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The Commoner.
JUNE 2, 1905-
A UNITED EFFORT FOR DEfiOCRATIC SUCCESS
Now interest in. the primary pledge plan is
noticeable among the newspapers. The Common
er's exchange list is very largo and many news
paper references to this work have doubtless been
overlooked. Newspaper editors are requested to
direct their readers' attention to the primary
pledge plan and they will confer a favor if they
.will mail under first-class postage a clipping of
any editorial reference they may see fit to make.
An interesting suggestion comes from C. C.
(Walker, Duhring, W. Va. Mr. Walker suggests
that democratic newspapers publish the names
of those who have signed the primary pledge in
their respective counties. If democratic editors
will work along this lino and reproduce names
and letters from signers in their own counties
they will find that their own readers will bo
greatly interested in the publication.
The Gunnison (Colo.) News-Champion, edited
by'Il. JF. Lake, Jr., keep, the primary pledge
standing and Is urging its readers to co-operate.
In a letter to The Commoner, Editor Lake says:
"There is no question but if the president con
sistently carries out the program suggested by
his Denver speech, that there will bo a tear up
in the republican party beside which the political
re-adjustment of '96 will appear dwarfed in the
comparison. Then the great danger to democracy
will be the attempt of its erstwhile 're-organizers'
to again gain control of its policies. Wo wish you
God speed in this enterprise, and you may call
on us for any assistance within our power."
The Haskell (Texas) Free Press, J. E. Poole,
editor, is., co-operating along the lines of the pri
mary pledge, plan. Editor Poole sends to Tho
Commoner pledges signed by himself as well as
by a number of the read.--:: of his newspaper.
Mr. Poole says: "I am very glad to see that
Mr. Bryan's plan for democratic organization is
meeting with such hearty and widespread re
sponse; it portends victory for the party and its
real principles. With the party organization
under the control of the politicians alone, as is
too often the case, many of whom are controlled
by corporations and monoplistic influences, party
victory, does not mean or bring what it should to
the masses. But on the other hand let tho peo
ple become sufficiently aroused and interested
to take tho organization Into their own hands
from the primary up, as they can easily do, be
ing the majority, and there is then good hopo
for the emancipation of the people from the op
pression and extortions of the money power.
That great power has grown so confident of its
unshakable hold upon the country that it is grow
ing reckless. But wp have the hopo of wresting
the government from the spirit of imperialism
which is menacing the foundation principles upon
which our free institutions were erected and
planting it again on the Declaration of Independ
ence and the constitution as they were understood
and applied by their framcrs."
The Malone (New York) Forum, edited by
M. B. Murphy, is vigorously pushing the primary
pledge plan. The Forum has been waging a good
fight for municipal ownership and it has recently
scored several important victories, the democrats
and citizens winning in the recent city election
by 130 majority. Editor Murphy says: "Demo
cratic democracy will win every time. The peo
ple, both democrats and republicans, are nat
urally democratic and can be united to work
against the party of plutocracy and special privi
lege. This last numerically small party, or coterio,
has bpth feet planted on the necks of democrats
and republicans alike. The latter can be induced
to work and vote with their democratic neigh
bors against the pirates who are oppressing citi
zens of both parties. That is the way we put
the matter before our Malone voters and won,
, and we can win in every town or city by this
method. The Forum is heart and soul with you
in every move to rescue the most progressive
people on earth from the thraldom of the most
gigantic system of monopoly the world has ever
seen. This people are bound, hand and foot to
the juggernaut of monopoly and forced to pay
tribute on life's necessities to as heartless a gang
of freebooters and pirates as ever roved the Span
ish main with a black flag at the mast head."
The Nodaway (Mo.) Forum, edited by C. J.
Colden, has many good words to 'say for the pri
mary 'pledge plan and keeps the pledge standing
in its columns. Editor Colden insists that "a
clean primary is the first step i:- good govern
ment," and' he ,adds: "ItUs radical democracy
or irretrievable defeat. Democrats had just as
well put the war paint on. Tho velvet fringe of
Wall street is polluted with consciouslcss plutocracy."
Following are some extracts from tho editorial
columns of the Monroe City (Mo.) Democrat,
edited by W. J. Rouse:
"If you believe that tho people should mako
the democratic platform, sign tho primary pledge
and get your neighbors to do likewise. Can get
blanks at tho Democrat office."
"The peoplo must mako tho next platform
of the democratic party. The way to do this Is
to attend tho primaries or precinct conventions
of tho party and there speak. In this way only
can the people hope to win a grand victory."
"With a' platform made by tho rank and file
of the grand old democratic party, the people
will bo governing the United States after tho
4th of March, 1909. The time to take up tho
work of organizing is now."
"Are you a democrat? Do you believe that
tho party platform should bo made by the ma
jority of the party? Do you bellove in a govern
ment of, for and by the people? Do you believe
that the best citizens owe it to their country,
to their families, to themselves to do what they
can for tho good of our country? If so sign a pri
mary pledge, and do not stop at that, but get
your good neighbor democrats to do the samo
and let us begin work now for a big democratic
victory at the next national election."
Tho Manitowoc (Wis.) Pilot is in favor of
having the platform written by thejrank and file.
In an editorial entitlsd "Democracy and Success,"
the Pilot says:
"There are too many plutocrats in the demo
cratic party and too many democrats in the re
publican party. If the real democracy of fho
country would achieve success, they must first
show that they deserve success. This can not
be done by compromising with tho thousands of
ultra-conservatives that are now known as demo
crats. Not a few of these ultra-conservatlvo
democrats are . extremely plutocratic. Theso
democratic plutocrats must no longer be permitted
to dictate the policy of tho democratic party.
They must have no voice in state and national
democratic conventions. Their principles must
not bo incorporated into democratic platforms.
They must have no voice in the conduct of dem
ocratic campaigns.
"There is no room for two republican parties.
Therefore, plutocratic democrats should be in
duced, by all honorable means available, to sever
their connection with the true democracy. As
long as they remain in tho democratic party, that
party can not wield the influence requisite for
the bringing about of those reforms for which
there is a crying need. They constitute a dead
weight of which democracy must be relieved.
"Let there be an end to all paltering on tho
part of real democrats. The democratic .party
must not stoop to any species of cant, buncombe,
finesse and chicane. These things have no placo
in genuine democracy, which Is the torch-bearer
of human progress which has wielded a tremend
ous influence in the shaping of American institu
tions and with which, in a large measure, must
rest tho perpetuity of free government.
"Democracy must be all that its present lead
er would have it to be if it wishes to stand a
fair show for success. It must deserve success.
It must not endeavor to secure votes by com
promising its principles. It must shua all time
serving. It must show its colors and defend its
. principles with unwavering zeal.
"If democracy will do these things if it will
eliminate tho plutocratic element it will deserve
success and stand a good show to win success in
1908. Tens of thousands that are now known as
republicans would speedily identify themselves
with an unadulterated democracy."
The Kentucky Gazette, published at Lexing
ton, keeps standing the primary pledge, and calls
upon Its readers to push the worlc
The Southeast MIssourian, published at New
Madrid, Mo., and edited by W. W. Waters, dis
plays the primary pledge plan in its columns and
urges its readers to get In line.
Bidor tho following editorial takon from Tho
Commoner on March 17, and asks those who aro
in favor of carrying out tho plan ns outlined
therein to sign tho plodgo below printed and send
tho samo to tho Times ofllco. All pledges re
ceived at this ofllco will bo forwarded, to Tho
Commoner."
Tho El Rono (Oklahoma) Dally Globo, edited
by J. M. Tadlock, presents tho primary plodgo
plan to its readers and invites thoir co-operation.
Tho Memphis News-Scimitar prints the pri
mary pledge and asks its readerH to sign samo
and roturn to tho political department of tho News
Scimitar. Tho News-Sclmltnr says:
"The importance of enlisting each individual
voter in the work of making the future elections
satisfactory to tho people hns been taken up. by
the Hon. William J. Bryan, and a movement has
been started by tho statesman of the west to got
every democrat in tho country to agree to attend
all primaries and take proper action on all ques
tions. The movement does not bind tho Individual
to any particular action. It only makes him agrco
to think for himself and to take part in primaries.
The theory of tho Ncbraskan is that tho peoplo
will do what is right If they will all act, and that a
pledge for action is equivalent to an agreement to
doing right. This great faith In the people is
shared in Memphis, and the pledge card that is
sent out by Mr. Bryan is reproduced for Memphis
voters. It will bo of interest to sec how many
Momphians will tako the trouble to fill out this
blank. If it Is filled out and observed by a ma
jority of tho voters of Memphis there is no ques
tion as 'to tho great benefit that will come to the
peoplo of tho city."
Tho Lexington, Ky., Gazette reproduces tho
primary pledge, saying: "Tho first stop in tho
great battle is organization. Democracy can not
succeed with any candidate unless It Is organized.
Therefore wo urge upon every democrat to sign
tho primary pledge."
The Public, Louis F. Post's paper, says: "Mr.
Bryan has happily phrased the new Impulse of
which ho is urging the democratic party to tako
advantage. 'Back to tho people does best de
scribe, as he says, 'the tendency which is mani
festing itself in tho nation and In most of tho
states.' Away from centralized power, away from
imperialism, away from militarism, away from
special privilege, away from paternalism, and .
'back to the people!'"
The Eminence, Mo., Wave says: "Wo are very
favorably inclined towards Mr. Bryan's pledge,
which numerous exchanges are urging, and as far
as it goes it is excellent. But there Is one omls
Blon that recent events prove to bo as important
as that which is Inserted. We suggest that tho
pledge be amended to say 'and we1 pledge our
votes in tho general election to the democratic
ticket as nominated.' Soreheads, bolters and
traitors can harp on primaries as loudly as true
democrats, but it's the ballots for democracy that
count when the battle is on."
The Cape May County Times, published at Sea
Isle City, New Jersey , and edited by Matthew
Jefferson, displays the primary pledge plan, and
says: "The Times urges its readers. , to ..con-
The North Platte, Neb., Independent-Democrat
nays: "Many democrats are responding to the plan
et organization submitted by Mr. Bryan and many
are signing tho primary pledge. It is generally
welcomed by tho real democrats who see in it suet
a revival of pure democracy as will revivify an(
reorganize the democratic party upon a basil
where the rank and file of tho party would b
heard in Its councils. Letters accompany man;
of the signed pledges and therfe' seems to bo
revival among tho adherents of that party. It ii
the one means by which the voice of all democrat!
can bo heard and a platform adopted that Is ii
touch with the will of the people. Those who hav(
grown despondent will be cheered by the purpose,
ful attitude of the party. Tho fragmentary por
tions of the party will be drawn together and therfi
will be such a consolidation of factional forco
that it will put hope and vigor in the breast o
every democrat and be the precursor of futun
democratic victories. It is in tho primaries when
corruption must be quenched. It is In the pri
marles whero the people must act to bring abotr
the necessary reforms. It is in tho primary wherd
they must en.graft and exemplify the democratic
doctrine of 'equal rights to all and special privi
leges to none.' And until the power of the people
is enlarged itfis tbft.piWcpign ol vantage wMcfe .
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