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The Commoner.
VOLUME 5, NUMBER 20
MOVE AS A MAN WITH A PURPOSE-
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' Every democrat is asked to..
.. pledge himself to attend all of..?
',.. the primaries of his party to &
& be held between now and the $
XS next democratic national con- &
& vention, unless unavoidably $
'? prevented ana to uso nis in- &
'& fluence to secure a clear, hon- &
Je est and straight-forward de
i lnraf1rn nf hr nnriv's nosl
'8 tlon on every question upon &
't which the voters of the party
'& desire to speak. Those de-
4 Klrlnn to he enrolled can clth-
'jZ er write to The Commoner ap- &
' proving the object of the or- &
' ganlzatlon and asking to have &
ic their names entered on the &
' roll, or they can fill out and &
d mall the blank pledge which &
" printed on page 16 of this Is- &
'& sue. S
'& It will require time to cover S
J the entire fed. but it demo- J
- - ,..f
'& crats co-operate, the desired
'& result will be accomplished.
8 Send The Commoner your
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' own primary pledge and then &
'& ask your neighbor to do like- &
'2t wise.
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O fc W 5 O it W O V i? i5
Many willing hands in all sections
of tlio country are taking hold of
The Commoner's tow line. The suc
cess of the primary pledge plan is
assured. Not that the work is by any
means completed it is hardly begun
but it is plain that democrats who
want their party to ne the party of
the people are co-operating for the
organization of the rank and file along
the lines of the primary pledge plan.
"William F. Sapp, chairman oi the
democratic Btate committeo for Kan
sas, writing from Topeka under date
of May 13, says: I herewith enclose
nineteen primary election pledges, re
ceived at democratic headquarters this
weok. I believe this is going to
awaken a great deal of interest among
the young voters in thiu state.
J. H. Downey, dealer in agricultural
implements at Mt. Jackson, Va asks
that two hundred primary pledge
blanks he forwarded to him. addlnc:
"I think it the proper plan of organi
zation." R. L. Morgan, Lawyer, of Blooming-
, ton, Ind., has been doing vigorous
work in behalf of the primary pledge
plan in his county. Under date of
May 18, Mr. Morgan wiite3t "En
closed you will find the names of 235
democrats who have pledged them
selves to attend the democratic pri
maries, I have about twenty petitions
circulating in this county, and adjoin
ing counties, and expect to enroll sev
eral hundred democrats. Circulating
the enclosed petitions has brought me
In porsdnal contact with nearly all
the representative democrats In this
county, and I wish to say, they are
much interested in this plan of organ
' ization."
W. L. Eagleton, Lawyer, Pawnee,
Okla., is making an earnest effort
to obtain the signature of every dem
ocrat in his vicinity. Mr. 3agleton
has sent to a large number of Okla
homa democrats the following letter:
"William J. Bryan has suggested a
plan for reorganization of tho party,
which I deem to bo in tho best inter
ests of the party and for this roncrm
am anxious to do all I can in helping
the matter along, and am urging my
.friends to give the matter their con
sideration, and if they can do so to
assist in the work. I want to per
sonally urge a careful investigation
oi mo pinn, una ue-spc:.ic for the e
be pleased to know that the offer of
Tho Commoner, 60 cents per year,
for clubs of five or more ia taken
advantage of at your pootofflce. I do
not believe that we can do better
than to carefully organize and see to
it that the people are given an op
portunity through tho primary pledge
to control tho next national conven
tion both in its declaration of prin
ciples and in its nominees for office.
Please lot me hear from you along
the lines suggested."
James Vance, of Ironton, Mo., sends
pledge with 19 signatures.
Charles J. Skaggs, Pekin, 111., sends
pledge with 20 signatures.
J. J. Curran, City Hall, Birming
ham, Ala., ' sends pledge with 20 sig
natures. D. A. Merrell, Kerrville, Tenn.,
sends -pledge with 28 signatures.
D. S. Maynard, Gaston, Indy sends
pledge with 26 signatures.
Sam T. Jones, Kenton, Okla., sends
list of twenty signatures to the pri
mary pledge.
C. L. Andrews, Lone Wolf, Okla.,
sends primary pledge with 12 signa
tures. J. I. Phelps, El Reno 8eds primary
pledge with 20 signatures.
Herman Decker, Pekin, 111., sends
primary pledge with 40 signatures.
George Beamer, Lamar, Mo.
Please send 100 blank nledges. will
have them signed and sent in at
once. This is a move in the right di
rection and will surely be productive
of great good. ' -
Extracts from other letters, every
one enclosing primary pledge follow:
Sam Singleton, R. F. D. No. 2. Rich
land, la. Enclosed please ibid pri
mary pledge. I was born in a republi
llcan family and rocked in u repub
lican cradle. I have five brothers.
Three of them are still voting with
what they call the republican party.
I got my eyes opened at the St. Louis
convention of 1896 when those old
standard bearers went out of the con
vention with tears in their eyes be
cause they had been contending for a
principle that bad been defeated. You
republicans remember what happened.
"When I read their statement I found
myself in sympathy with those old
ienows who walked out. I think I
was the first of what they call a "free
silver republican" in Richland. I told
my republican friends that the ele
ment which controlled that convention
wanted to permanently fasten on us
tno goia standard, and that they
wouldn't stop at that, but would want
to make the silver dollar subsidiary.
They said they believed that I was
honest in my belief, but they pitied
my ignorance. I sunnorted Parker in
1904, not because he suited me, but
because, it was a step in the right
direction. When I vote on a platform
that Mr. Bryan would frame or heart
ily endorse I think it a upok f
"old Abe" as we call him, would put
out. That's good enough for me.
Yours for success, body and breeches.
H. M. 'Smith, Loredo, Texas. I
filled out and sent in my primary
pledge sometime ago. I am nearly
seventy-five years old and can not
stand much, so not much can be ex
pected of me in the way of traveling
around looki-ig for signatur t.
Noah Dawson, Bridgeport, W. Va.
Enclosed find primary pledge. I sup
ported democracy in 1896-1900. That
of 1904 was a nauseating doso. Many
democrats in my community mi,i
not support Parker, not that they con
sidered the platform altogether bad
by any means, but did not wish to
abet or encourage the reorganizes in
any way. Therefore would have none
will enhance good government.
nnnmr T?inf1nr T? T? TV No. 7. EvanS-
ville, Ind. How I will vote in 1908
is for tne luture to uecius, nimuugu
I can sign the primary pledge. I
followed the republican party until
I got left, and now I don't know but
what I might have to say the same
tlilnfr nC tho flpmnp.ratln nartv in the
near future. But I will follow it until
I get left, and in the meantime I will
do what I can to seo that the prin
ciple of public ownership of public
utilities succeeds.
Dr. T. J. Dunbar, Portsmouth, O.
We can win in an honorable way if
every one signs the primary pledge.
I will do anything honorable to get
the chance to vote for righteous prin
ciples in 1908.
H. W. Thurmond, county judge,
Licking, Mo. Enclosed find primary
pledge with thirty-five signatures.
Ben V. Smith, Lawyer, Somerset,
Ky. We have thirty-five precincts in
our county. If you will forward me
that majay pledges I will take pleas
ure in sending one to each .nrecinct.
secure list of names and then return
all to you. I feel very much inter
ested in this plan of work, tand will
do what I can to make it a success.
I waa a delegate in 1896 to Chicago,
and feel interested in the cause advo
cated by Mr. Bryan.
A. E. Gramsie, Minneapolis, I am
only too glad to do anything I can in
this movement, and think we will win
next tim6.
Isaac N. Boggerly, Birds Eye, Ind.
I heartily endorse this movement.
I herewith send a few pledges signed
by strong believers in your plan.
W. N. Stringfield, Carlo, I. T.-Wo
are with you. We read The Coni-
moner and expect to continue. Can't
do without it. w
J. A. Garner, Nickerson, Neb. En
closed you will find a list of signers.
Where Bryan leads we will follow..
Cyrus Hotchkiss. Delancv. N. Y.
I am in sympathy with you, particular
ly m your primary pledge plan. Send
me some blank pledges.
M. A. Winter, Traskwood, Ark.
I was born in Morgan County, Ala
bama, June 11, 1823, -I left there Sep
tember lb, i83. 1 now live at Trask
wood and will do all I can for your
good p'lan.
T. A. Roy, Perry, Okla. Find en
closed twenty primary pledges. I am
pleased to send them. I wish every
democrat wouH do the same. If we
do not attend our primaries we need
not expect to elect a ticket that will
give the common people any re 'ief. In
toy judgment that is the reason we
were defeated last tall.
J. L. Hall, Honey Grove, Tex. I
think the primary pledge is a good
idea. I have always considered the
primary the place to get reform. If
the people don't sneak oufcin tho te
rnary they can not hope to have a
"government of, for and by the peo
ple." A. C. Cox, Danville, Ind. It cer
tainly affords me great pleasure to get
a chance to sign a primary pledge
like that of The Commoner. Every
honest democrat and all the penitent
republicans ought to sign it forthwith.
Everybody get ready for the battle of
1908, and let'd reaffirm the Kansas
City Platform. "No . compromise"
should be the slogan until every hon
est democrat is solidly united in the
old faith.
. yow j ,;a z
W. T. Shepard, Houston, Mo. En
closed you will find primary ' pledee
with forty-two signatures. We heart
ily endorse your plan. We would like
to go further and pledge everyone to
support tho nominee.
J. E. Venard. Wlimtrrf
1 Please send me primary pledge blank.
Yours for the betterment of manMnii
Ira Stout, 'New Richmond lnd--i
send you my -pledge with tho assur
ance that I am with you, heart and
soul, in the war you are waglnc
against plutocracy and organized
wealth. You have fought a good
fight, you have kept tho faith but
you have not finished your course
Jacob Dunbar, Guthrie, Okla.En
closed find primary pledge, signed by
as many as I could conveniently reach'
Z. B. Garrison, Garrison, Tex. i
have all my life closely attended the
primary election. I am seventy-six
years old, and have voted the demo
cratic ticket from constable to presi
dent (except for Greeley). I am heart
ily in accord with your plan, and
hope God will spare my life to par
ticipate in the campaign of 1908. I
received the first issue of The Com
moner, and I don't think I have ever
missed a number or failed to read it.
C. L. "Bridgowater, Little York, Ind.
I have been a ypter ever since 1SG0.
I voted for Greeley, and also for Par
ker, but I afterwards felt that I had
nearly committed a great sin. I en
dorse the primary pledge plan. I
have taken The Commoner for a year,
and will continue it. I value it very
highly.
Leonard Martin, South Hero, Vt.
Enclosed find primary pledge, signed
by seventeen. I could get fifty sign
ers if I had time", for they seem to
take to it like hot cakes. My friends
of the south and west, don't be dis
couraged, for the tide is turning and
the money power begins to see "the
handwriting on the wall."
W. H. Fortner, Kingston, O. I send
my primary pledge to assist In or
ganizing the democratic party for tho
campaign of 1908, I never miss, a pri
mary, and think it is the duty of
every democrat to attend regularly.
My first vote was cast for George B.
McClelland or, as we called him in
the army, "Little Mac." I voted for
every democrat nominated for presi
dent since, and expect to hereafter.
Dr. Mary E. Walker, Oswego, N. Y.
Please send me some, of the pri
mary pledges that" I may present to
callers.
F. A. Panlow, Clear Lake, Wis. En
closed find my primary pledge. I was
a republican until 1896. In my opin
ion the principles of Jefferson, Jack
son, Lincoln and Bryan democracy
will live after both or all parties aro
dead.
George W. Jordan, Pettigrew, Ark.
Unless the people are allowed a voico
in selecting a candidate and making
a platform, democracy is doomed. But
if the masses are allowed a voico
in those matters, victory will perch
on the banner of democracy in 1908.
W. G. Needham, Teutopolis, 111.
jwnciosed find twenty-three primary
pledges. The best thing to do is to
get the democrats out to tho prima
ries. I have no doubt but success
will crown your efforts. Go on
in your good work, and God will grant
success.
James Pope, Orlando, Fla. En
closed find primary pledge with four
teen signatures.
G. T. Stone, Cashion, Okla. I am
in sympathy with the primary pledge
plan, and will do all that I can to
carry it through. I enclose your pri
mary pledge with forty-three signa
tures. Wm. H. -Smith, Seward, Neb. En
closed find my primary pledge, and
one other. It seems to me that every
western democrat, especially, and all
eastern democrats in sympathy with
the spirit of the western, or new,
democracy, should sign these pledges.
P. R. C. Campbell, Pickel, -Tenn.
I like the idea of the primary pledgo
19 p mm.
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