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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 16, 1903)
flrfljyl IWWPW'WW npfM'"iwf 'iH w 'yri film" u knjmiWMwgw ww m i ijui gTffNTiHfwi iiyM ' 'w '? w i uiiii iip ih;iiiihiimiii,hhiiii miw The Commoner. OCTOBER llJ-1003; , dollar being, too small for ordinary uso, has novcr circulated to any extent, so that the silver dollar has been the dollar usually had in mind when a metallic dollar was mentioned. In describ-ng the silver dollar as the unit, our forefathers did not intend to make it superior in any way to gold, for under the bimetallic system the two metals are on an equality, both as to treatment at tab mint and as to legal tender qualities. The silver dollar then in circulation was simply made the starting point,; and the amount of pure silver in the silver dollar has never been changed from that time to this, although the amount of pure gold in the gold dollar has been changed. JJ In Ohio. In his letter to Chairman Salen, declining Mr. Clarke's invitation to Mr. Hanna for a joint de bate, Mr. Dick, chairman of the republican state committee of Ohio, said: "Democracy today wears so many colors, appears under so many different shapes and forms, assumes so many disguises, that I feel it would be unfair to Senator Hanna to ask him to meet Mr. Clarke in a joint discussion until he is advised more fully as to Mr. Clarke's position on tho subjects (the tariff, the money question, the problems growing out of the acquisition of insular territory, tho proposed repeal of the war amendments, sin gle tax and socialism) above alluded to; un til he knows what particular brand of dem ocracy Mr. Clarke claims is his; until he knows whether he is expected to debate with Mr. Clarke, the corporation lawyer, or with Mr. Clarke, the candidate for United States senator." The Philadelphia Public Ledger, a republican paper, refers to Mr. Dick's reply as "an exceed ingly clover though an exceedingly specious argu ment." The Public Ledgor says that as an answer to the deftnlto challenge mado by tho chairman of tho democratic state committoe of Ohio, that tho two candidates for United States senator meet in join debate, Mr. Dick's letter "may hardly bo said to be convincing." If Mr. Dick's assertion that tho democrats aro attempting to drive ill galtoa horses bo true, tho Public Ledger thinks that tho ropubllcan candidate should court rather than avoid every opportunity to meetf their democratic opponents face to faco and to expose before tho popular electorate tho lack of harmony and the lack of unity In tho democratic organization. This republican paper says that Mr. Dick's letter "indicates either that Ohio republicans are Incapable of graspipg tho opportunity that is theirs, or that they aro themselves even more vulnerable than their opponents." In conclusion, the Public Ledger says: "Tho truth of tho matter ,is that tho policy of 'stand pat' and 'lot well enough alone' is being carried to tho point of absurdity by Ohio republicans. Their determination to escape the responsibility of a joint canvass this year indicates that their position is not so strong as it might be. It is, fndeed,Mas is also that of the democrats, lamentably weak. Tho coun try would rejolco to see tho weakness of each party in Ohio exposed by tho other. If tho democrats, heavily handicapped no they un questionably aro, can afford j court tho risk of a fight 'In tho open tho republicans should certainly bo ashamed to remain In hiding. Tho , time' Is not distant when tho popular elec torate will 'turn on. tho battorlcn and flholl the woods When that hour comes the nam of many a distinguished Ohio warrior will bo printed among 'tho dead, tho woundod and tho missing.'" Tho willingness of the Ohio democrats to dis cuss tho issues c' tho campaign and tho determi nation on tho part of tho ropubllcan leaders to avoid a discussion, should opon tho eyes of thos men who really bollovo that tho republican party occupies tho Intelligent position on questions la which tho peoplo are dcoply concorned. "Stand pat," "let well enough a.ono," and sim ilar slogans are not as popular today as thoy one wero. Indeed, just as this Philadelphia republi can paper says, they havo been carried to the point of absurdity. It may be that they may yet bo used to good fleet among unthinking men; but It cannot havo escaped observation that many peoplo who were once inclined to accopt such ab surd slogans In the place of argumont are showing ar indisposition In the presence of serious politi cal problems to . o put off with unconvincing ad monitions. JJ Between times Mr. Secretary Shaw, who Is Just now working industriously to frarao a finan cial measure, will make a few speeches in Ohio and endeavor to show that the republican party has already settled tho money question. FORMING THE LINE OF BATTLE 'One year ago The Commoner, with a view to widening its sphere of influence, thereby arousing renewed zeal atid enthusiasm in tho work of bat tling for the supremacy of democratic principles, inaugurated what was known as the "Lots of Five" subscription plan The success of that plan was beyond tho publisher's most sanguine expec tations, arid the success waa due entirely to the energy and loyalty of true blue democrats who are not yet ready to rest quietly while disorganizers and recreants seek to turn the party over to the money changers and tariff barons. During that memorable subscription campaign 9,674 Commoner subscribers took an active part, the result being that The Commoner found ita way into the homes of 53,G43vnew subscribers. Al most without exception this magnificent result was brought about by subscribers who gave a por tion of their time to the work with no further re ward than the consciousness that they were aid ing in the advancement of the cause of true dem ocracy. During hat time the, congressicaal cam paign was waged and settled. Now the demo cratic party is preparing for n greater campaign, and one upon whose results grave responsibilities hinge responsibilities fraught with weal or woe to the republic The question now confronting the party is whether It will continue to stand for the interests of the people, as It did during the memorable campaigns of 1896 and 1900; or whether it will take a stop backward to where it stood when it was controlled by self-seeking men who sought power only to betray the people into the hands of the trusts and money changers. Already men are announcing their desire to be selected as represen tatives, from their districts to the next national democratic convention, and it is high time that loyal democrats who want to preserve the party's integrity set to work to frustrate the efforts of those who would repudiate the party's position. During the coming winter months democrats must be aroused to the importance of sending to city, county, district and state conventions as dele gates only men who can bo implicitly trustod to carry out tho wishes of those who want the party to remain true t- the principles enunciated in tho Kansas City platform. The "reorganizes" aro everywhere active. By specious pleas and prom ises, and by every art known to the astute and wily politician, they are seeking to secure con trol of county, district and vate conventions and thereby secure the election of national delegates who may be depended upon to do tho bidding of those who oppose tho principles set forth In the last democratic national platform. Loyal demo crats must be on their guard against these in sidious advances. Tho chief danger is that tho loyal democrats will fail to arouse themselves to a -realizing sense of the danger that confronts the party. It Is now, has been, and will be, The Com moner's chief mission to arouse these loyal demo crats to a realizing sense of that danger, and to show cause why the party shall not abate one jot or tittle the principles set forth In the Kansas City platform. "in order that this .work may be successfully uu THE COMMONER'S SPECIAL OFFER Application for Subscription Cards 5 T6 15 20 21 50 75 100 Publisher Commoner: I am Interested In In creasing Tho Commoner's circulation, and do sire you to send me a supply of subscription cards. I agree to uso my utmost endeavor to sell tbo cards, and will remit for them at the rate of 60 cents each, when sold. Nam , Mf"""'"t Box, or Street Ho. P.O . Jtat Jadlcata tbo Bambnr of crda wanted bmartlnzX op posite oae of tbo numbers printed oa ead of this blank Jf you believe the 'paper it doing a work that merits encouragement, fiU out the above coupon and mail it to The Commoner, Llncola, Neb. accomplished The Commoner should find its way into thousands of democratic homos where it Is not now a visitor, and that this may be brought about the publisher again appeals to subscrib ers to lend their help in the prosecution of the work. I ' The plan decided upon is the same that was m successfully followed last year, and known the as tho "Lots of Five" plan. That plan Is, briefly, as follows: Those who dosiro to aid in Increasing the cir culation and influence of Tho Commoner will Dt supplied with flvo or more cards, as they may see fit to order, each card being good for one year's subscription when properly filled out and returned to this office, at the rate of five cards for $3. If the party ordering tho cards sees fit to do so, ho can sell them for $1 each, thereby securing a commission of 40 cents on each sub scriber. If, however, he ro desires he may sell the cards at the actual cost price, CO cents, and find compensation in the fact that he has added his share to tho work of preserving tho party's In tegrity. The rate of 60 cents a year here offered is figured as nearly as possible on the actual cost of publication, and Is offered with the view of In creasing Tbo Commoner's circulation and influ ence, not for financial profit to tho publisher. Far ties ordering these cards may, If they prefer, first sell them and then make remittance at the r&tt of 60 cents for each card sold. On this page will be found a coupon blank whlck fee provided for the convenience of those who ar willing to lend their aid in this work. s To the nearly 10,000 loyal democrats who M generously aided The Commoner in its work dur ing the subscription campaign of last year, the publisher again returns his sincere thanks. They performed a splendid service to the cause of gen uine democracy. To them, and to all other loyal democrats; numbered among The Commoner's subscribers, the publisher make this renewed ap peal for assistance In behalf of the great work ol promulgating and defending democratic principle. m