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VOLUME 5 NUMBER 1
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The Commoner,
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THE COMMONER, Lincoln, Neb.
Somo of tho battle-scarred veterans in-tho
ranks of tho Missouri republicans suspect that
Senator-olcct Neldrlngliaus is really "tho myste
rious stranger."
A Milford, Kan., reador of Tho Commoner ask3
Whoro William George Gordon's "Power of Truth"
can bo obtained. Can any Commoner reader fur
nish this information?
Young Mr. Rockefeller's Bible class might
profitably spond one session discussing tho moral
aspects of tho "stock washing" operations with
which somo of tho ofllcials of his father's bank
havo been connected.
Tho war debt of tho civilized countries of tho
"world amounts to $1,000 por family, and is grow
ing larger all tho timo. If tho people who bring
on wars had to light them thoro would bo longer
perlpds of perfect peace.
President Roosevelt has written much about
tho "strenuous life," but if he is in earnest in hi3
light for the regulation of interstate commerce
rates ho is likoly to learn more about strenuosity
than ho has over known beforo.
Press reports announco that somo of tho re
publicans in congress aro in favor of reducing the
appropriations for tho navy in order to bring ex
penditures within tho receipts. Another proof that
the "U30S of advorsity" aro sometimes "sweet."
Tho St, Louis Globo-Domocrat, wrong as usual
says tho democrats "object to tho courts taking
hold of tho Colorado election." Democrats merely
object to the court being made an annex to tho
republican corporation campaign committee.
Wo always wonder how tho great Russian peo
pio can pationtly submit to tho arbitrary rule of
one man, until wo happen to think of how Messrs
Rockefeller and Rogers run things in this country
Thon we ceaso wondering about the Russians.
It was considerate of the Missouri republicans
to select as United States senator a man who had
never done tho democrats any political harm.
Tho old timo lighting republicans of that state will
bo allowed to attend the inauguration of the pres-
Mr. Hay having announced that this republic
would exorcise police duty over tho republics of
South America, perhaps it would not be out of
place to call tho policeman's attention to a num-
roSnUy ' f TOhhQTy Sias 0n In m
Tho Deserot Evening News, official organ of
tho Mormon church, asks a correspondent if ho
s not aware that "religion and politics . a?e always
kept widely apart in this country." The DeS
Evening News must bo trying to break into tho
humorous press department.
Tftn.TOi stat0 leislators: Examino the records and
learn how tho amount paid out ammnn
Are and life Insurance companies donLn J, tto
in your state compares wiUi the arnn ,? bl ?IneS3
by them annually for JZSE
The Commoner.
lato tho saving to your people and your stato If
tho stato furnished lire and life insurance to its
citizens at actual cost.
"Wash stocv" is the latest addition to our lan
guage. It means a snide .transaction in stock cal
culated to deceive innocent investors as to the
real valuo of the stock in question. Talk about
"shackling cunning" and revising the tariff is a
sample of republican "wash stocn."
A Missouri republican exchange wants the
republican legislature of that stato to elect a sena
tor whose namo will bo greeted by the country with
"well done." Missouri will be "well done" before
tho democracy takes charge again, just as It
was "well done" when tho republicans had charge
about a generation ago.
Several administration organs are waxing sar
castic at tho expense of President Castro of Ven
ezuela because he became angry at his supreme
court and "fired" tho whole tribunal. They can
not reconcile that aort of thing with a republic.
But perhaps the supreme court was trying to steal
a stato administration.
Referring to Mr. Lawson's story that $5,000,000
was raised among the corporations a week "before
tho election in 189G to make sure the defeat of Mr.
Bryan, the St. Louis Globe-Democrat says: "There
is a chance, however, i-at if the sum was raised
it was not used corruptly." . The Globe-Democrat i3
either a great humorist or the prize optimist.
The St. Louis Globe-Democrat, seeking to ex
plain the raising of a five million dollar campaign
fund a w-ek before election day In 1896, says that
political campaigns cost money. That particular
campaign cost the beneficiaries of the G. O. P. a
lot of money, but they have since realized a hand
some and expected profit on their investment.
Perhaps Sir Howard Vincent, M. P., who ob
jects to the third verse of "Star Spangled Ban
ner," will consent to arbitration. If he will
consont to let it stand we'll agree to let Mr. Reid
wear "knickies" when he goes to represent this
republic at the court of St. James. But this is
tho only basis of compromise that we will accept.
Gov. Cummins of Iowa presented some excel
lent suggestions at the Chicago Press club ban
quet. He discussed "The Editorial Page" and
urged the members of the club "to make the truth
known at any and every cost." On the same occa
sion Col. Geo. Harvey of Harper's Weekly made a
plea for the freedom of the press, and ex-Governor
Peck discussed "The Simple "Life."
Someone has reported Mr. Bryan as saying
that President Roosevelt is or would prove him
self to be "the greatest president the country has
ever had." It ought not to be necessary to deny
such a statement, but unfriendly papers have as
sumed it true and made it the basis of editorials
Mr. Bryan has said nothing that would bear such
a construction; ho has made no comparisons be
tween President Roosevelt and former presidents
It is too soon yet to determine what kind of a
president the present occupant of the white house
is going to bo. He has shown some symptoms of
reform since the election, and Mr. Bryan has
commended such of the president's recommenda
tions as he believe3 to be good, and he will sun
port him in every good move that he makes but
he is not indulging in comparisons.
Mrs. Minnie Maddern Fiske is heading a cru
sade having for its object the more humane treat-
rrt,.iH iri a ??? 0f ilvo stock in transpor
CoxiIdFind tation. Certainly there is vast
Work room for improvement in tho
Narer Home methods now in voguo, and Mrs
this line. Butit&TlL1
that Mrs. Fiske, who lives in New York city cou?d
find more important and humane reforms' much
nearer home than the cattle ranges of The west
There is more abject misery and physical ,,S
ing in the tenement quarters of Goth lUer"
there is on tho cattle ranges of ?he west
Tho first thing after a republican is electa fn
the senate from Missouri is i ?mov! !ta ! invest gate
Alr - fees of corruption in the
Already transaction. Thomas Neidrimr
Hints Of haus, the senator-elect is a
Corruption wealthy man who is engaged in
trust in these lines of business. Charges of cor
ruption are rife and an attempt i3 Deing made to
havo the whole matter sifted to the bottom. The
more they view the results the more Missouri
democrats regret that they failed to go to the polls
on election day. But the result in Missouri will
have one good effect it means a democratic ma
jority close to the 100,000 mark at the next general
election in that state.
Whatever is said about tho tariff, it must be
admitted that the appraisers earn their wages
by the great display of wisdom
Expert they are dally called upon to
Espionage Of make. After much .cogitation,
Erftf study and investigation the ap
praisers have decided that the
yolks of eggs must be taxed 25 per cent, while the
whites of eggs must be taxed only 20 per cent.
Unfortunately for tue country the appraisers do not
explain the difference of 5 per cent. Having de
cided on the yolk and tho white separately, the
appraisers solemnly decided that when the white
and the yolk are imported in the same shell, the
rate of duty is 6 cents per dozen. Certainly such
erudition i3 deserving of all the reward offered.
Labor unions throughout the country aro ask
ing the legislatures df the various states to enact
laws making it compulsory to
Bra.nd Tho brand convict made goods with
Convict Made tn& words "convict made." There
Goods ls no good reason why the re
quest should not be granted,
and many reasons why it should be. Congress wa3.
quick to come to the aid of the dairy industry and'
cripple the oleomargarine industry, and certainly
the free laborers of the country are as much en
titled to protection against convict made goods
as the dairymen were to protection against the
competition of the oleo manufacturers. If people
want to buy convict made goods because of their
cheapness, well and good; but people who do not
want convict made goods at any price are entitled
to have some distinguishing mark that will enable
them to avoid those goods.
. Governor Pennypacker of Pennsylvania is
again after the newspapers. Having failed in his
efforts to subdue the cartoonists,
Pennypacker he has taken a new tack. He
Agedn proposes to authorize suits by
Proposing the attorney general to suppress
newspapers that are guilty of
"habitual falsehood, defamation and scandal so as
to constitute a public nuisance." Every crook,
bribe giver, bribe taker, corruptionist and lover of
darkness would doubtless give cheerful assistance
to - Governor Pennypacker in securing the
enactment of such a law. Then they could
make sure of securing the services of an
attorney general, after which any newspaper
that dared to denounce the criminals could be
annoyed beyond endurance. Why is Governor Pen
nypacker so wonderfully agitated ahout the news
papers? Is it possible that he 13 stung to the quick
by their criticisms? Or is it possible that he is
unwilling to have the truth told? No honest man
need fear injury from, falsehood, but dishonest men
fear publicity. We fear that Governor Penny
packer will have to expatriate himself and settle
in Russia before he will find newspaper conditions
to suit him. '
A Wizard
Of Tho
Orchard
If reward is to be measured by service, then
Luther Burbank of California deserves more at
tue uunas or Ms fellows than
any martial hero or captain
of industry. Mr. Burbank ls a
"wizard of horticulture." He ex-
the result that the potato industry has been revo
lutionized. He turned his attention to plums and
produced a finer flavored and larger .fruit than any
yet grown in America. South Africa is dotted
with orchards of "Burbank plums." Now he has
perfected a prune so large that it makes the av-
SS5 twn l00C Hke a dried rasPberry, and so
sweet that it needs no sugar when prepared for the
table. He has grown a thornless raspberry and
now he has grown a thornless cactus that bids
im u MreS)re tb0 desert places and make them
XL?? ed 1mil1lions to tte Productive value of or
sSnfnf I2ardB', a,nd has dne so without
iStf of flnan"
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