The Commoner.
clung to or it must ho discarded," if it ii true
that it is not possible to "let loose and hold on
at the same time," then it is just as important
that, when we discard one position and let loose
of one principle, we take a definite and distinct
Stand on the money question, the importance of
which remains undisturbed by the discarding
of our former position.
If it is important that we discard bimetal
lism with all possible emphasis, it is important
because it is necessary that the people know
exactly where we stand. And in order that
they may know where we stand, when we have
discarded our former position, it is important
that we espouse the single gold standard.
The Democratic party is either in favor of
bimetallism, or it is in favor of the single gold
standard. It is true that there is no "private
entrance," properly speaking, to either of these
questions, and yet the very men who insist
upon an abandonment of the Kansas City plat
form are unwilling to admit plainly and
explicitly that their purpose is to make the
Democratic . party a single gold . standard
party.
American judioial decree than that which wonld
prevent men from doing what this lawyer de
clares the court's order seeks to prevent?
Judicial Tyranny.
Judge John H. Baker, of the United States
circuit court at Indianapolis, issued an order
against strikers, which is referred to as the
moBt sweeping order of its kind ever issued by
a court. Among other things, this order re
strains the strikers "from compelling or induc
ing, or attempting to compel or induce, , by
threats, intimidation, persuasion, force or- vio.
lenco" any ol their fellow employes "to refuse
or fail to do their work or discharge their du
ties as such employes."
The strikers are also restrained from induc
ing any of their fellow employes to quit work.
They are also restrained from inducing any
persons not to enter the employ of the concern
against which the strikers are contending. It
is also provided in this order that the strikers
must refrain "from going, either singly or col
lectively, to the homes of employes" for the
purpose of inducing ' these employes to quit
work.
The attorney for the strikers has advised
them, "I do not believe the judge meant that
you could not argue, soberly and pleasantly, to
induce any man to join you. He could not for
bid that." -If the judge did not mean this,
then no meaning can be conveyed through
the English language. And yet it is dim cult
to believe that in this free country a judge
Could bo found who would issue an order,
which, if it means anything, at all, strikes a
blow at free speech.
The attorney for the concern against which
the strikers are contending says that the word
persuasion means just what itsays. , "It means
just this," said this attorney, "that if any one
of those strikers should go to the house of any
employe, or stop him on the street, or any other
place, and endeavor to talk him or her into
joining the strike, that person, or persons, is in
contempt of court"
This is a very frank statement of the court's
orderj and yet can any one imagine a more un-
Convention vs. Committee.
The Chicago Record-Herald thinks that tho
Democrats of Iowa aro in favor of tho single
gold standard. Referring to the action of tho
Iowa Democratic state covcntion it says: i
"That the silver preamble In tho platform does
not represent tho sentiment of the democracy of
Iowa was plainly evidenced hy the, majority re
port of tho committee on resolutions, , which con
tained no reference to silver or the Kansas City
platform."
The truth is that while the resolutions com
mittee did rejeot tho preamble reaffirming the
Kansas City platform, tho convention itself
adopted that preamble by a majority of 104
And yet this Chicago gold organ undertakes
to say that tho sentiment of tho democracy of
Iowa iB better represented by a committee
chosen by the convention delegates than it is
by tho convention delegates themselves.
It is possibly true that in republican con
ventions, a committee acting under tho inspir
ation of republican leaders, can better reflect
republican sentiment than the republican Con
vention itself could do. If this iB true, it is
true because so many republicans have fallen
into the habit of sotting aside their own con
victions in order to follow in the pathway
marked out by their leaders.
But in Democratic conventions resolutions
committees cannot always speak for the con
vention, aiid it is also true that conventions do
not always speak for the people. The report
of the resolutions committee may be rejected
by the convention, and the conclusion of the
convention may be repudiated by Democrats
at the polls. But it iB safe to say that, when
an extraordinary situation, such as the Iowa
situation, arises wherein there is a conflict be
tween the convention and tho resolutions com
mittee, the convention is more likely to reflect
the sentiment of the party than the committee.
w
Mr. Bryan's Plans.
Below will be found two press dispatches:
"Evanston, Wyo., Aug. 21. William J. Bryan
camo to Wyoming recently to fish for trout, and
as a side issue he has become interested in oil.
Following the example of his colleagues in their
fight against the oil octopus, former Governor
Hoag of Texas, former Senator Pettigrew of South
Dakota, and former Senator Charles A. Towne of
Minnesota, the erstwhile democratic candidate
has purchased oil lands in the petroleum soaked
region of Spring Valley, near hero."
"Chicago, 111., August 23. William Jennings
Bryan, rumor says, will probably move his paper,
The Commoner, to Chicago and make this city his
home.
"Efforts have been made without success to
trace the rumor to its source, but some of the lead
ing democrats in Chicago have known of it for
some time past and are ready to sanction the
project and bid The Commoner godspeed. The
. TUTnp&tcffit8 Mr. Bryan with an intention to take
!fiifical root here, with the hope of succeeding
Mayor Harrison In the mayoralty. But the Har
rison men shake heads dubiously when that part of
the plan is mentioned and intimate that Mr. Bryan
stands more hope of the presidency than of that.
"Mr. Bryan is now in Wyoming. His brother,
business manager of The Commoner, was inter
viewed in Lincoln tonight and said he had no
knowledge of the alleged plan of removal to Chi
cago." These are reproduced to show, the reader
what passes for "news." Both items are en
tirely without foundation. Mr. Bryan not
only has no investments in oil lands but has
never contemplated investing in oil lands.. Ilia
only business enterprise is The Commoner,
and ho ha's no intention of taking stock or in
terest in anything clso.
As to leaving Nebraska, ho has no thought
of such, a thing. lie is now preparing to build
a cottage upon his farm, three miles southeast
of Lincoln, and expects to spend tho remainder
of his days there; M Tho readers of Tint Com
moner, will bo kept fully informed as to
Mr. Bryan's planst and purposes and . thoy
noed not pay any attention to "rumors" and
"reports" emanating from any other sources.
Tub Commoner will continue to bo published
at Lincoln. It is .near the centre of tho union
and from this point tho paper can bo distrib
uted without inconvenience or delay to all the
states and territories;
. W
a
..- a:
The Twentieth Century,
(By Edward Markham.)
Wo stand at tho end of mighty years,
And a great wonder rushes on the heart.
.While cities roso and blossomed Into dust,
While shadowy lines of kings were blown to aIr7-
What was the purposo brooding on tho world
Through the largo leisure of tho centuries?
And what the end failure or victory?
Lb, man has laid his scepter on the stars,
And sent his spell upon tho continents.
Tho heavens confess their secrets, and tho stones,
Silent as God publish their mystery.
Man calls tho lightnings from thoir sacred, place .
To crumple up the spaces of tho world,
And spatch tho jewels from the "flying hours.
Tho wild white smoking horses of the sea
Aro startled by his thunders. Tho World Power
Crowd round to be the lackeys of tho king.
His hand has torn tho veil of the Great Law,
The law that was made before tho worldSTbefora
That far First Whisper on the ancient deep; V
Tho law that swings Arcturus on tho north,
And hurls tho soul of man upon tho way.
But what avail, 0 builders of tho world,
Unless ye build a safety for the soul?
Man has put harness on Leviathan,
And hooks in his Incorrigible Jaws; '
And yet tho Perils of the Street remain.
Out of the whirlwind of the cities rise
Lean Hunger and tho Worm of Misery'
The heartbreak and tho cry of mortal tears. . r
But hark, the bugles blowing on the peaks"; "
And hark, a murmur as of many feet, ' , ;
Tho cry of captains, the divine alarm! '--3
Look, the Last Son of Time comes hurrying on, "
With swinging step he takes tho open road,
In love with the winds that beat his hairy breast.
Baring his sunburnt strength to all the world, r
He casts his eyes around with Jovian glance? ,
Searches the tracks of old Tradition; scans
With rebel heart the Books of Pedigree;
Peers into the face of Privilege and cries, Tr
"Why are you halting in the path of man?
Is it your shoulder bears the human Load?
Do you draw down tho rains of the sweet heaven,
And keep the green things growing? . . . Back to
Hell!
-
k
s
We know at last tho Future is secure:
God is descending from Eternity,
And all things, good and evil, build the road.
Yes, down in the thick of things, the men of greed
Are thumping the Inhospitable clay.
By wondrous toils the men without the Dream,
Led onward by a Something unawares,
Aro laying the foundations of the Dream,
The Kingdom of Fraternity foretold. '