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The Commoner.
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
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VOL. 8, NO. 5
Lincoln, Nebraska, February 14, 1908
Whole Number 369
CONTENTS
THE DUE REWARD OF TRADE
"A QUESTION OP PRIORITY"
GEORGE ADE FOR CHAIRMAN
LET THE LIGHT BE TURNED ON THE
PULITZ.ER INVESTMENTS
Tia "MAP OF BRYANISM"
DEMOCRATIC CLUBS
HENRY WARRUM ON "THE DEMOCRATIC
VOLUNTEER"
THE "MILLION RMY PLAN"
WASHINGTON LETTER
COMMENT ON CURRENT TOPICS
HOME DEPARTMENT
. WHETHER COMMON OR NOT
NEWS OF THE WEEK
IS HE SOARED?
Robert J. Cousins of Iowa who is now serv
ing his eighth term in congress as representative
of the Fifth Iowa district, has announced that
he will not be a candidate this year. Mr.
Cousins says: "My reason for withdrawing is
that having given the bestpart'or mylifetO"
the public service and having opportunity, I
must nqw do something for myself."
Can it be possible that Mr. Cousins, keen
politician that he is, has looked the situation
over thoroughly and has concluded that 1908
Is not to be a g. o. p year?
oooo
DID YOU AND DO YOU?
Addressing a committee representing tho
National Association of Manufacturers Mr.
Payne, chairman of the house committee on
ways and ifteans, declared that the present con
gress would not appoint a tariff commission,
but added that a revision of the tariff will bo
undertaken after the presidential election. It
was also made plain to the committee that Mr.
Payne spoke with the approval of Speaker
Cannon.
Did anyone really believe that tho repub
lican party would seriously undertake to revise
the tariff before the presidential election?
Does anyone believe that the republican
party will revise the tariff in the interest of tho
consumers after the presidential election?
OOOO
NOT "MUCH" OF COURSE
The Philadelphia, Press says: "Congress
man Wallace, of Arkansas, has a rich and suffi
cient reason for Bryan's candidacy. Bryan may
not be elected, he declares, but he will convince
the world" of his own manhood. That, of course,
is all the democratic party wants and that isn't
much."
No, "that isn't much' in the estimation of
those whose ears are tuned to catch the slight
est pulsations of a pocketbdok and who denounce
as a demagogue anyone who dares listen to the
heart-beat of humanity.
"That isn't much" to a newspaper editor
who regards as an anarchist the man who in
sists this government shall return to democratic
ways.
"That isn't much" to an editor who is not
seriously disturbed by the real anarchy of tho
trust magnates or tho wholesale stealing car
ried on by the "defenders of the national honor"
who, as republican party leaders, have do'minated
public affairs in the state of Pennsylvania.
oMtxM PINANCE5
If he is sincere, why doesn't he turn on the light?
THE DUE REWARD OF TRADE
Manufacturing has its capital prizes. A
man with a genius for his work establishes a
manufacturing plant; he organizes his industry
and turns out a superior product. By tho intro
duction of economies and tho use of by-products
he cheapens production. In the course of time
his brands become known because they guaran
tee quality. He gradually enlarges his plant as
demand Increases, and before the years fall
heavily upon him or his strength begins to fail
ho finds himself in the enjoyinenf of an income
sufficient for his needs. He has earned his re
ward and is entitled to it.
Commerce, too, has its rewards, and the
field is a proper and legitimate one. While pro
duction comes before exchange, exchange is
necessary to production on a large scale. Com
merce must have the farm and tho factory for
a foundation, but the farm and the factory find
the merchant indispensable. The producer and
the consumer must bo brought together, and to
bring them together is the function of com
merce. The middle man is a laborer, and is
worthy of his hire. Few of these middle men
grow very rich, and still less secure "swollen
fortunes," where trade is unfettered and com
petition has free play. If a few merchant princes
arise in the great cities, they are not likely to
do as much harm as they do good, unless they
are permitted to secure a monopoly of the busi
ness in which they are engaged. I am, of
course, speaking of legitimate exchange, not
of speculation on the market. Gambling in
stocks, bonds and farm produce is not legitimate.
Such deals have all the evil features of gambling,
and, besides, interfere with the natural law of
supply and demand, and do injustice to both
producer and consumer.
I have mentioned farming, manufacturing
and commerce because these are tho three great
branches of industry, and I have mentioned
them to show that fortunes of a reasonable
amount can be hpnestly acquired In all of them.
In each the natural law of rewards can be ap
plied. In each of these departments of indus
try theg ia. a clian'co for the deserving to rise
when" normal conditions prevail. Tho farm hand
may become tho owner of a farm; the factory
hand may become a superintendent and then a
controlling stockholder; the clerk may become
a partner and then tho head of the firm. This
is the natural way, and so long as the natural
way prevails success follows merit, and the hope
of success furnishes the stimulant necessary to
high endeavor.
In the professions, In finance, and In the
many occupations not included in either farm
ing, manufacturing or-commerco, there is oppor
tunity for one to accumulate money and prop
erty In return for valuable service rendered, and
in all wattes of life there is opportunity for that
saving which come with good habits and self
denial. He who saves in his youth and during
tho days of his vigor is entitled to the dividends
which economy pays to the aged.
It is not at these useful members of society
that the president directs his attack. His ana
themas are intended for those who reap where
they do not sow and gather In to their overflow
ing barns the craps grown by the toil of others.
To understand how unnatural and exces
sive the swollen fortunes ara, oce has only to
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