Springfield weekly Republican. [volume], October 12, 1911, Page 4, Image 4

About Springfield weekly Republican. [volume] (Springfield, Mass.) 1851-1946

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STATE DEMOCRACY MEETS.
ELOQUENT PLATFORM ADOPTED.
STANDARD BEARERS CHEERED.
Speaker-' See Victory at Hand and
Fire Hot Shot at the Republicans.
From Our Special Reporter.
Boston. Thursday, October 5.
To-day the democrats have had their turn
and they have rocked old Faneuil hall. But
it was a different rocking from what the
Cradle had last year. Just as the repub
licans showed sagacity in putting their
smaller convention in a smaller hall, so the
democratic managers were equally wise in
sticking to a hall where 500 make a big
showing. They succeeded in presenting a
convention harmonious, though small, full
of enthusiasm and representative of a party
ready to make a hot campaign. Proper
fixin's were at hand to help the demonstra
tions. At every chair on the platform was a
United States Sag about 12 by 18, with
neat stick to wave it by. These flags were
distributed freely to all delegates who en
tered before the opening. A percussion,
wind and brass band made the atmosphere
as surcharged with victory as it was for the
republicans in Tremont temple. It is effect
ive and does not cost much. To give the
party its due. the delegates who were on
hand early were almost as well dressed and
almost as respectable looking as the repub
licans, and unless the latter polish up they
are in danger of losing their most practical
and drawing argument for loyalty to party.
One of the preliminary unofficial inci
dents was the distribution of little cards
with a good photo of David I. Walsh, the
candidate for lieutenant-governor, who is
doing his best to defeat Robert Luce. In
addition to the biographical data were
these quotations from The Sunday Repub
lican of September IT: "A lawyer of ability;
of attractive personal qualities: one of the
strongest men hi* party has named fur the
lieutenant-governorship in years." Mr
Walsh has qualities which the public will
adjudge worthy of that commendation and
he will give Mr Luce a close rnn. accord
ing to present indications. Your western
delegates.—James W. Svnan, Johu 11.
Mack. John F. Malley. James H. Bryan
and others.—were on hand duly. A note
worthy fact was the presence of seven
women among the delegates sitting under
the north gallery.
At 11.18 Chairman John F. McDonald
of the state committee called to order, and
Edward H. O'Brien of Worcester sat at
the secretary's chair. On motion of
Frank C. Richardson of Essex. John
F. Meaney of Blackinton was made tem
porary chairman. Mr Meaney then
delivered his brief speech say
ing that the democracy has a position
it has not had since William E. Russell.
He praised Gov Foss and told of the
democratic strength in the Legislature and
of rhe acts it has been able to force
through across party lines. They are
going to the people to give account of
their work and to ask for the election of
a democratic Legislature. (Applause.)
They invite the test of the election. Al
ready the partisan railing at democratic
unfitness is heard against the democratic
Congress. It babbles on about the tar
iff and the reciprocity treaty. It is in
voked to save the failing fortunes of
President Taft and of Senator Murray
Crane. But the effort will be vain.
Dr Coughlin, for the committee on perma
nent organization, reported that 1199 dele
gates were entitled to seats, not counting
others entitled by law, and that 809 were
represented. J. A. Maynard reported the
permanent organization: Sherman L. Whip
ple of Boston, president; Edward H.
O’Brien of Worcester, secretary, and a long
list of vieg-presidents. To escort Whipple
to the chair. Messrs W. F. Murray and
John A. Thayer were appointed a commit
tee, and he was brought up with jnueh ap
plause.
Sherman L. Whipple’* Speech.
Sherman L. Whipple opened his
official speech at 12.15 by saying that the
scene reminded him of what occurred a
year ago. Then he said what he had pre
pared. The points emphasized by the ap
plause of the convention included the
praise of the democratic legislative lead
ers ; commendations of Gov Foss’s achieve
ments of practical results with a demo
cratic minority, hr the aid of a few re
publicans. dominating the legislature:
that democrats stand for equalifv before
the law, while the republicans stand for
Special favors to the few ; that the griev
ances of the people are real: the appoint
ment of a chief justice and associate
justice of the supreme court and nine jus
tices of the superior court of high abilitv.
free from suspicion of partisanship i this
called out prolonged cheers, with waving
of flags, leading to such a demonstration
that the governor was obliged to stand
and bow ; the convention stood and waved
their flags, while the band played "Amer
ica, "—making a notable convention scene) :
the republican newspaper's statement that
the governor's relection was "inevitable" :
the attack upon the money power charged
with contemplating the exploitation of the
state; the reference to Lient-Gov Froth
ingham as a figurehead to conceal the do
ings of men behind him ; the "active part"
of the senators, Lodge with "a silver
tongue" Rnd Crane "with, a golden tongue"
fthis called our much laughter); the rid
ieule of Crane's quiet wavs, and the eter
nal rightness of the cause. The delivery
was effective and was rewarded by three
cheers.
The Platform Read.
Then George Fred Williams came up
to read the resolutions. The hand played
"Auld Long Syne.” the convention stood
and waved the flags and shouted. One
said: "He's the noblest Roman of them
all." With strong voice, Williams then
read the platform. The mention of candi
date* was cheered loudly, also direef elec
tion of United States senators; reci
procity; removal of tariff burdens: initia
tive and referendum: the proposed labor
deportment: competition of prison labor;
state finance commission; the Oregon pref
erential rote; abolition of party enact
ment: reduction of telephone rates; popu
lar vote on equal suffrage: local self-gov
ernraent; the lynching plank: the attack
on trusts (this was delivered with terrible
emphasis and called out long.,.applause,
flag-waving and three eheersl.
When this was ended, the chairman
called Mayor Fitzgerald, who was stand
ing with the crowd in the back of the
bill, to come forward. He did, amid
applause. while the band played "Sweet
Adeline.” Tbeu they called up Mnyor
Berry of Quincy, O'Connell of Fitchburg
And Cahill of Lawrence. Then John T.
Coughlin of Fall River read the names of
the committee at large.
Gov Form Cheered.
Gov Foss was presented amid tumultu-.
ous cheering aud the playing of “The
Battle Cry of Freedom." He moved the
adoption of the "excellent platform," which
was voted unanimously and then he went
ou with his prepared speech, beginning at
1.87. The speech was read and the gov
ernor’s theory of tariff revision was re
ceived without demonstration till he came
to the place where lie said that public
opinion i« us much against the tariff as
oxer. His identification of his tariff views
with President Taft's was approved. The
| reciprocity passage was received without
applause.
David I. Walsh was presented as the
next lieutenant-governor to "He's a jolly
good fellow." three cheers and applause.
H>' acknowledged the compliment of the
nomination. Ho promised to tight demo
cratic battles loyally and to do all in his
power to spread democratic principles.
•‘Sweet Adaline’’ is Sunn;.
Mayor Fitzgerald was presented amid
cheers and sang "Sweet Adaline." accom
panied by the cornet in the band. The
crowd clapped and cheered. He said they
would repeat the soijg on election night
when the governor, all the state ticket and
a democratic Legislature had been elect
ed. He had no speech, he said, but he
would read Frothingham’s record. It will
be read in every hall in the state aud no
one can believe Frothingham can be elected
after that. The mayor then read the rec
ord of Frothingham's legislative votes
which was printed in the Boston mayor
alty campaign in 1905. when Frothingham
was defeated by Fitzgerald. It was a long
list of votes against labor measures and
democratic election principles. Then the
mayor read Gov Foss's record of approv
al of legislative action to show the con
trast. selecting the measures which have
had popular interest, the Bostou port bill,
the supervision of small loans. Boston sub
way legislation, direct nominations, anti
injunction bill. 54-hour bill, eight-hour bill,
Boston school teachers' bill. Boston and
Eastern railway hill over the head of the
railroad committee, besides measures de
feated by the republican Legislature—in
come tax, license commission. United shoe
machinery company investigation, popular
election of United States senators, and so
on. He predicted the election of all the
state ticket.
Gov Foss’s Address.
"I am content that the people should
decide upon the single issue whether I
have performed faithfully the duties of
the office to which they elected me.’’ said
Gov Eugene X. Foss in opening his ad
dress before the convention, continuing,
he said: "I am willing to he judged on the
record of my administration. But I jump
at the opportunity to force the issue along
national lines. The democrats in Massa
chusetts are downward revisionists. For
10 years I have argued before the people
of Massachusetts that they should de
mand a reyision of the tariff which would
give a fair chance for the development of
the industries of this commonwealth. Dur
ing all this time I have consistently ad
vocated two methods of adopting tariff
schedules to our needs. One of these meth
ods is the reduction of import in duties
on foodstuffs and raw materials. Both
duties enter into the cost of what we
produce and diminish the purchasing pow
er of the wages of our workmen- The re
sult of the reduction of these duties would
not be the withdrawal of protection from
our industries, but the widening of the
market for our products both at home
and in foreign countries.
"The reduction of duties which I advo
cate will compel all monopolies to fight
for their share of the home market against
the small American competitor, who will
have just as good a chance as they in this
market. It will compel these monopolies
to get the foreign market only in the nor
mal manner, on the merit of their goods.
Such is the tariff revision pleaded for by
William McKinley in his iast speech. It
will develop American industries and ex
pand American trade nnd commerce.
A Warning to the Republicans.
"The coming election affords another and
the last warning to the republican party'
that, so far as Massachusetts is concerned,
downward revision is not a matter for
promise, but for accomplishment. The re
publican managers in this campaign tell
us that we must elect the republican ticket
as an indorsement of Mr Taft.
"How. I ask in ail sincerity, could my
election as a candidate who has for IO
years fought consistently for what the
president says he stands for be construed |
as a rebuke to Mr Taft? And bow can j
the republican managers say that a candi- j
date is working against the industries of j
Massachusetts when that candidate advo- j
cates precisely what Mr Taft says he
stands for? Reducing the tariff is one
method of revision: the other is the recip
rocal trade agreement.
"The republican managers claim that
reciprocity is dead. No one would deny
that the Canadian election was a setback
to the Taft plan of reciprocity. The Cana
dians may have thought that the agree
ment was not desirable from their point
of view. They may have voted against
annexation, an issue which President Taft j
himself tendered them in his 'parting of
the ways’ speech. Congressman Bennett
of New York. Congressman Focht of
Pennsylvania, Congressman Gardner of
Massachusetts and other standpat repub
licans also flaunted this bogie. Congress
man Gardner is reported to have request
ed Senator Young of lowa to say publicly
that he was convinced that reciprocity
meant annexation. It is easy to believe
that Mr Taft and the republican party
have dropped reciprocity. By the veto of
tlie ’farmers’ free list hill.' he had pre
pared the way for, and anticipated, its
defeat.
Hope for (anadian Reciprocity.
“But I am not persuaded that Canada
has decided definitely against reciprocity.
I believe that the Canadians win conclude
an agreement with the United States as
soon_ as the matter cap be decided with
out involving other issues, including Cana
dian seif-respect. Xlorenver. only a small
part of the reciprocity issue was involved
in the Canadian agreement. It is to be
noticed that the very thing that Massa
chusetts favored, it was beyond the power
of Canada to deny, namely, the free entry
into the United States of foodstuffs and
certain raw materials. If tile strategy of
the republican managers can spell, out
of the defeat of reciprocity in Canada, a
duty to abandon downward revision of the
rates on foodstuffs nnd the raw materials
which Massachusetts industries require,
the standpatters have indeed taken the
president into camp.
"Let Massachusetts get her foodstuffs
free of duty nnd free raw materials for
our industries, nnd our manufacturers will
not ask for any unreasonable tariff rates
on her manufactured products. Equal op
portunity in the home market anil a fair
chance in the foreign market is oil Massa
chusetts asks. Increased exports will
bring about the establishment of an Amer
ican merchant marine; the drawing of
American freight money to our hanks will
strengthen our financial position, give us
the profit# that wc now abandon to other
nations, and furnish us with a hasis of
a sound monetary system.
The Rnstness Situation.
"The chief contribution of the republican
party to the industrial situation in the past
four years has been agitation. During that
time business activity has been discour
aged and "ahies have shrunk. From Jan
uary, 8, 1910. to September 2H, 1911,
there was a shrinkage in the market value
of ;:0 standard railroad and industrial
stocks of about $888,000,000. Whatever
the cause of this shrinkage, it certainly
caiuiot be laid to the door of the demo
cratic party.
"The republican managers admit that
they are advocates of high protection. Mr
Taft, therefore, saya he is for downward
revision, while the republican managers
tire for superfluous protection. Not even
Mr l'nft himself would know whether the
indorsement the republican managers ask
would lie of downward revision, or of the
opponents of downward revision; whether
Massachusetts had declared for reciprocity
or for the abandonment of reciprocity. And
the agitation would continue.
"A democratic victory, ou the other hand,
would be a declaration for both downward
revision and reciprocity: a warning tlmt
the people of Massachusetts wish the
promises to settle the tariff question per
formed; and a progressive policy of devel
opment of American Commerce entered
; upon. While, therefore, Mussuelpisetts can
not accept the president's invitation to de
cide the present election on national issues,
the true interests of Massachusetts re
quire—aud Iter people demand—nu lioueet
downward revision of the tariff, the execu
THE SPRINGFIELD WEEKLY REPEBLICAN: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1911.
tion of a broad policy of commercial reci
procity. and the development of Massachu
setts industries through equal opportunity
in the home market and a fair chance m
foreign markets. That. I believe, is the
verdict rhe voters of Massachusetts will
tender at this election. *’
The Platform.
A wave of democracy is sweeping over the
world. Sultaus. shahs and kingt> are driven
into exile and the republic is the ideal of
earth's struggling peoples. Above the smok
ing ruins of a feudal aristocracy appears rhe
b«w of promise for self-government to the
people or Great Britain. A mighty move
ment in our oxvn land is for more democ
racy. and it is tit ting that it should be wel
comed by *he first democratic state conven
tion in .Massachusetts to which the dele
gates and candidates come directly by the
people’s appointment.
Candidates.
\Ve present a list of candidates which truly
reflects the benefits and wisdom of direct
popular nominations. A governor who has
earned and received the indorsement of a
grateful and satisfied constituency. Privilege
no longer dictates in the executive cham
ber. Integrity, industry, efficiency and zeal
for the public interests have marked his
service. Brave yet cautious, progressive yet
deliberate, his loyal service, business nbD
ity and added experience commend him to
tlie suffrages of tne people.
A candidate for lieutenant-governor who is
an able lawyer, a trained, earnest and patri
otic citizen, an eloquent exponent of demo
cratic principles. For secretary of slate a
man experienced in legislation and a student
of public affairs, who in the last Legislature
had the united support of his party asso
dates for this office. For auditor and for
treasurer and receiver-general business men
of high standing, large experience and Inti
mate acquaintance with all matters to which
These offices relate. For attorney-general a
leader of rhe Suffolk bar, strong in his sense
of duty, progressive in views, the peer of
nnv man who has held this office. We ap
peal to the people for a council to support
the governor ana the return of a democratic
majority in each branch of the state Legis
lature.
Legislation.
With a democratic governor and increased
representation of our party in the Legisla
ture. the following measures of our party
poliev have been enacted: Direct nomina
tions': corrupt practices act: workingmen’s
compensation; jury trial in injunction con
tempt cases: the eight-hour law; the ,M-hour
law; harbor and dock improvements. We
renew the demands of last year’s platform
for a federal income tax amendment; direct
election of United States senators; a uniform
national parcels post; pre-election publicity
of campaign expenses: consolidation of com
missions.
Tariff.
The Payne-Aldrich tariff law should be at
once revised by eliminating the protection
which promotes monopoly, produces private
profit instead of public revenue, obstructs
free domestic competition and the sale of
American products in foreign markets. We
declare for removal of rll duties on food
stuffs. which enter into general popular con
sumption and on the raw material of our
manufactures.
We fhvor a broad program of reciprocal
trade agreements with other nations that
our commerce may be developed nnd new
markers opened to the products of American
industrv. We commend the efforts of the
democratic majority in the national House
of Representatives to lower the cost of living
bv removing the burdens of the Payne-
Aldrich tariff from the necessities of the
people and from our industrial interests.
Direct Legislation,
Before our institutions lies a jungle of priv
ilege. obstructing the highways of freedom
To clear away this jungle is the work of
democracy. A century of experience has
proved that it is privilege which with its
bosses, lobbies and corruption has weakened
our institutions. Legislatures, yielding to the
demands of organized greed, have failed in
their service to the people. As with their
constitutions so with their laws the people
now demand an account at the ballot box.
Hence our party now again pledges itself to
secure a constitutional amendment for direct
legislation, known as the initiative and ref
erendum. giving to the peopie. on proper
petition, power at the polls to veto objec
tionable legislation and to propose anrl enact
measures which Legislatures refuse. We in
struct the democratic legislative committee
to recommend an amendment to which all
legislative candidates may be pledged.
Labor.
This year has surpassed any in history for
legislation in the Interests of labor. The
laws for protection of employes are imper
fectly enforced and the operation of the
board of conciliation and arbitration nas been
unsatisfactory. We recommend that nil those
functions be reorganized under the jurisdic
tion of one board as a department of labor.
A commission Is now making inquiry Into
minimum wages for women and minors. We
request this commission to report fully upon
the employment of women and children at
heavy labor, with recommendations of legis
lation for the care of any abuses.
Agrricnlture.
Wo urge legislation to build up the farming
Interests of the state; to double the appro
priations of the state agricultural depart
ment; to establish prizes for fine cattle, and
thus offset the present penalties for keeping
unhealthy cattle; to Increase the state sup
port of county fairs, and to establish just
transportation conditions for farm and dairy
products.
Administration.
The administration of state and county af
ffliiH and institutions is often confused, in
efneient, expensive and wasteful. We rec
ommend legislation to improve the adminis
tration of our state charities and prisons;
to protect “first offenders” from moral con
tamination In our reformatories; to stop all
competition of prison labor with free labor;
to uuolteh the i-ommisslon-agent method of
selling prison products in the open mnrket.
and limit all prison-made goods to use in rhe
state Institutions; to fix a value on these
products and establish a fund to help dis
charged prisoners and the families of pris
oners.
A permcnent state finance commission
should he created to study conditions of
administration in state, county, city and
town, and make recommendations to the
people and the public authorities for the
establishment of most-approved methods and
the checking of extravagance.
We especially Insist that the fund 6 of the
commonwealth shall no longer he loaned at,
the lowest, rate of interest nnd without se
curity to favored hanks, who are thus pro
vided with a motive for partisan action, hut
that all public fund* shall he loaned only at
competitive ratps and with undoubted se
curity. We nre assured that. s7?>.o<Yv will thus
he saved annually to the taxpayers, an
amount more than sufficient to pay the ex
penses of the treasury department.
Taxation.
We recommend an immediate revision of
our vicious tax system; to distribute the
burden of taxes; to reduce that burden for
»hn?e least able to bear it, and to estahlish
n tax on the incomes of jfleisonal property.
We believe that the time hns come for a
full investigation of taxation by a board
which cannot h»* influenced by those who per
vert the present laws, and that cities and
j towns should lie required for its information
to tabulate sernrateiy the valuations of land.
I of improvements, of chattels, of Intangible
| personalty, to the end that the people may
intelligently review the existing system and
consider Its amendment or displacement.
Fleet lon * and Primaries,
We urge that the commonwealth provide
for the printing and distribution before pri
maries and e’ectlons of statements of the
records and policies of candidates. Until the
amendment for direct election «f United
/ States senators is secured we urge the adop
i tion of the Oregon plan of n ballot for sen
j ntorinl candidates at the state election and
1 the pledging of legislative candidates to vote
for the nominee of the majority. We demand
;he abolition of party enrolment, as n pre
requisite for voting at primaries nnd that
a ballot system be provided to ohvinte com
pulsion upon the voter to declare hla party
preference.
Telephone Rates,
We demand immediate attention of the
Legislature to the reduction of telephone
rates. The effort to obtain reductions from
the highway commission hna resulted in many
raises In rates and added inconveniences,
which demand a positive remedy.
F.qnnl Snflrage.
We believe that the question of equal suf
frage should be submitted to the vote of the
people. « ,
Enforcement of Monopoly Lana.
We demand from the attorney-general and
other prosecuting officers the prompt enforce
ment of all laws against monopolies and
tiade reatrgints nnd against rebates and dip
criminations In railroad nnd other public
service rates and charges.
Public Utilities Board.
We reiterate the demand of the joveror
for the establishment of a public utilities
board to control the public services now in
the hands of several commissions which imil
tiply expenses nnd serve Inadequately the
public Interests.
If it rhorn nnd Docks.
The last republican governor delivered over
n commonwealth dock to a single railroad
company. It was upon rbe initiative of onr
democratic governor that an existing measure
for harbor nnd dock development was freed
from railroad dictation und put Into oners*
! tion. The vast nnd comprehensive plans
! which promise to make Boston a center of
j commercial and marine enterprise may yet
I be crippled by railroad influences We prom
ise that a democratic governor and Legisla
ture will keep this improvement under tlie
control of the people nnd open to any rail
road which will apply for its use.
Development of Transportation.
Wg recommend that our commonwealth co,
operate with the United States government
in developing our seaports and inland water
ways; In order to provide cheap transporta
tion. expand our commerce and check all rail
road monopoly.
Municipal Government.
We believe that cities are entitled to frame
and amend their own charters and that their
administration should be free from state in
terference. Wc believe, however, that the
state and cities and towns should co operate
in forming comprehensive, scientific plans for
development ahd beautification of our munici
palities.
The Court*.
We congratulate the governor that upon his
urgency the course of justice in our courts
has been facilitated and improved by the ap
pointment of justices upon their professional
merits, the securing of additional justices and
the limitations .pen new trials and the set
ting aside of verdicts.
Street Railways.
We are assured that the people of the com
monwealth take the firm stand of the gov
ernor for preservation of the public rights in
the terms provided by the Legislature for the
consolidation of tb< street railway systems
and the provisions for additional subways in
the city of Boston.
Fidelity to I’ledgM.
We call attention to the loyalty of our dem
ocratic legislators to our previous platform
declarations, as an earnest that the pledges
of this platform will be faithfully observed.
Lynching:* and Discrimination*.
We deplore the necessity in a civilized land
of uttering words of protest against lynebings
and other mob outrages, or any discrimina
tions under our institutions arising out of
differences in rare, creed or color. For the
personalities of the excellent citizens who
compose the ticket of our opponents, we have
happily no criticism: hut we condemn the
system which they represent. It is the system
of privilege which in the Massachusetts re
publican convention stood defiant and unyield
ing, tolerating no insurgency and suppressing
all protest. Its boundless treasures are drawn
from the tolling millions, held under the lash
of necessity. It threatens with poverty, pan
ics and Industrial ruin those who question its
exactions and menace its supremacy. Even
now, if need be. there will ho shutdowns and
wage reductions, that the toiler may see. his
ballot through tearful and hungry eyes.
We do not underestimate the power of this
system, when at hay; its treasury is unlimit
ed : it distrusts the people and popular gov
ernment ; it purchases the highest talent,
masters of eloquence defend Tt ; ambition
seeks Its rewards, social, political and finan
cial: its punishments are terrible, it controls
industrial armies and the wealth of the repub
lic. Its lenders possess fortunes unmatched
in the history of the world : ft reaches into
press, pulpits and universities: it towers
above the laws and governments : it has nei
ther conscience nor patriotism : money is its
god. greed its religion, force its argument,
monopoly its weapon and humanity its victim.
This mighty force we now’ challenge in behalf
of the millions It oppresses and with faith in
the destiny of pur republic.
GOV FOSS MAKES REPLY.
Pat* Hi* Confidence iu the Feople---
Wottld Abolish Party Enrolment.
The reply made Monday by Got Foss
when asked if be had anything to say in
reply to the published letter of Henry M.
Whitney relative to the present state cam ■
paign and his lotting the democratic party,
was: “Everybody is against me, except the
people. I have not lost my confidence in
them.” Mr Whitney was the unsuccessful
democratic eandidaie for governor in 1907.
He said Sunday right that he would vote
the republican ticket this year.
Meeting one of the earliest cuestions of
the campaign hurled as him by the repub
lican orators, 1 as tq’his standing on abo
lition’ of pnrfy; cptitlpiput', Gov Foes Mon
day issued the roflow.mg statement: "The
democratic platform demands 'he abolition
of party enrolment as a prerequisite of vot
ing. atjd that a ballot syst.-m be provided
to obviate the compulsion of a voter to de
clare his party preference. I stand rn every
plauk of the platform, including the plan
to abolish party enrolment. We oelieve in
party responsibility, hut a responsibility
that depends for its support upon the con
science of the voters.
"Wc believe in grouping the party candi
dates in columns on the ballot and allowing
the voter to vote in secret for the candi
dates of only one party at primaries. I am
not afraid to trust the people of Massachu
setts with a secret haiiot at primaries. The
plan we propose does not lessen party re
sponsibility. On the contrary, it places
party responsibility without fear or favor
where it belongs, in the hands of the
people."
FROTHINGHAM’S ACCEPTANCE.
Hi* Speech to the Republican Con
vention Lnat Week.
In his address accepting the republican
nomination Lieut-Gov Frothlngham said:—
"Gentlemen of the convention: I thank
you and the other republicans who nom
inated me for your continued confidence.
Four months ago people wondered what
use the republican nomination could be to
any one. Two months ago they thought
the nominee might have a fighting chance.
To-day they feel he is going to win. And
we are going to,win. The people, in whom
all power lies, will see to that. They will
see to it because no benefit has redounded
to them from the hands of the present
administration on Beacon hill. They will
see to it because in the long run they
realize that the principles of our party
lead to stability, progress and prosperity.
Fast rear a volcanic eruption hit Massa
chusetts, The >ava has been flowing ever
since. Never have we had such a deluge
of messages and vetoes, never so many
vetoes ovi rridden, never such a long ses
sion of the Legislature. Anything would
do to make the public think things were
moving. Rut the public cannot continual
ly he cu.ioted. Things were moving, but
not moving ahead. Never was an admin
istration so far behind in visiting the
great state institutions, never were so
many men on our hoards and commissions
left to hold over after their terms had ex
pired, in doubt ns to whether or not thev
would lie i This, in a repub
lican administration, would not he con
doned for a moment, nor would many of
the new appointments, some of which the
council and I have been forced to reject.
In every age we have treated the gov
ernor with uniform courtesy and consid
eration even to the extent of ratifying
namfes we would not ourselves have pre
sented.
Bny Slate Stood the Test,
"At no time in our history has such an
investigation taken place as was carried
on this year, into the departments and
institutions of the commonwealth,—a hos
tile investigation—what other state in the
I'nion could stand such an examination?
Vet Massachusetts not only stood it, hut
It came out with flying colors. Not one
cent of misappropriation, no corruption
and no malfeasance in ofticc. A report
not redounding to the political benefit of
the party instigating the investigation, hut
to the everlasting credit of past repub
lican administrations and to the high
character of public officials in ilpht old
Massachusetts. The recommendations
hased on the reports of these experts
were reported against, unanimously, by
the ways and means committee, on which
were five democrats. Even its own party
refused to stand by the administration in
this attempt to besmirch the good name of
the commonwealth. Good measures were
enacted by republican votes, some like
the workmen’s compensation aet had been
provided for under a previous administra
tion some became law only after the ob
jectionable clause had been held to he un
constitutional. others were signed only
under pressure, while other goon measures
were vetoed. Time does not permit me
to recount these laws at leDgtlj to-day.
Over HO cities hav* adopted the com
mission plan of government since the first
of the year.
THE COLONEL PRAISES HIMSELF
LAUDS HIS WORK AT PANAMA.
Colombia Was Mantling; In the Way
of dTUltatlon—lay, Critics Are
Really Opponents of Any Canal at
All.
Theodore Roosevelt has an article on
"How the United States acquired the right
to dig the Panama canal” in the current
number of the Outlook. Mr Roosevelt dis
cusses statements which have been made
from time to time that he acted in an
unconstitutional manner and usurped au
thority in connection with the Panama
project, nnd he upholds the regularity of
the proceedings throughout. Mr Hoose
velt says that his messages to Congress
set forth in full and in detail every es
sential fact connected with the various
phases of the acquisition of the Panama
canal. He adds: "Not one important fact
was omitted, and no fact of any import
ance bearing upon the actions or nego
tiations of the representatives of the
United States not there set forth has
been, or ever will be, discovered, simply
beoause there is none to discover. It
must he a matter of pride to every honest
American, proud of the good name of his
country, that the acquisition of the canal
and the building of the canal, in all their
details, were as free from scandal as the
puulic acts of George Washington and
Abraham Lincoln.”
Referring to the opposition to the project
then and since, Mr Roosevelt says: "Of
course there was at the time, and has been
since, much repetition of statements trat
I acted in an ‘unconstitutional’ manner,
that I 'usurped authority’ which was not
mine. These were the statements that
were made again and again in reference
to almost all I did as president that was
most beneficial and most important to the
people of this country, to whom I was re
sponsible. and of whose interests I was
the steward. The simple fact was. as I
have elsewhere said, that when the inter
est of the American people imperatively
demanded that a certain act should be
done, and I had the power to do it, I
did it unless it was specifically prohibited
by law. instead of timidly rentsing to do
it unless I could find some provision of
law which rendered it imperative that I
should do it. In other words, I gave
the benefit of the doubt to the people of
the United States, and not to anv group
of bandits, foreign or domestic, whose in
terests happened to be adverse to those
of the people of the United States. In
my judgment, history had taught the les
son that the president has very great pow
ers if he to exercise those powers;
but that, if he 1s a timid or selfish man.
afraid of responsibility and afraid of risks,
he can of course manufacture ingenious
excuses for failure to exercise them. At a
great crisis in American history Mr
Buchanan had shown himself to belong to
the latter type of president; Mr Lincoln
had represented the other type, the type
which gave the peopie the benefit of the
doubt, which was not afraid to take re
sponsibility. which used in large fashion
for the good of the people the great pow
ers of a great office. I very strongiy be
lieved that Abraham Lincoln had set the
example which it was healthy for the peo
ple of the United States that other presi
dents should follow.”
‘•Events Occurred” In Panama,
Mr Roosevelt refers to the act of Con
gress of 1902 for the acquisition of the
Panama canal, and says; “In October and
November, 1908, events occurred on the
isthmus of Panama which enabled me,
and which made it my highest duty to the
people of the United States, to carry out
the provisions of the law of Congress.
I did carry them out, and the canal is
now being built because of what L fhus
did. It is also perfectly true then, that
if I had wished to shirk my responsibility,
if I bad been afraid of doing my duty.
I could have pursued a course which
would have been technically defensible,
which would have prevented criticism of
the kind that lias been made, and would
have left tlie United States no nearer
building the canal at this moment than it
had been for tlie preceding half-century,
if I had observed a judicial inactivity
about what was going on at the isthmus,
had let things take their course, and had
then submitted an elaborate report there
on to Congress, I would have furnished
the opportunity for much masterly debate
m Congress, which would now be going
on—nnd the canal would still be 50 vears
in the future.
"Tlie interests of the American peop'e
demanded that I should act just exactly
as I did act: and I would have takpn the
action I actually did take even though
I had been certain that to do so meant
tny prompt retirement from public life at
the next election: for the only thing which
makes it worth while to hold a big office
is taking advantage of the opportunities
the office offers to do some big thing that
ought to be done and is worth doing.”
Purchase of Canal Rights.
Concerning the purchase of the canal
rights from the French company, Mr
Roosevelt says: “Every step taken by the
government in connection with its negotia
tions with the French company and the
payment to its official representatives in
accordance with the agreement entered
into was taken with the utmost care, and
every detail has heen made public, Everv
action taken was not merely proper, but
was carried out in accordance with the
highest, finest and nicest standards of
public and governmental ethics.' Doubt
less in Paris, and perhaps to n lesser ex
tent in New York, there were speculators
wlio bought and sold iu the stock market
with a view to the varying conditions ap
parent from time to time in the course of
the negotiations, and with a view to the
probable outcome of the negotiations. This
was precisely what speculators did in En
gland in connection with the outcome of
ilte baltle of "Waterloo, nnd in our country
in connection with Abraham Lincoln's is
suance of tlie emancipation proclamation
and other arts during the civil war.”
The Opposition of Colombia.
Concerning the opposition of Colombia,
Mr Roosevelt says: "I felt very strongly
thst the position that the one-time secre
tary of state, Cass, had taken nearly 50
years before, was the proper position, and
that tlie United States would he derelict
in its duty if it permitted Colombia to pre
vent tlie building of the Panama canal. I
was prepared, if necessary, to gumbit to
Congress a recommendation that we
should proceed with the work in spite of
Colombia's opposition, and indeed had
prepared a tough draft of a message to
that effect, when events on the isthmus
took such shape as to change the problem.
“Tlie people of Panama now found
themselves in a position in which their
Interests were identical with the Interests
of the United States: for the government
of Colombia, with elaborate care and with
a shortsightedness equal to its iniquity,
had followed out to its end the exact poliey
whlch rendered it morally impossible ns
well ns morally improper for the United
States to continue to exercise its power
in the interest of Colombia, and against
its own interest and the interest of Pan
ama. There was no need of any outsider
to exeife revolution in Panama. There
were dozens of leaders on the isthmus si
ready doing their best to excite revolution.
It was not a ease of lighting a fuse that
would lire a mine—there were dozens of
such fuses being lit ail the time; ir
was simply a case of Its ceasing to be
the duty of the United States to stamp
on these fuses, or longer to act in the
interest of those who had become the
open and malignant foes of the United
States—and of civilization and of the world
at large.”
After detailing the various steps taken
tiv Colombia to oppose the treaty, Mr
Roosevelt says: “Acting in view of ail
these facts. I sent various naval vessels
to the isthmus. The order* to the Amer
ican nsvttl officers wore to maintain free
aud uninterrupted transit across the isth
mus. and. with that purpose, to prevent
the landing of srntod forces with hostile
Intent at any point within 50 miles of
Panama. These orders were precisely such
as had heen issued again and again in
preceding years—l9oo, 1901 and 1902. for
instance. They wore carried out. Their
necessity was conclusively shown by the
fact that a body of Colombian troops had
lauded at Colon and threatened ;i t reign
of terror, announcing their intention of
killing rill American citizens in Colon. Tlie
prompt action of (’apt Hubbard of the
gunboat Nashville, prevented this threat
from being put into effect; be rescued the
imperiled Americans and finally persuad
ed the Colombian troops to re-embark and
peacefully return to Colombia.
“We Prevented a Civil War."
“We recognized the republic of Panama.
Without firjng a shot we prevented a
civil war. We promptly negotiated a treaty
under which the canal is now being dug.
In consequence Panama has for eight
years enjoyed a degree of peace nnd pros
perity which it had never before enjoyed
during its four centuries of troubled exist
ence. Be it remembered that unless I
had acted exactly- as I did act there would
now be no Panama canal. It is folly to
assert devotion to an end. and at. the
same time to condemn the only means by
which the end ean be achieved. Every
man who has at any stage opposed or
condemned the action actually taken in
acquiring rhe right to dig the canal lias
really been the opponent of every effort
that could ever have heen made to dig
the canal. Such critics are not straight
forward or sincere unless they announce
frankly that their criticism of methods is
merely a mask, and that at bottom what
they are really criticising is having the
canal dug at ail.
Rlgkt In Every Reaped.
“Not only was the course followed as
regards Panama right in every detail and
at every point, but there could have bpen
no variation from its course except for
the yvorse. We not only did what was
technically justifiable, but we did what
was demanded by every ethical considera
tion, national and international. We did
our duty to the world, we did onr duty
to the people of Panama, we did our duty
by ourselves. We did harm to no one
save as harm is done to a bandit by a
policeman who deprives him of his chance
to blackmail. The United States has
many honorable chapters in its history,
but no more honorable chapter than that
which tells of the way in which our right
to dig the Panama cana! was secured and
of the manner In which the work itself
has heen carried out.”
DISAGREES WITH ROOSEVELT.
Local Man, Convernnnt With Spaninh-
Amerteati Affairs. Believe, United
State* Should Fay Colombia for
Canal Zone.
A Springfield man. wbo spent several
years in Colombia and who is iu con
stant touch with natives of that country,
disagrees with Theodore Roosevelt in his
article in the current numher of the
Outlook on “How the United States ac
quired the right to dip the Panama canal."
He holds that the United States is not de
fensible in its method of acquiring the
canal zone and that Colombia citould be
reimbursed for what she has lost in na
tional disruption and the loss of the
canal. His views are given as follows:—
We are living in an age when great
political questions more than ever hefore
are judged from tlie standpoint of national,
morality. It is felt tnat not only in
dividuals but also corporations and na
tions should have souls, that not only the
great powers should treat each other just
ly. but should have the same tender re
gard for the rights of smaller countries.
With the expression of these truths I
shall proceed to make some comments
on ex-President Roosevelt's recent defense
of his actions toward Colombia in refer
ence to the Panama canal. About the
year 1868 Secretary Seward sent Caleb
Cusliinp on a mission to the government
of Colombia at Bogota for the purpose
of making a treaty with that power for
the construction of a canal across the
isthmus of Panama. After careful con
ferences a treaty was made, signed by
both powers and presented to the Senate
of the United States for ratification. This
treaty lay on the table for several years
without being favorably acted upon.
Colombia, having felt that she had
fully discharged her duties toward the
United States, and no private company in
this country being inclined to take up the
project, turned to the French government.
This being objected to by the United
States that the French government, as
such, should build the canal, a private
company was organized in France, headed
by Count De Lesseps, with which the
Colomhinn government made a contract
for construction work. After years of
labor and bad management the company
asked for prolongation of the contract.
This was granted several times. At length
it was seen that the company could not
carry out its part of the contract. Only
two years would elapse until Colombia
should come into possesion of all rights
of a violated contract. Meanwhile there
sprang up in the United States a desire
to build the canal. After some years of
dismission and conferences a sketch of n
treaty was sanctioned by Congress which
was sent to Colombia for ratification.
In view of certain expressions in this
trear.v and her rights in reference to the
French contract, about to expire. Colum
bia felt that she was entitled to more than
the compensation of the $10,000,000 of
fered. It was natural under the circum
stances that she should wish to drive a
close bargain. It is said that the Ameri
can minister at Bogota was somewhat,
dictatorial in his manner, giving Colombia
to understand that not a word of the
treaty could be changed, that it must he
adopted exactly as passed by the United
Stales Congress or rejected altogether.
During this discussion at Bogota an in
telligent gentlemen front Colombia, tem
porarily living in Springfield, was speak
ing with an American, a man well posted
in regard to Colombian affairs, and read
to him a letter which lie was sending to
a friend in the Colombian Congress. He
was advising his friend to vote for the
ratification of the treaty with the United
States, und among other things wrote that
if Colombia did not so ratify it, "the
Y'nnkees would take it anyway." The
American smiled nnd said that tlie United
States would never commit such an in
justice.
Colombia, in vipw of all circumstances,
decided to decline to ratify the treaty.
Of course the authorities of the United
States were somewhat chagrined, nnd they
began to consider how they ooqid build
the canal without Colombia's consent.
At that time the t'nited States was undor
treaty obligations to protect Colombia, in
cluding Panama. The people of Pnnama
were much disappointed at the action of
the national Congress in Bogota, and he
gan to lay schemes for building a canal
Iu spite of their national government. At
this point there can scarcely be a doubt
that there was collusion on the part of
leaders of this movement and those then
in power in the United States. Manuel
Amador, afterward the first president of
Panama, is said to have remarked, "We
have the great colossus behind ns.” There
can scarcely be a doubt that Panama
would never have dared to rebel had slip
not been well assured that the national
authorities would not be permitted to in
terfere with her action. The United States
forces, almost if not quite, compelled the
Coloinhi»n troops to sail from Colon nnd
in effect declared that no bloodshed should
take place within the territr.v of the state,
as she afterward guaranteed the new re
public by treaty.
These are the plain facts in regard to
the strange conduct of parties concerned
In this great enterprise. Colombia was
clearly within her rights to accept or re
ject the treaty offered her, aprl much as
one may wiah that she had proceeded
otherwise, It must he confessed that, un
der the circumstances, she had grent
temptation to drive a good bargain with
the United States. in view of these
facts, for Roosevelt to sssert that those
who oppose his actions in regard to the
Paoamn question are also opposed to the
construction of the canal. Is simply to as
sert that those who oppose national In-
justice, violation of treaty obligations and
the forcible partition of a neighboring
republic, are also opposed to the construc
tion of the canal. We are all strongly in
favor qf the construction of the canal,
and from the standpoint of the people of
: I anania I think that this new republic is
11, ° ne Party which has right on its side.
If Panama, having been perhaps some
j "’“at unjustly treuted by Colombia, not
| on ‘y in this, hut in previous instances,
i was assured that the “great colossus”
would defend her from ail attacks, she
m ay he said to have had the right to es
tablish an independent government, be
cause she would suffer no evil conse
quences and gain $10,000,000. In all prob
ability she wiij gain her canal, and we
do not beiieve that even Colombia would,
wish to undo the work which is being
i done. But Colombia does feel., and I be
lieve that the best sentiments of the world
will agree with her, that she should be
remunerated for tlie failure to carry out
contracts made with her and for the dis
memberment of her territory.
As I understand the matter, she has
already asked the United States for arbi
tration hefore the conference at The
Hague, being willing to leave this whole
question to the best judgment of mankind
In view of these tilings I can hardly be
surprised that Roosevelt has recently ex
pressed himself unfavorably toward obliga
tory arbitration among the nations of the
world.
ENGLISH POLITICIANS AND OURS
Comments of a Former London Jonr
nnli.xl—-Perspective of the English
Prens.
Walter J. Kingsley, formerly news ed
itor of the London Daily Express, and a
war correspondent for the Daily Mail in
the Rnsso-Japan war. was in this city
Itist week in the interests of a New York
theatrical firm, by which he is employed
as general press agent. Mr Kingsley, an
American by birth and education, though
of English family, went to London at the
time when C. Arthur Pearson bought the
Daily Express, and assisted in organizing
the news service of that paper. In the
Course of private conversation last week,
Mr Kingsley made several comments upon
English life, which, though by no mean 3
esoteric or inaccessible to the ordinary ob
server, are always well worth calling to
the attention of Americans.
Mr Kingsley pointed out the contrast
between English politicians and those of
the United States. The men who attain
high position in either party in England
are almost invariably men of sound schol
arship and wide knowledge of the world
—not infrequently men of fine literary
gifts, like Lord Morley and Mr Balfour.
Taken outside the sphere of politics, they
are at ease wherever matters of intellec
tual consequence ore being considered. On
the other hand the American politician is
a politician, often a remarkably shrewd
one, and outside of politics a commonplace,
unlettered man. Recently, to be sure, there
ha t s been raised the cry of “The scholar in
politics,“ but that the cry should he. raised
at all shows the innovation, and shows
further the fact that scholarship is some
thing which is regarded ns detached from
the ordinary concerns of meu. In En
gland scholarship is taken for granted as
a trait of the man of affairs. The su
periority of English university education
would not itself be enough to account for
the difference; it is a matter of tradition,
of respect, for learning and humane knowl
edge. In the colonies one finds men in
civil and military service who show the
breadth aud efficiency of their bringing up.
“They simply can’t, think wrong, ’’ is the
way Mr Kingsley expressed it.
The English press, Mr Kingsley thinks,
possesses a better sense of perspective
than the American. The press
is “too local.” . Foreign news of import
ance may be wholly overshadowed by a
“murder in the Ist ward.” In London, Mr
Kingsley says, a murder must have some
thing peculiarly interesting about it to be
noticed at all. With five news agencies
pouring items into the newspaper offices
all day, the culling out of material aud
getting it into the briefest space is not
n simple problem. The general principle
is to treat news according to its genuine
importance. And even the “ha'penny”
papers, which now are in so great favor,
publish columns of general comment xvrit
*ten by accomplished journalists, and books
and science and art are treated as though
n common interest in them could be as
sumed.
BALFOUR STATES POSITION,
Favor* Imperial Preference — Sava
Liberals Plan Disestablishment
After Home Rnle.
A. ,T. Balfour fired the first gun in con
servative opposition to what may ,be
termed the second act of "the revolution”
before an immense meeting of the unionist
association at Haddington. Scot., Satur
day afternoon. Strong factional opposi
tion to his leadership which was kindled
by his advice to the Lords, to accept the
veto bill has accused him particularly of
weakness on the tariff reform issue, and
his announcement on this point was im
portant. He came out. strongly for im
perial preference. “1 hope," said Mr Bal
four, "that our people will find the spirit
in which we must approach this question
in the broad decision reached by the Cana
dian people. The Canadian decision ex
tended far beyond the borders of Canada
and must have heneficiul results for the
empire at large. The decision of Canada
shows how impossible it is to maintain the
present system of things. Our colonies
are not believers in the system spoken of
as free trade. Unless this country meets
the situation we will have Canada, Aus
tialia. New Zealand and other great com
munities making their separate commer
cial taris and other countries. This coun
try will awake some fine morning to find
that these great communities, loyal as they
are. have instituted a system of tariffs
in which we will find ourselves at a dis
advantage. Such a state of affairs must
have a fatal effect upon the unity of the
British empire.” Mr Balfour declared
that a system of commercial defense was
as necessary as any other defense, but he
did uot propose any plan. He specified
home rule and disestablishment as consti
tuting "the second act of the iiberals’ at
tempted revolution.” The conservative
party must not. he said, leave the consti
tution in the nuid where the liberals had
put it. hut must rebuild and strengthen the
second chamber with a representative ele
ment.
Liberal* Win By-F,teetion.
In yesterday's election in the north divi
sion of Tyrone, for the seat in Parliament,
made vacant by the nppbintment of Red
mond Bnrry as lord chancellor of Ireland,
Thomas \\. Russell, libera), received 31<H.
against 3086 for E. C. Herdman, the
unionist candidate,
EDICT TO CHRISTIANIZE JAPAN.
At a meeting of members of the Farm
ington-avenne Congregational church at
Hartford yesterday afternoon. Rev Dr W.
\V. McKenzie, president of the Hartford
theological seminary, made this statement
"l understand that the emperior of .Inpar
will shortly issue an edict establishing
Christianity as the official religion of thut
country."
Last summer two young Americans, old
enough to know better, were summarily
expelled froth England for sitting In tho
ohair of Edward VII. Now no amateur
photographer i* to be given a permit to
photograph In any of the London palaces,
nud the reason is thnt an American abused
his privilege' in Buckingham palace hr
ppolographtng things to which tils permit
did not apply and allowing the pictures
to be published in the United States.
Such fin grant cases go fat* to make Amer
ican milliners a byword abroad.