n ' w'mn:wmviw
NOVEMBER S, 1903
Bhould bo in sympathy with the whole people
and should be careful to see that the govern
ment Is not made a privato asset in business
by any part of tho people. In such a govern
ment the ballot should be protected so that
the voice of the people will bo heard and the
will of the majority registered with accuracy.
In such a government the taxes should be so
collected that each one will contribute to the
support of tho government in proportion to the
benefits Tecelved under tho protection of the
government, and the money collected by taxa
tion should be so appropriated that tho public
weal will be promoted rather than private in
terests. In such a 'government (Squal rights
to all and special privileges to none should bo
the maxim, and the courts should enforce the
law without partiality or respect to persons.
The aim of such a governnfent should be to
encourage each citizen to the highest endeavor
by assuring him his equitable share of tho total
wealth produced a reward commensurate with
his contribution to the welfare of the country.
A squaTe deal in party affairs means that
each member of the party shall have his proper
influence in shaping the .policy of the party.
There must be party leaders, but the leader is
tho man who thinks with tho people not the
man who thinks for the people; he must bo
going in the -same direction with the voters
and willing to put into effect their thoughts,
their wishes and their aspirations. Party gov
ernment, like the government of tho nation,
must rest upon the consent of tho governed
and the party organization must be the servant,
not the master of the members of the party.
God made man; man made the party, and the
party must remain the instrument through
which tho voter works his will, guards his rights
and advances his Interests not his interests
at the expense of other's interests, but his In
terests as his interests are a part of tho in
terests of the whole people. Trickery in tho
party Is as repugnant to a high party ideal as
fraud in government is repugnant to a high
governmental ideal. (Mr. Bryan in the Circle
Magazine.)
J ? v
AS TO ELECTORAL VOTE
Will tho president of the United States be
elected November 3?
He will not. The people in each state will
merely choose a set of electors of most of whom
they have never heard.
What will the electors do? .
They will assemble in their state capitals
on the second Monday in January and ballot
for president and vice president. Each of these
assemblies is called an electoral college. Thero
are as many electoral colleges as there are
Btates. Tho territories and tho District of Co
lumbia have no presidential vote.
Suppose a candidate should die between
the November election and the date of the as
sembling of the electoral college?
The electors would probably receive In
structions from a national convention or from
recognized party leaders. In 1872, when Gree
ley, the minority candidate, died after the elec
tion, his votes were scattered. Six Georgia
electors, for Instance, voted for B; Gratz Brown
and three for Greeley, The Greeley votes were
rejected by congress. Thomas A. Hendricks
and Brown divided the votes that had been
Intended for Greeley.
After tho voting what is done?
A certified :opy is sent 1 y special messen
ger to Washington. On the second Wednesday
in February congress meets to count the votes
and to announce the election.
If there is a dispute over the electoral vote
of certain states, as there was in 1876, what
Is done?
In 1887 oongross enacted a law providing
that if doubtful returns should bo sent in, the
one should bo received which has the certificate
of a state tribunal appointed to canvass the
vote that is. It la left to state authorities to
decide whether tho electoral "votes are cast by
electors duly chosen.
How are tho number of electors for each
state chosen?
Each state has as many as it has senators
ftnd representatives.
-Does the constitution prescribe how elec
tors must be chosen?
No. Tt leaves this to the states.
Are they not always voted for on a general
ticket? . .
They happen to be now. But a legislature
may provide differently. In 1876 the Colorado
legislature chose the state electors. Mr.
Thomas Watson. said the other day that under
The Commoner
the laws of Georgia if no ticket receives a ma
jority in Georgia the choice of electors is thrown
into tho legislature. In 1892 Michigan voted
on its electors by congressional districts.
How do states cometimos split their elec
toral votes?
Occasionally a popular elector will receive
enough complimentary votes to elect him oven
if his fellows on tho ticket are defeated. Some
times mistakes in marking ballots will rosult
in a divided electoral vote in a close state.
What determines the date of tho national
election?
In 1845 congress prescribed that It bo held
on tho Tuesday after tho first Monday In Novem
ber. Before that time some of the states held
elections on different days.
Does a plurality in tho electoral colleges
elect?
' No. Tho constitution provides that If no
candidate shall receive a majority of tho elec
toral votes tho election shall be thrown Into
the house, the three highest candidates only
being voted on.
How does the house vote?
Jt votes by states, a majority of tho mem
bers from each state casting its vote.
Has an election over been thrown Into tho
house?
Yes, twice. In 1800, when Jefferson was
elected, and in 1824, when John Quincy Adams
became president. -
Can a man bo elected president by a mi
nority of tho popular votes?
Yes. In 1824 Andrew Jackson had a plu
rality of 50,000 over J. Q. Adams, and In 188S
Grover Cleveland had a plurality of nearly
100,00 over Benjamin Harrison.
Is thero any justification for election by
states rather than by direct popular vote?
Yes. Election by states is propably fairer
to tho country as a wholo. Otherwise some
limited section of tho country would acquire
undue influence. Thus the manufacturing stato
of Pennsylvania may give as huge a republican
voto as it pleases, but It can deliver only thirty
four electoral votes. Under tho present system
no president can be chosen who has not sup
porters In about half tho states of the union.
Kansas City Star.
COUNT TOLSTOY
Ryerson W. Jennings of Philadelphia wrote
to Count Tolstoy asking his views upon Mr.
Bryan's candidacy. Tho New York papers print
the following reply:
"Yasnaya Polyana, Tula Government, Rus
sia. Dear Mr. Ryerson Jennings: In answer
to your letter of August 24 I can sincerely say
that I wish Mr. Bryan success in his candida
ture to the presidency of tho United States.
From my standpoint, repudiating as it does all
coercive government, I naturally can not ac
quiesce with the position of a president of a
republic, but since such functions still exist,
it Is obviously best they should bo occupied by
individuals worthy of confidence. Mr. Bryan I
greatly respect and sympathize with, and know
that the basis of his activity is kindred to mine,
in his sympathy with tho interests of the work
ing masses, his anti-militarism and his recog
nition of the fallacies produced by capitalism.
I do not know but hope Mr. Bryan will stand
for land reform according to tho single tax sys
tem of Henry George, which I regard as being
at the present time of the most insistent neces
sity, and which every progressive reformer
should place to the fore. Yours faithfully,
"September 28, 1908. LEO TOLSTOY."
tv w j5 fc5
A IiOSS TO THE WEST
The recent death of Alfred DaTlow of Oma
ha was a distinct loss to the west. For twenty
years Mr. Darlow had devoted his energies and
his talents to advertising the boundless resources
of tho west, and no man was better equipped
than he. With Darlow the studying of the pos
sibilities of the west was a passion. Combining
raTe literary talent with a keen knowledge of
business, he was able to command the atten
tion of the best publications, and in this way
put his work before the largest number of pos
sible Investors. As a newspaper man and as
an advertiser he stood in the front rank, and
probably no other man of similar position in
the country was better liked or could command
equal attention. Quiet and unassuming In his
personal deportment, he was quick and incisive
in his business affairs; generous to a fault, he
hated sham and" hypocrisy and exposed them re
lentlessly. No man has done more than Mr.
Darlow to remove the impression from the pop
ular mind that tho west is a land of cactus,
Indians, sagebrush 'and desert and make It
known for what It Is tho richest, grcntoat,
most prosperous and most-hoppful portion of
this great republic, as woll as of Uio world. The
wost owe a distinct obligation to tho memory
of Alfred Darlow. ,
THE BLUE AND THE GRAY
self:
Tho following correspondence explains It-
wm?1,C,TCaMia' 0,c,ft-. October 14, lOOS.Hon.
William J. Bryan, Lincoln, Nob. Dear Mr
Bryan: We, the old soldiers of tho blue and tho
gray, having formed ourselves into a Bryan and
Kern club horewith send you greetings, to
gother with tho roHtor of our club. You will
note that wo ropreaont eighteen different states.
in our young and vigorous manhood, wo
had tho courage to battlo for our convictions in
a war of bloodshed and carnage, although al
most a half century has passod and our locks
are now frosted with time; yet wo possess tho
same trait of character that prompted us then
and are again engaged in a warfare, not of de
struction and carnage, not with sword and bay
onet, but with reason and tho ballot.
Our faith in you as a Ioador doth not wano,
and with confidence we look forward to the
final chargo on tho third day of Novombor and
expect to plant our banner of equal rights to
all and special privileges to none, with tho bat
tle cry of "Let tho Pcoplo Rulo." within tho ram
parts of predatory wealth and monopoly's
redoubt. Yours very truly,
G. G. BUCH ANNAN, Socrotary.
J. F. BISHOP, Chairman.
Roster of Veteran Bryan and Korn club,
composed of tho blue and tho gray, ninety strong
represent seventy-five regiments and oghtcon
states.
J. F. Bishop, 57th Indiana', president; G. A.
Bucbnnnan, secretary, South Carolina sharp
shooters. i B. B. Boswell, 9th La.; J. T. Hill, 1st S, C;
H. L. Grigsby, Bat. S. C; I. Stewart, Brigade:
James Parker, 9th Tox.; J. W. Morris, Hist Tox.;
F. M. Jager, 3rd Mo.; R. F. Kemp, 4th Minn.;
T. W. Kelly. 10th Kans.; J. W. Wolborno, Gth
Mo.; S. G. WllBon, 1st Miss.; J. H. Kniss, 88th
Ind.; p. M. Ely, 33rd Va,; W. II. Alexandor,
2nd Cherokee; L. S. McCoy, 2nd Ark.; J. R.
Glllispio, For. Escort; William Johnson, 20th
Tox.; Henry Webber, 1st 111.; J. D. Vanoc, 2nd
Tenn.; R. T. Joung, 2nd Miss.; M. M. Rollers,
1st Miss.; Jack Gray, 4th Tex.; Captain Ferrell,
4th Mo.; J. H. Norton, Scouts, Tenn.; G. W.
Wagner, 2nd Tenn.; John Davis, 2nd Tex.; E.
H. Jordan, 4th Tenn.; Jack Halo, 18lh Va'.;
W. W. Beatty, 8th Mo.; Bon Scott,, Mo.; J.
D. Morris, 10th Tex.; J. W Wagnor, 2nd Mo.;
J. C. Smith, 16th Tenn.; J. M, Wallaco, 9th
Tex.; J. L. Cook, 17th Tenn.; D. B. Sheppard,
19th Tex.; D. D. Dawson, 14th Tex.; V. M.
White, 24th Tex.; J. F. Ellis, 3rd Ala.; J. W.
Hughes, 13th Ark.; D. P. Smith, 8th Ga.; J. F.
Bouhart, 139th Ind.; G. F. Elliott, 21st 111.;
W. McEwen, ICth Tonii.; C. A. Edwards, 5th
Tenn.; J. B. Johnson, 18th Miss.; M. H. Duke,
8th Miss.; J. G. Cowan, 34th Tex.; T. M. Record,
18th Tox.; W. C. King, Gth Fla.; S. F. Neville,
3rd Mo.; J. W. Bailey, 2nd Miss.; John H.
Jobes, 21st Tenn.; Iko Cloud, 2nd Mo.; G, L.
Friend, 2nd Miss.; W. J. Johnson 23rd Tox.;
J. S. Downs, 24th Ala.; W. S. Kilgore, 9th Ga.;
O. G. Buchannan, Sharpshooters; John Hall,
2nd Tenn.; Jack English, 1st Miss.; J. H. Clark,
4th MlaB.; J. M. Mitchell, 9th Tex.; W. H. Gil
lum, 4th Miss.; John Powell, 6th Tenn.; J. B.
Forrester, 7th Tex.; G. L. Powell, 2nd Ga.;
J. R. Owsley, 13th Ark.; J. C. Lindsay, 9th
Ky.5 J. B. F-reman, 7th Tex.; J. W. Fuller, 46th
Ga.; Thomas Scale, 13th Miss.; George A. Hosy,
3rd Mo.; E. Leraoro, 19th Tenn.; L. .0. Linn,
3rd Ky.; J. P. Bond, 38th Va.; J. N. Jones, 4th
Ark.; H. P. Duncan, 51st Tenn.; W. II. Douglas,
48th Iowa; James Jones, 9th Ky.; A. B. Alex
ander, let Tex.; Joe CHver, 4th Ky.; J. P.
Simmons, 19th S. C; J. 0. Baylors, 3rd Miss.;
1L B. Linton, Gth Iowa; E. C. Fitch, 23rd N. Y.;
D. S. Raynolds, 4th Tenn.; T. Elliott, 21st 111.
OUR PARTY'S IDEATj
The platform of our party closes with a
brief statement of tho party's ideal. It favors
"such an administration of the government as
will Insure, as far as human wisdom can, that
each citizen shall draw from society a reward
commensurate with his contribution to tho wel
fare of society."
Governments are good In proportion as
they assure to each member of society, so far
as governments can, a return commensurate with
individual merit. From Mr. Bryan's Speech of
Acceptance.
A
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