The Commoner.
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
VOL. 7, NO. 35
Lincoln, Nebraska, September 13, 1907
Whole Number 347
CONTENTS
MR. BRYAN IN OKLAHOMA
"THE FIRST IN IMPORTANCE"
HOW MODERN GREED DISREGARDS
SAFETY OF LIFE AND LIMB
A RECORD OF DESTRUCTION
A SHOCKING STORY
TARIFF ABSURDITY
LABOR DAY SPEECHES,
WASHINGTON LETTER
COMMENT ON CURRENT TOPICS
HOME DEPARTMENT
WHETHER COMMON OR NOT
NEWS OF THE WEEK
IN OKLAHOMA
Next Tuesday will be held the first election
in the new state of Oklahoma. The democrats
of the new state offer a ticket made up of splen
did men who are standing upon a platform that
means something for the people. The republi
cans are opposing the adoption of the new state
constitut'IonrtKe only objection to it being that'
it confers too many powers upon the people
themselves and restricts the opportunities of
trusts and corporations to, exploit the people.
Secretary Taft opposed its adoption, one ground
being that it conferred the right of trial by jury
in all cases of contempt arising from the viola
tion of injunctions. Naturally enough the cor
porations, and especially the transportation' com
panies oppose the constitution because of this
provision, and because of the further provision,
that it confers upon the people the right to pro
tect themselves against the encroachments of tho
corporations. The republican leaders. are oppos
ing the adoption of the constitution because its
adoption means an end to the territorial govern
ment which has afforded them such rich politi
cal picking. The democrats have taken the peo
ple into their confidence and have waged an
open fight based upon the plain statement of
democratic principles, and they are confident of
success.
oooo
"THE FIRST IN IMPORTANCE"
Speaking at Portland, Ore., Secretary Taft
uaid: "The administration of Theodore Roose
velt stands out distinctly and' sharply for four
or five different issues. The first in impor
tance, possibly, is the regulation of our inter
state commerce railways by government super
vision and control."
Mr. Taft neglected to say that "the first
in importance" was proposed in three consecu
tive democratic national platforms, the repub
lican platforms being silent on the subject.
OOOO
TEXAS
Texas has driven the harvester trust out
of therstate. It is just such "hardships" that
"national incorporation'- is intended to prevent,
and that is the reason vhy national Incorpora
tion will not be popular with the people when it
is understood.
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"THIS ANTI-RAILROAD AGITATION IS SIMPLY RUINING ME!"
MR. BRYAN IN OKLAHOMA
Mr. Bryan delivered several speeches in tho
Oklahoma campaign which campaign terminates
Tuesday, September 17, when tho election will
take place. On tho first day he spoke at Vinita,
Tulsa, and Sepulpa, Indian Territory; at Bris
tow, Chandler and Oklahoma City, Okla. On the
second day he spoke at Woodward and Alva,
Oklahoma.
Concerning Mr. Bryan's speech at Oklahoma
City the Associated Press said:
"Ton thousand persons heard William J.
Bryan hero tonight reply to the recent address
of Secretary of War Taft upon the Oklahoma
Indian Territory political situation, in convention
hall, and 3,000 persons, unable to secure admit
tance to the auditorium, attended an overflow
meeting nearby. Mr.. Bryan was enthusiastically
received."
An abstract of Mr. Bryan's speech at Okla
homa City follows:
Secretary Taft, In his speech made in this
territory a few days ago advises the people
to reject the proposed constitution and postpone
statehood until another enabling act can be se
cured. At first blush one might suspect that
the secretary's advice was due to his personal
interest in the next election. He might be ac
cused of advising the postponement of state
hood with a view to keeping seven electoral
votes out of the democratic column, but the
more generous view taken in the matter is that
his advice resulted Iron his habits of thought.
He is inclined to postpone everything. He prom
ises to acquire the title of Tbe Great Postponer.
In a speech made not long ago at, Columbus,
Ohio, ho announced hlmsGTf as in favor of tariff
reform, but he would postpone It until after tho
next election. He also made an elaborate argu
ment In favor of the Income tax, but he would
postpone it Indefinitely. He 'agreed with the
president in regard to the wisdom of an Inherit
ance tax, but that, too, he would postpone until
a more convenient season. He did not seriously
object to the valuation of railroads, but ho did
not declare for it immediately. He is on hia
way to tho Philippines to tell the Filipinos that,
while he thinks they ought to have self-government
after while, he wants it postponed for the
present. It is not strange, therefore, that ho
should yield to his ruling spirit in the matter
of statehood and tell you to put it off.
He holds out the hope of another enabling
act, but what assurance can he give that a re
publican congress will act immediately to bring
in a -democratic state just before a presidential
election? You have been struggling for state
hood for some fifteen years and now when It la
within your grasp, he asks you to exchange a
certainty for the delusive promise of another
chance. Does he control the congress to such
an' extent that he can guarantee immediate ac
tion? The two senators from his own state do
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See That -This Copy of the Commoner Gets in the Hands of Some Oklahoma Voter
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