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MARCH 3, 1905
interests and should make it a point to antagonize
the republican leaders only when they show signs
of a disposition to serve the masses rather than
jtho classes.
JJJ
Should Morton Retire?
Recently The Commoner printed an extract
from "The Independent" in which the propriety of
Secretary Morton's retirement from the cabinet
is suggested. It will be seen that Mr. Morton has
admitted wilful violation of the Inter-state Com
merce law. If Mr. Morton admitted stealing one
hundred dollars from another man'3 pocket would
the president retain him in the cabinet? If not,
why does he treat differently a confessed violation
of the Inter-state Commerce law involving thous
ands of dollars instead of a paltry hundred? It
will bo seen that Mr. Morton defended the viola
tion on the ground that honesty was too costly
an experiment what burglar would have stated
it more strongly? But Mr. Morton's road made
a contract with a salt company controlled by hi3
brothers Joy and Mark Morton, for the sole pur
pose of giving the brothers a business advantage
over competitors. Here is the use of a great rail
way system for family advantage in violation of
the spirit, if not the letter, of the law. Can the
president ignore so flagrant an offense? The presi
dent desires to stand before the public as the
champion of civic righteousness; can he do so
and at the same time show indifference to such
a record of lawlessness?
The fact that the president is just now en
gaged in a great struggle with the railroads makes
it still more imperative as "The Independent"
suggests, that he shall not surround himself with
an official environment that will cast suspicion
on his own sincerity. If Mr. Morton reciprocates
the friendly feeling that gave him a place in the
cabinet he will insist upon retiring from the presi
dent's official household.
JJJ
Attacking Popular Government
The Chicago Tribune is opposing the initiative
andTeferendum on the ground that .it Is nob safe
to trust the people. It denies "the invariable wis
dom of the committee voting a3 a whole." It
dreams of Athenian mobs and demagogues and feara
that the masses could not intelligently decide such
questions as, "Should the moon be made of Cana
dian or Swiss cheese?" etc. This is the poison
which some of the republican papers are insidu
ously administering to their readers poison that
lays destructive hold upon the vital forces of the
body politic. While provision should be made
against hasty or sudden action, there is no argu
ment that can be drawn from history or from
human nature against popular government. The
nearer the government is brought co the people
the safer, the stronger, the purer it is. The editor
of the Tribune ought to read Bancroft's defense of
popular government in his address entitled "The
People in Art, Government and Religion." It will
be found in the seventh volume of "Reed's Mod
ern Eloquence."
JJJ
LaFollette's Opportunity
Gov. LaFollette is a lucky man; the failure
of the senate to act on the railroad bill at the pres
ent session will give LaFollette his opportunity.
He enters the senate just at the time when public
attention is turned to the railroad question with
which he has been dealing for several yearsv. In
ability, in courage and in experience he will easily
be the leader of the anti-monopoly element in
the republican party in the senate and he can fur
nish the president just what the president badly
needs in that body, namely, an aggressive spokes
manship. Usually a new senator has to wait a
dignified time before entering actively upon hia
duties, but dignity gives way to necessity and with
a strong anti-monopoly sentiment eager for ex
pression Wisconsin's new senator could not, will,
not, keep out of the light if he would.
Gov. LaFollette has the prestige of a succes
sion of victories over the corporate influences of
his own state and as he will face in the senate the
men who turned him out of th6 last republican
national convention he is not likely to allow sen
atorial courtesy to delay his attack on the railroad,
contingent. So far as he is concerned it makes
little difference whether he wins his fight in the
next congress or in the congress to be elected in
1906 the longer the fight lasts the more conspic
uous will become hi3 part, and that he will ulti-
The Commoner.
mately win admits of no doubt Circumstances
have much to do with the success of a public man
and just now circumstances aro leading La Fol
letto into a contest from which he is bound to
emerge with new honorsif he champions as his
friends expect him to the interests of the masses
on tho railroad and kindred questions.
JJJ
A Word as to Colleges
A reader of Tho Commoner recognizing tho
danger that private colleges, endowed by capital
ists, may be biased In their teaching makes an
argument in favor of the public schoola and tho
state universities. There is room for both tho pub
lic college cared for by the state and the private
college supported in such a way as to make it freu
to teach economic truth. The state university can
furnish some advantages which tho small collego
cannot furnish, but the small college can supply
certain advantages which tho larger school cannot
furnish.
One advantage about the small colleges is that
there can be more of them and that they can bo
located at convenient points so as to reach a larger
number of students. They con also furnish an
education at a smaller sum than It Is furnished by
the larger Institutions, either 3tate or private. The
cost of tuition is not the only expense that the
student has to bear. For instance, at Yale college
tho cost of board and room is considerably greater
than tho cost of board, room and tuition at some
of the small colleges.
Then, too, there can be a religious instruction
in the private colleges which is not possible in tho
public institutions. Those who oppose sectarian
ism in education ought to bo satisfied to keep
sectarianism out of public schools. They ought
not to insist upon closing schools in which tho
student is brought up in a religious atmosphere.
There is room in this country for both the large
collego and the small college room for the public
institution and the denominational college. It fs
not necessary that a war of extermination should
be waged between them. A healthy rivalry is apt
to help both.
JJJ
The Guessing Contest
In another column The Commoner reproduces
the opinion of Attorney General Moody as to
guessing contests, together with the open letter
on this subject which tho editor of The Commoner
addressed to tho postmaster general more than a
year ago. Mr. Moody's opinion is explicit and ad
vises the postmaster general that he id authorized
to refuse the use of the mails to newspapers which
engage in guessing contest schemes, such as plac
ing estimates upon tho total number of paid ad
missions to the world's fair at St. Louis or the
estimate of the total vote cast for the successful
candidate for the presidency.
The attorney general's opinion does not ap
pear to cover what is known a's "dot counting"
contests, which contests appear to be very popular
with some newspaper publishers. The "dot count
ing" contest should go, along with other latter
day lottery schemes, and tho tone of Attorney
General Moody's opinion with respect to the two
particluar cases cited justifies the impression that
ho would hold that newspaper engaging in "dot
counting" schemes or similar contests, should be
barred from the mails.
In the "dot counting" contest, as in other of
these newspaper gambling schemes, in the lan
guage of the attorney general "thousands invest
small sums in the hope and expectation that luck
will enable them to win large returns. A compar
atively small percentage of the participants will
realize their expectations, and thousands will get
nothing, it is, in effect, a lottery under the guise
of a 'guessing contest.' "
JSJ
"Progress and Poverty'" Dinner
It was Mr. Bryan's good fortune to attend tho
dinner given in New York on January 24 to com
memorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the pub
lication of Henry Georgo'3 great work entitled
"Progress and Poverty," The book has, within a
quarter of a century, been translated in every
prominent language and has exerted a tremendous
influence upon the economic thought of the world.
Hamlin Garland presided; Henry George, Jr.,
gave a history of tho writing of the book; Mr!
Markham read a poem entitled "The Deathless
Dead;" Wm. Lloyd Garrison presented a "Plea
for Justice;" Mr. Louis Post discussed "The Eco
nomic Issue," and Mr. Bryan submitted a few re
marks on "Equality of Opportunity," and inci
dentally referred to the fact that Tolstoy had
3
spoken to him In praise of two Americans Gcorgo
and Garrison, whoso sons wero then at tho ban
quet table. It was a memorable dinner, attended
by many prominent in sociological work. Tho
very air seemed to pulsato with moral enthu
siasm. JJJ
Attacking Paper Trust
Tho attorney general has commenodd suit
against tho paper trust charging it with violating
tho Sherman law and asking for an Injunction.
Good for tho attorney general. But why does ho
refuse to enforce the criminal clause? A few con
victions would dissolve all tho trusts. But tho
trusts are so bad that small favors from tho ad
ministration aro acceptable.
JJJ
An Old Sentiment
The following sentiment, expressed some two
hundred years ago, is worthy of remembrance:
"If Reason's reach transcends the sky,
Why should It then to earth be bound?
Tho wit is wrong and led awry
If mind bo married to tho ground."
No one is able to take a comprehensive view of
life who does not consider tho moral as well as
the Intellectual and physical man.
JJJ
Approve The Commoner's Efforts
Commoner readers are taking advantage of tho
special subscription offer in a way that Is having
a marked effect upon The Commoner's circulation.
A resident of Hallock, Minn., under dato of
February 13, writes: "This is legally Abraham
Lincoln's birthday and the result of my work today
is thirty yearly subscriptions to The Commoner.
I enclose list of names and addresses, also money
order for $18 to cover the same."
One of the busiest citizens of Fayette, Mo.,
under date of February 11, writes: "With this I
hand you thirty new subscribers and one re
newal for The Commoner, for which And enclosed
po3tofllce money order for $19."
Under date of February 18, the same Fayette
citizen writes: "It is a pleasure to me to hand you
within ah additional list of thirty-three new sub
scribers for The Commoner, each of whom has
paid the special rate of sixty cents, making a total
of $19.80, and for which amount please find en
closed postofllco money order."
This is the third communication received from
the good worker at Fayette and by his efforts
alone, eighty-one new subscribers have been en
tered upon The Commoner's books.
Those who approve of the work The Commoner
is doing have the opportunity of rendering ma
terial assistance through the special subscription
offer. Every reader Is Invited to co-operate in this
work.
According to the terms of this subscription of
fer, cards, each good for one year's subscription to
The' Commoner will be furnished In lots of five,
at the rate of $3 per lot. This places the yearly
subscription rate at GO cents.
Anyone ordering these cards may sell them
for $1.00 each, thus earning a commission of $2.00
on each lot sold, or ho may sell them at the cost
price and find compensation In the fact that ho
has contributed to the educational campaign.
These cards may be paid for when ordered, or
they may be ordered and remittance made after
they have been sold.
The coupon is printed below for the conveni
ence of those who desire to participate in tho
effort to increase The Commoner's circulation.
THE COMMONER'S SPECIAL OFFER
Appllcatlen for Subscription Cards
10
15
20
25
50
75
100
Publisher Commoner; I am Interested In lm
creasing The Commoner's circulation, and de
sire yon to send ma a supply of subscription
cards. I agreo to use my utmost endeavor to sell
the cards, and will remit for them at the rate of
CO cents each, when sold.
Name
Box, or Street No. .
P.O.,
,.8tnto
Indicate thennirber of cards wanted by mark
ing X opposite one of tho numbers printed on
end ol tbla blank.
Jf you believe the paper is doing a toork that meriU
encouragement, JIU out the above coupon and maUit
to The Coram oh er, Lincoln, Neb,
J