which the trusts are fed. If this be followed'
by a criminal prosecution and an imprisonment
of ,the directors and officers of the. guilty corpora
tions, monopoly will be shorn of many of its
terrors.
"No rational man can be, opposed to corpbr-1
ations as such and the assertion that thd 'demo
cratic party is waging an indiscriminate war
against this convenient form of transacting busi
ness has no foundation in fact. It is the abuse
only of corporate power that we seek to elim
inate. "Viewed in the light of a great moral ques
tion the control of corporations should remain a
question of common concern rather than a po
litical one, hut the shameful complacence of the
republican party in permitting its forces, to be
;rft0"etd and operated by the most offending
corporations of the country throws the problem
into the political arena atfd compels the public
to choose between the democratic party that
will, and the republican party that will not place
some restrictions on incorporated greed
"We are confronted with the inquiry: What
assurance has the republican party given that
it will use the forces at its command to restore
SjPft J0 thfeIr rJeHts? In its Chicago plat
form it did not make even a decent pretense
of championing tho people's cause and the pro
ceedings of that convention are glaringly inain
cere. It was noted that the elements wero
present In that gathering, one with sufficient
votes to adopt a platform and nominate Its can
didate, the other powerful enough to unwrite
that platform and tie the hands of the nominee
(Applause.) ""
REPUBLICANS PROMISE THAT WHICH
THEY REFUSED TO DO
"The distinguishing feature of the PMnn
Platform is its oft-repeated promise to do , S mS
of things that tho republican party ha, d2 I ot
fore failed to do. That party went to nm ntp"
fresh from the halls of congress whor Chicago
whelming republican majority in both hrT1'"
enabled it to propose and to adojt anTleglsAtio'n
that it chose. Does the republican nnrtv SSi
that it can bo absolved t?omtY
duty by an empty promise to do in ?iH? f
what it has wilfully failed to do in tto pw"
"Someone has suggested thnf ti,
tion should publish an indictment iV?vn"
republican party. Wo can SIS gainst the
proceeding Thy enterin?
is contained in the Chicago Satfnrm J hat
changing the words 'We will' tS ' j511
did not' to conform to the admlttSfl Xds ?
then have the following Ve
"We did MO. Vfivlen , i
We did not amend the anti-trust kWd t
re creator nffnnH .. uust jaws-to-
secure ieaferTffe laS t0
of crimiLl monST 1M?
We did not add a single line to the inter
state commerce law, giving the federal govern
ment supervision over the issues of stocks and
bonds by interstate carriers.
"We did not exact a currency measure that
would mitigate the evils of a financial panic
such as has recently prostrated the country un
der a republican administration.
"We did not limit the opportunities for
abusing the writ of injunction.
"We did not establish postal savings banks.
We did not establish a bureau of mines
and mining.
"We did not admit into the union the ter
ritories of New Mexico and Arizona as separate
states.
AJ'We dId not although requested so to do
by tho president, originate an inland waterways
commission for the improvement of the great
waterways along comprehensive and scientific
lines.
PRESIDENT'S DEMAND FOR POSTAL BANKS
REFUSED
The last congress was in session during a
financial. crisis, when innumerable banking insti
tutions, preferring a holiday to a funeral, closed
their doors and filled the minds of millions of
depositors with anxiety and fear. The senti
ment in favor of postal savings banks, which
had been steadily growing In this country, be
came almost universal during the recent panic
So Insistent became tho voice of the people that
the president sent a special message to congress
urging the establishment of postal savings banks
where the ea -nings of our people might be safely
i?S?,!lted.u5der the direct control and respon
sibility pf the federal government and where
? .Peculating bank cashier or managing board
f 'dIi,emior?Tcould at UP tne savings of years.
ire VJited States senate showed its hearty
sympathy with this popular demand and its pro-
tSnnJoefSpeCin0rihe PresIdent by adjourning
the senate while the, message was being read;
while over in the house of representatives they
refused to suspend the roll cairiong enough to
receive the communication that had been sent
there from the White House.
"The Chicago platform points with pride to
the passage of a child labor law for the District
?LwU?Hla' Let the rePu"can party go
in thf enactment of penal lawsand
fnr ft? ame of, humanlty use its vast energies
for the removal of the conditions that are forc-
fce.) int thG labr market' AP"
"It is the reign of monopoly that is emntv-
Wl!h0Sli?in0hnr0,1B7 E " OT A
witn cnild labor and the same system of mrm
SSd75 faSVimlting thG 0PPtunftieTf0or Sde
Fntn Z. liZflh?A among those wh0 e forced
wi,S.0w1?w8t?al fleld' and thus d Is doubly
blighting that hope of youth which in former
stages of our national growth opened an avenue
Spon ourasnodl. GPendenCe t0 GVry cbildrel
WRIT OF INJUNCTION MUST NOT BE
WEAPON OF OPPRESSION
"The most palpable instance of the insin
cerity of the Chicago convention ls found its
.declaration respecting the issuance of injunc-
"It would have been entitled to moro ro
Pt if it had omitted all mentton of The suI
ject. At session after session of congress labor
has pleaded for relief from the a"S of In
junction, but its appeals have fallen on deaf
SSl tadSSf "aS, b6en no '"atfon Dthat reme
enactid T,,0f acter would bo
SS thtVoSf SM!" doT tEoeTeea
respe'to Son ToSti&fT.
n4n,nS?nrffrCt.nr.t?.6 UrtS
onnrThG,cha;rge that the courts are being as
sailed is simply made for the purpose of divert
ing attention from the real issue. HeretStoVe
vAnmalTrei treason or an Snwar!
rantea attack upon the honor of the court to
ureneret9htHrnt3,l?JB?l0Uon' their proced
"fo.roatrtot their processes and generally to
r "Itima.no diffqe whether, the ;courW