Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 53, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 October 1912 — Page 1 Advertisements Column 2 [ADVERTISEMENT]

Progressive Party News.

[Advertisment]

Senator Shively. The speech of Senator Shively, at the Princess theater, was listened to by perhaps 350 persons. There were about 115 voters present and the most significant thing in connection therewith, was the fact that -80 per cent of the 115 veters were men well advanced in years. There were very .few young men present. When Mr. Beveridge was here he spoke to more than 800 people. There were fewer old men and a greater number of young men. In fact the Progressive party is the only party that appeals to the young men of the country, because it looks forward and not backward; it is fighting real battles in behalf of real issues, and not mock battles for political capital.

But the speech of Senator Shively was a good Democratic speech. He devoted the greater part of his time to the discussion of the old issue of tariff. He, like the Republicans, regard this as the great issue, although the Republicans have no particular issue this year except “let well enough alone and cuss Roosevelt.” The Senator’s speech illustrates the truth, asserted by the Progressive party, that the old parties are not meeting the issues. Not a word about child labor, wherein a million children are being ruined in body, mind and soul; not a word abo ’ut the woman wage-earner of whom there are four million in the United States, half of whom are working for a wage so small that they can not provide themselves with sufficient food, clothing and shelter and maintain their honor; not a word about the minimum wages for women workers; not a word about compensation for those injured in idustrial occupatios, either by accident or disease Incident to their employment; not a word about those things that affect the very life of our people, but much about the tariff, that old talking point for political advantage. -

In ’6l our fathers shouldered the musket to free four millions of slaves and preserve the union of the states, yet the slaves were infinitely better provided for than are a million ot children of tender years-, broken in mind and body by the infamous child-labor system. In the name of justice, in the name of fairness and in behalf of those less fortunate than we, how long will the old parties refuse to faice the real issues and quit fighting their old sham battles over issues designed for political advantage only?

It is for you to say, Mr. voter. )Ve ask you to strip yourself of your prejudice, however that prejudice may have been acquired, whether through long continued association with the old organizations, or by inheritance. Come out and stand for the real issues.