The Holt County Sentinel

Letter of Acceptance.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo., October 7, 1902.

Frank B. Fulkerson, Chairman Republican Congressional Committee, Fourth District of Missouri:

Your notification of my selection as the Republican candidate for Congress for the Fourth district of Missouri, has been received, and the tender therein contained is accepted. The honor of bearing the standard of the Republican party in this great district is one not lightly to be put aside, when the personal sacrifice is not too great.

In responding to this call, I place myself upon the time honored principles of the Republican party. If elected, I shall endeavor to help make them effective in the government of the country. Sound money, an equitable tariff and the protection of the people from extortion by illegitimate combinations of capital are, in my opinion, necessary for the public welfare.

I do not believe that an indiscriminate attack upon our present tariff system would be efficient in remedying what is known as the trust evil. I believe, along with President Roosevelt, that regulation by law is the proper method of proceeding with the trust question. In such efforts as he has outlined, he would receive my hearty support. The splendid administration of Theodore Roosevelt, the brave and indomitable leader of the Republican party and champion of all the people, has earned for him the high regard and confidence of the entire country. His ability, integrity and courage and high sense of right is admired by all. In taking up the work of supporting it in this campaign, I cheerfully give whatever sacrifice of time, comfort and effort is necessary. While realizing the evils of trust domination, I recognize that it is easier to destroy them than to build up, and will consequently deal with this problem with calmness and judgment, rather than in a spirit of rage or revenge, but will not hesitate to do whatever I believe is for the welfare of the people. I will also jealously guard the business interests of this great and wealthy district, as well as the country at large, and do what I can to make St. Joseph and the surrounding country still more prosperous than it now is.

As one of the active workers of the country, I am especially interested in those who labor. The hope of this country, the solidity of its institutions and the perpetuity of its peace, lies in the intelligence and comfort of the industrial millions in the various arduous callings of life.

As adequate returns for labor brings with it some degree of leisure which can be used for self improvement, and also the ability to properly house, clothe, feed and educate those dependent upon the worker. A Republican form of government can be the best or the worst. If the people are intelligent, self-contained and resourceful; if they have instilled into them the great truths of right and justice; if they have aspirations for high and noble lives, the government will partake of these qualities. If the contrary prevails, only the worst of government can exist. In elevating and dignifying labor and ameliorating the condition of the men who toil, organized labor has done much. Recognizing this fact, I shall do all in my power to secure the enactment of such just and reasonable laws as shall better the condition of working men.

It is my desire to see all the people of this country united, prosperous and happy. To that end I preach the gospel of love, not of hate; of united effort for the betterment of mankind, not of warfare, one with another. There must needs be the restraint of law, but it should be applicable alike to the richest and the poorest, the greatest and the humblest, and imposed in a spirit of strict justice and not of hate or revenge.

The United States has enjoyed, during the past six years, a period of prosperity unparallelled in the history of the world. The people have gone forward in leaps and bounds in the march of material progress in all lines. Manufactures, commerce, agriculture and labor have all flourished side by side. Enterprise has been profitable, business has had good returns, the farmer has realized high prices for the products of his acres, and labor has been better paid than ever before. This district, one of the wealthiest and most important in the country, has participated in that prosperity and has added much to its wealth. Yet it has not contributed toward any legislation calculated to bring about these happy conditions. The opportunity for this prosperity has been thrust upon us in spite of our representative in congress. He has resolutely stood in the way of much legislation. It is important that such a wealthy and resourceful district should be in accord with the policies that have so inured to the public good, and that its representative in congress should put his shoulder to the wheel and push along, instead of holding back.

Believing that the objects above enumerated can best be attained through the instrumentality of the Republican party, I am associated with it, and ask the support of all voters who desire the welfare of the entire people and the continued prosperity and glory of this great republic.

OSWALD M. GILMER.