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The Commoner.
-VOLUME 5, NUMDEIl 31
DEMOCRACY WILL WIN WHEN IT HONESTLY
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Joo L. Boraar, or Rich Hill, Missouri, has
sent to Tho Commoner primary pledges signed
by 517 democrats. In a letter to The Commoner
Mr. Bomar says that in 1896 ho walked twenty
miles to vote the democratic ticket. He adds:
"Wo must put subterfuge aside and honestly
espouse the cause of the people. Thon we will
win as we deserve to. Missouri is as reliably
democratic as Texas, and an honest platform'-
s
means 75,000 democratic majority in this state as
well as, I believe, democratic success in every
doubtful state in the union."
This is the kind of work that if generally
engaged in by democrats will spell success. ,
If you have not signed the primary pledge
do not longer delay the discharge of this duty.
Every Commoner reader is invited to co-operate
In this work. Even though you make it a prac
tice to attend primaries, don't withhold your
pledge. By signing you will set a good example
for your careless neighbor. This is not to be tho
work of a day nor of several days. It is to be
the work of months and of years. The field is
a large one and to cover it time and effort will
bo required, but if democrats co-operate the de
Bired result will be accomplished. Every demo
crat is asked to pledge himself to attend all of
the primaries of his party to be held between now
and the next democratic national convention, un
less unavoidably prevented, and to secure a clear,
honest and straight-forward declaration of the
party's position on every question upon which
the voters of the party desire to speak. Those
desiring to be enrolled can either write to The
Commonor approving the object of the organiza
tion and asking to have their names entered on
the roll, or they can fill out and mail the blank
pledge, which is printed on page 9.
Primary pledges unaccompanied by letters
tire sent in in numbers by democrats as follows:
Henry Welp, Siberia, Ind., 35 primary pledges;
J R. Moore, Temple, Okla., 35; J. L. Brock, Lud
low, Mo;, 15; N. Dawson, Bridgeport, W. Va.,
11; W. M. Wilson, Cleveland, Mo., 20; E. GJoff,
Clinton, Mo., 30; T. J. Priddy, South Greenfield,
Mo., 15; W. O. Parker, Oklahoma City, Okla.,
4: Gordon Farley, Spittswood, W. Va., 25; W.
5: Spivey, Berkley, Ala., 3tf; A. W. Bass, Lake
View, Mich., 15; F. W. Laufketter, Traskwood,
Ark., 26; T. J. Pratt, Dunlow, W. Va., 13; O. R.
Johnson, Riddles, Oregon, 35; W.'P. Rowan, Pal
mer, W. Va., 35; Adam Kling, New Jersey
Heights, N. J., 35; John Lang, Hainey, Ore., 24; F.
W. Deen, Ardmore, I. T., 35.
George E. Dickson, 2146 Sherman ave.,
Evanston, 111., writes: "I herewith enclose one
d611ar to renew my subscription to The Com
moner for another year. I think' I get more for
this dollar that goes to Lincoln every year than
for any other ten dollars I spend during the
year, and I take a good many publications.
"I heartily approve of Mr. Bryan's primary
pledge plan, and while the important work con
nected with the primary is the slate making be
fore the primary, the habit of voting at the pri
.raary will quickly develop into a determination
to help fix the primary ticket before the primary
flection occurs, and when the right kind of men
give their attention to that part of their political
eftity it will be impossible to misrepresent the
democrats of that precinct in conventions.
'f "I think the most important work that could
bq done for the democratic party at this time
would bo to get The Commonor into as many
homes as possible and to this end I believe it
would be possible to perfect an organization hav
ing that for its object that would put the paper
into the hands of every democrat in tho country.
If have never been solicited to take The Com
moner. I have taken It from the first but that
fact is not known, of course, and there should
be some systematic canvass of every voting pre
cinct in the country so that every democrat In
the country will be solicited not once,
but every once in a while, to take the paper. A
central organization with proper management
could soon have a branch organization in every
precinct in the country, and before ayear could
have the paper going to ten men where it is going
to one now.
"If the circulation - of The Commoner could
bo increased to two or three million subscribers
there would never be another retreat from the
advanced position the party took in 1896 and
1900."
Extracts from letters received at The Com
moner office follow:
C. L. Ogiloit, Enid, Okla. Enclosed please
find primary pledge, signed by thirty-six royal
blue, Jefferson, Jackson and Bryan democrats,
who have very heartily agreed to assist Mr. Bryan
and to use their influence to secure a clean and
straightforward declaration of the party's position
on every question pertaining to the betterment
of mankind and to further the cause of true de
mocracy. I have only found two Palmer-Buckner-Cleveland
democrats and of course poor "things"
they refused to sign the pledge.
E. W. Mcintosh, Gotebo, Okla., Enclosed
find primary pledge signed by thirty-five demo
crats, willing to assist in making the party a
representative democratic party. They want no
more bull-dozing of conventions and stifling
the will of the masses. No more milk and cider
platform ot campaigns. No more "anything to
win" songs. No more cowardly gold telegrams
and catering to the money power. No more
sweet-smelling roses for corporations. No more
ditching the old democratic ship of state in the
mire of the eastern mug-wumps for the purpose
of trying to create a slush fund, with the hope
of corrupting voters. No more straddling the
fence on the live issues of the day. Pure Jeffer
son and Jackson .democracy in TSlaiir-Ehglisli iff
the only thing that will win. No more playing
second fiddles to the republican party, should be
permitted to pass muster.
J. S. Cunningham, Knoxville, Iowa. I enclose
primary pledge blank with thirty-five signatures.
Send me one more blank list and ten or twelve
copies of your paper. I assure you it is a
pleasure to me to do anything I can to assist
progressive democracy.
Charles Pipkin, M. D., Gallatin, Mo. I en
close the primary pledge duly signed. Am in
hearty sympathy with, and for all it stands. We
were buncoed once when Greeley waa nominated
1 swallowed that, but X wouldn't stand for the
second dose, so made one in Missouri's grand
army of democrats who didn't vote for Parker.
A. B. Ferguson, Lyons, Ind. I enclose pri
mary pledge signed by thirty-five democrats
William Lowry, Guy, Texas. I herewith send
pledge with thirty-five names signed. I hope that
every man in the country that loves liberty and
justice will sign this pledge before the next na
tional convention is called.
William C. Moody, Thatcher, Arizona. Find
enclosed primary pledge signed by six.
S. F. Swayne, Fort Wayne, Ind.r-I enclose
primary pledge with four signatures.
Pledge si'gnSehdafer' Ed,na' M'""1 enclose
Sam Bertram, Little Crab, Tenn. Enclos-d
name'of SiMT7 Pledps, signed, als'ollle
names or thirty-three prominent democrats in
frnviStriCtt0.Wh0m please send PrCry Pledge
blanks so that we may have work going on all
?nf trict' We havo much to do Our
TrZt rsS ful1 of sood ds 25
findTlat
interested about the party IwiTSl lJ5d-
opportunity to get ufo bTanY" nUed o'ut hWe "
heartily in favor of the work In Wi i
ae taok ana Hne hob SaSftS "m
Plan. I shall bo clad to So nnv S ? meufe
further the cause fn &S$$Z t0
H. L. Freeman, Newtonia, Mo.,-I send pri-'
raary pledge signed by twenty of the best demn.
crats in this county. I am eighty years old Z
I pray that I may live to vote for a good demn.
crat for president in 1908. I never voted inv
thing but the democratic ticket. May God blew
ycr efforts.
J. Warner Wiggs, Winslow, Ind., Enclosed
herewith find primary pledge signed by me
Have been a careful and constant reader of Tho
Commoner for some three years and am free to
say I believe it to be doing the greatest work
for the perpetuity of human rights, on the Jeffer
sonian, Jacksonian and constitutional theory ot
any pen or man. If right is mighty (and I be
lieve it so), if personal and public probity
honesty, and integrity are to be of more moment
(and who can doubt it) in the eyes of the Ameri
can people than gold, if true manhood and woman
hood is to be above and beyond "tin and graft"
then I believe The Commoner should have tho
hearty support and encouragement of every
liberty loving American irrespective of past or
present party affiliations. In the fight against
wrong in high places you have thousands of more
influence but not one more enthusiastic or de
voted than yours truly.
Robert Good, editor Optimist, Jamestown,
Kans. Enclosed find primary pledge. Although
the Optimist does not pose as" a partisan paper
its editor is a democrat who believes, however,
it would be well if every. voter should sign tho
pledge. To my mind there- is no better way of
"purifying politics" than by taking an active in
terest in them. For years I have urged the ne
cessity of members of all parties attending the
caucuses and primary elections, and this move
ment is strictly in line with the best thought of
all men who have an earnest desire for purity,
progress and popular control of party.
L. C. Carper, Cedarville, Ohio Outside of
the free and unlimited coinage of silver I am a
"Bryan man" heart and soul. Have been a voter
for thirty-six years, .and if I ever voted for any
candidate for any pffice with a greater satisfac
tion or a clearer conscience than'fn' any other,
It was when I voted for William J. Bryan for presi
dent. His is the right kind of democracy not
New York World or Cincinnati Enquirer democ
racy. But government for and by the people. I
approve of your primary plan, and ask to be
enrolled in the good cause. Success to The Com
moner's primary plan.
W. H. Cooley, Meadville, Pa. Enclosed find
primary pledge signed. Have been working for
the true Jefferson and Jackson democracy sixty
five years. My father and my grand father
were true Jefferson and Jackson democrats. I
have been working for true democracy ever since
I was twelve years old, am now seventy-seven.
D. G. McArthur, Leaton, Mich. Enclosed is
my primary pledge. I am severity-two years old
and have been a life-long democrat. I believe in
the Jeffersoriian principles of democracy.
T. J. Warren, Girard, Kans. I send herewith
my pledge duly signed. I am exceedingly busy
now and will be until about the first of November,
when I expect to secure signers to the pledge,
also, try and secure a few more subscribers. I
think every true democrat ought to subscribe
for The Commoner if he is financially able.
H. W. Sutherland, Bristol, Va., Enclosed
find primary pledge signed by thirty-five demo
crats of Bristol, Va. This town is about one-half
in Virginia and the other half in Tennessee. I
only circulated on Virginia side of town. Tho
signers of the enclosed pledge are the leading
men in our town.
W. R. Knox, Intercourse, Pa., Enclosed find
primary pledge signed by David F. Magee, re
cently elected democratic county chairman of
Lancaster county, Pa. Under the leadership of
Mr. Magee the true democrats in this county
hope to rescue the party from the grip of tho
republican machine, which controls both parties
in this county.
P. Rogers, Milroy, Ind., Enclosed find pri
mary pledge signed by thirteen democrats. RiS'lC
and honesty will yet prevail.
J. B. Hill, Gilmer, Tex,, Find enclosed pri
mary pledge signed by Prof. W. H. McClelland
who requests me to send it in. Professor McClel
land is principal of the Gilmer high school. Ho
was preferably against Mr. Bryan in 1S96 ana
1900, but has always voted, the democratic ticltet.
By becoming a constant reader of The Commoner
he has learned to admire Mr. Bryan and nis
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