The Marlin Democrat
Fifteenth Year   Number 38
Marlin, Texas, Thursday, June 9, 1904

DEFENDS DEMOCRATS.

     EDITOR DEMOCRAT: - Referring to the charge that Bryan and his platform were defeated in 1896 and 1900 by eastern democrats, and that they are attempting with the money power of New York City, to reorganize the party and place before the people a platform and candidate antagonistic to the principles of our party:
     I will state that we were defeated in all sections except the South and the South is today leading all sections in the movement to make fundamental principles the paramount issue and Alton B. Parker the standard bearer. At least 90 per cent of the Southern delegates to St. Louis will vote that way.
     Coming together to make common cause against a party that is stifling every right and principle of government dear to a democrat is not treason, nor is it reorganization, as some would have it appear. It is simply fidelity to principles. 
     Availability is the basis of the wide spread demand for Judge Parker. He is no more the candidate of the East than that he is the candidate of the South or other sections. New York City, controlled by the Tammany organization, resisted instructions for Judge Parker. The Tammany leaders wanted Grover Cleveland.
     The New York State Convention instructed for Judge Parker but there was no instruction in regard to platform.
     The platform adopted is only an expression of the sentiments of the democrats of New York.  If it is not strong enough to suit all democrats, surely none can say that it is not a step in the right direction.
     The platform "pledges fidelity to the essential principles of Jeffersonian democrat as repeatedly enunciated in our National and State platforms."
     It declares against usurpation, militaryism, extravagance, dishonesty in the public service trusts and government partnershis with protected monoplies.
     It declares for: Respect for treaty rights, revision of the tariff, state rights and impartial maintenance of the rights of labor and of capital."
     The trust plank seems to be the most criticized, It is as follows:
     "Sec. 5. Opposition to trusts and combinations that oppress th people and stifle healthy industrial competition."
     There is no other kind of trust or combination of capital that can be suppressed by law. Until a trust violates a law or interferes with the rights of an individual it is protected by constitutional rights. It is the same with labor organizations, until they interfere with the rights of others they are within their constitutional rights.
     What ever the New York platform may be, there is no more reason to connect Judge Parker with it than there is reason for charging him with attempting to dictate the platform to be made at St. Louis.
     Judge Parker evidently recognizes that on account of this availability the democratic party will, at St. Louis make him standard bearer in this campaign to lit our principles from the dust of defeat and that any dictation by him would be improper.

FORREST GAITHER.
Chilton, Texas.

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