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The Commoner,,
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
' j i
Lincoln, Nebraska, January 10, 1908
VOL. 7, NO. 52
Whole Number 364
CONTENTS
RANK AND FILE WILL CONTROL
TARIFF REFORM BY COMMISSION
A GOOD BEGINNING
SECRETARY TAFT OPENS THE CAM
PAIGN NEW YORK WORLD'S PLAN FOR 1908
WANTED AN ARMY OF A MILLION
WASHINGTON LETTER
COMMENT ON CURRENT TOPICS
HOME DEPARTMENT
WHETHER COMMON OR NOT
NEWS OF THE WEEK
Hero is an interesting letter from a
nincty-four-y ear-old democrat. George
Saum of Anamosa, la., writes: "Please
send me a dozen or fifteen certificates, as
I want to do some work for the million
army plan. My age xillhough only ninety
four, does not permit me to get about a
great deal, but it does not hinder my talk
ing and reading political issues in which I
am greatly interested. I believe in "cquaL
rights to all and special privileges to none."
I voted for Jackson and am looking forward
to the privilege of voting again for Bryan."
oooo
CAN IT BE?
In its New Year's edition The Commoner
printed this: "A Happy New Year" a twelve
month full of peace and plenty to every reader
of The Commoner; and to every other one
throughout the wide, wide world!
Reproducing this sentiment Editor George
D. Perkins writing in the Sioux City (Iowa)
Journal says: "The sentiment is very pretty.
But it is not accompanied by a statement that
Mr. Bryan will withdraw his name from further
consideration as a candidate."
Can it be possible that the only way to
make a republican editor happy Is for Mr. Bryan
to withdraw from the contest of 1908?
, OOOO
Following is a letter from an eighty-two-ycar-old
democrat: "Enclosed find
money otfder for $3.00 for the six names
mentioned in the four certificates herein.
Ir. Helgcsen suggested that we get up a
club yesterday, and the above is the result
so far. Please send fifteen or twenty cer
tificates for further use in our endeavor
to increase the list. You may know what
kind of a democrat I am by being elected
as the first democratic county clerk after
the civil war, in tliis county 1800. I
will bo eighty-two years old the 3rd of
February next. Came to California in
1840, voted for the ratification of the state
constitution. I have been as deaf as an
oyster for the last twenty years, but thank
God I can see to read yet and know the
truth when I do read it, and only hope I
may be spared long enough to see an hon
est, sincere president in the White House.
Most respectfully yours,
Washington, Cal. J. J. ROGERS.
A GOOD THING FOR EVERYBODY
RANK AND FILE WILL CONTROL
The New York World appears to be greatly
disturbed lest Mr. Bryan would force himself
upon the democratic party as a candidate for
president In 1908. This is all pretense, however,
unless the World editors are uttorly Ignorant of
the sentiments and purpose of democrats.
It Is an insult to the Intelligence of the
party to say that any man or coterie of men
could, for selfish or clique reasons, dictate tho
course of the party in 1908. Certainly demo
crats learned something in tho experiences of
1904 when tho New York World and the special
Interests it represents had their way, so far as
concerns convention results. Democrats know,
too, that at this time when the American people
are demanding relief from trust imposition tho
candidate and tho platform must be represent
ative of the Interests of tho masses. They
know, too, that tho American people could no
moro depend upon a presidential candidate
chosen by tho special interests and the repre
sentatives of tho special interests that seek to
control democratic conventions any more than
they could depend upon a presidential candidate
named by tho republican convention at the be
hest of tho great corporations.
No one will contend, publicly, that tho ,
public welfare should not bo of paramount Im
portance in tho framing of a platform and In
the naming of 9, candidate. Noono will deny,
publicly, that tho masses, rather than tho
classes, should rule. No one will say, publicly,
that tho party should submit to dictation. But
in popular government 'skimmed milk some
times masquerades as cream," and sometimes '
tho most abject tools of monopolies pretend an
anxiety for tho public good and hido evil pur
poses by patriotic pretensions.
While tho people have often been deceived,
at no time must tho people surrender tho power
of determining their course. In tho democf'c
party particularly the rank and file must bo
the judges; and this is all the more true in this
year when the American people, grown weary
of the burdens put upon them by monopolies
through the aid and consent of the republican
party, are looking to tho democratic party for
relief; not merely encouragement in finely writ
ten platforms, not merely bright promises
spoken by eloquent orators, but in the sincere
determination on tho part of the party leader
ship, and more than all upon the part of tho
candidate himself, to faithfully adhere to tho
promises made. The rank and file of the demo
cratic party must, therefore, write the platform
and name tho candidate. Mr. Bryan has not
sought to Influence tho choice other than to tho
extent of saying that the discharge of this im
portant duty shall not be relegated to individ
uals with power to act to the detriment of the
party and tho public, and to the advantage of.
the very elements rom whose oppressions the
American people are at this very moment
turning.
It Is the province of every man within tho
party to aspire to the honors which tho party
has to bestow, but It Is tho province of -tho
party and that means the rank and file to
shape the party's course.
So far as the campaign of 1908 Is concerned
Mr. Bryan has only said that if democrats want
ed him to be tho candidate he would accept tho
nomination and do his duty.
Mr. Bryan has said, however, just as every
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