The Commoner.
VOLUME 10, NUMBER It
I
The Commoner.
ISSUED WEEKLY.
Knternd at tho PoBtofflco r.t Lincoln, Ncbrauka,
an Hccond-claaw matter.
Wi i.i.i am J. Hnyw
Kclltor im) Proprietor
UlCKAllI) 1 M7ICA!.I'H
AMioclnto Ktlltnr
Ono Yrnr 91.00
filx Montlm .60
In Clubn of Flvo or
more, per year... .76
Chajujcs W. UllYAH
Publisher
Fdltorlnl Hooina nnd lluuinc-a
Onico 324-3;0 fouth 12Ui Street
Three lloiitlm .23
Single Copy 05
Samplo Copies Free.
Foreign Post. 5c Extra.
BUIJSGIUI'TIONS can bo Bent direct to Tho Com
moner. They can also bo uent through nowflpapera
which havo advertised a clubbing rate, or through
local agontn, hero sub-agents have been appoint
ed. All remittances should bo sent by postofllco
ttionoy order, express order, or by bank draft on
Now York or Chicago. Do not send Individual
checks, stamps or money.
DISCONTINUANCES It is found that a largo
majority of our subscribers prefer not to havo
their subscriptions Interrupted and their flics
broken In caso they fall to remit before expiration.
It Is thoroforo assumed that continuance Is desired
unless subscribers order discontinuance, cither
when subscribing or at any tlmo during tho year.
I'RKSIQNTATION COPIES Many persons sub
scribe for friends, Intending that tho paper shall
stop at tho end of tho year. If Instructions are
Klvon to that effect they will receive attention at
tho proper time
IlIQNIQWALS Tho dato on your wrapper shows
tho tlmo to which your subscription Is paid. Thus
January 21, '00, means that payment has bcon ro
ceivod to and Including tho last Issuo of January,
1009. Two weeks aro required after money has
been received beforo tho dato on wrapper can bo
changed.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Subscribers requesting
a chango of addrena must give old as well as new
address.
ADVERTISING Rates will bo furnished upon
application.
Addrts all communications to
THE COMMONER, Lincoln, Neb.
0000
Tho American Homestead, a monthly
farm journal of national scope, will bo
sent to all Commonor subscribers, with
out additional cost, who renow their sub
scriptions during tho month of April.
Take advantage of this offer at once and
sond in your renewal.
(2)
Timely Quotations
Frank A. Perdow, Cumberland, Md. I here
with send you two Quotations, to bo inserted in
tho "Timely Quotation" column of The Com
monor: "Among other admonitions, Washington left
us, in his last communication to his country an
exhortation against the excesses of party spirit
A fire not to bo quenched, ho yet conjures us
not to fan and feed tho ilame. Undoubtedly
gentlemen, it is the greatest danger of our sys
tem and of our time. Undoubtedly if that sys
tem Bhould be overthrown, it will bo the work of
excessive party spirit, acting on the government
which is dangerous enough, or acting in the gov
ernment, which is a thousand times more danger
ous; for govornmont then becomes nothing but
organized party, and, in tho strange vicissitudes
of human affairs, it may come at last, perhaps,
to exhibit tho singular paradox of government
itself being in opposition to its own powers at
war with tho very elements of its own existence
Such cases are hopeless. As men may bo pro
tected against murder, but can not bo guarded
against suicide, so government may bo shielded
from tho assaults of external foes, but nothinc
can save it wkm it chooses to lay violent hands
on itself.
From Daniel Webster's Eulogy on Washing
ton, delivered in Washington, February 22 1832
"If ever this free people, if this government
itself is ever utterly demoralized it will come
from this incessant human wriggle and strucclo
for office by men who have their own selfish and
partisan aims rather than tho good of their
country at heart."
This is a quotation from Abraham Lincoln
I am of tho opinion that that singular para
dox that Daniel Webster foresaw might occur
has actually occurred; and that our national
government is now little more than organized
(republican party) party. That party has not
only acted on tho government in a manner that
is detrimental to the spirit of our tree institu
tions; but it has been and is now acting in and
through tho government, (in an evident attempt
to perpetuate itself, by means of perverted uses
of governmental agencies, and by the corrupt
use of the great sums of money it Js enabled to
collect, because of its community of interest
with tho great monopolistic concerns which
concerns owe their very existence to the vicious
tariff laws enacted by it and thereby securing
a perpetual hold or lease upon the offices and
emoluments thereof) in a manner that is clearly
and absolutely in opposition to the powers of
the government, at war with the very elements
of its (the government's) existence.
Tho dominant element of republican "official
dom," that is, the leaders of that party, and
those that the leaders are able to control, are
demoralizing our government, because, as Lin
coln has well said, they have their own selfish
and partisan aims, rather than the good of their
country, at heart.
Our country has indeed Chosen to lay violent
hands upon itself. But I do not think that it is
a hopeless case. I rely upon the patriotism of
the rank and file of all parties even of the
republican party to overcome partisanism, sel
fishness and every other consideration, and rise
up in their might and turn out in disgrace those
faithless servants, that would be their masters.
It is tho glory of our form of government, that
it retains the right and power to release the
grip of the violent hands that it may, or may
have by mistake or inadvertence chose (or have
chosen) to lay on itself.
George II. Bell, Fowltown, Ga. Tour quota
tion column Is a bright idea. Here is one from
a print I found in an old attic. It is said, by
some, to have been written before the advent of
that type of human intelligence called "up to
date:"
"For three things the earth is disquieted, and
for four which it can not bear: For a federal
judge when he roigneth and a public officer when
he is filled with bribes. For a senate when she
is married to the 'interests' and a secretary of
treasury who is heir to a bank presidency."
Here is one from Byron: "The country Is
the traitoress which thrusts forth her best and
bravest from her. Tyranny is far the worst of
treasons. Dost thou deem none rebels except
subjects? The prince who neglects or violates
his trust is more a traitor than the poor worm
that turns."
Virginia H. Andrews, Estero, Fla. Having
seen in your estimable paper of January 28 a
request for contributions of quotations "that
may be serviceable just now to the American
people," I was reminded of a sentiment recently
observed in tho editorial columns of the "Amer
ican Eagle," published at Estero, Fla. I will
enclose the paragraph referred to.
"Show me a land where the majority of its
law-making body are bankers and financial mag
nates; where former corporation attorneys sit
on the bench as justices of the supreme court
and whose judiciary is not elected by tho people'
and I will show you a country where no popular
legislation is enacted; where gold is god and
whose national emblem is the dollar sign."
INCOME TAX AMENDMENT
The Maryland legislature has adopted a reso
lution, ratifying the income tax amendment
"Maryland My Maryland" will therefore besung
more heartily than ever by the lovers of popula?
government. The New York Tribune gives the
progress of tho income tax amendment in this
"The amendment has now been definitely
accepted by these Blx statesAlabama, South
Carolina, Illinois, Oklahoma, Mississinni mS
Maryland. The Kentucky leglsTature PQf 1910
passed two ratification resolutions, both of which
were supposed to be defective in form, and a
third was under consideration when a sine die
adjournment was taken. It has recently been
announced however, that Governor Wilson win
forward the second resolution to WmWnston
and let the secretary of state decide whethfr it
is technically regular and valid wne"ier it
"Only ono state leglslature-lthat of Virginia
--has so far defeated a ratifying resolution Tim
Virginia house of delegates reltUS X L
ment, while the senate d toZvoyeVtlt
year the lower branch of the Goorcia ipilLi St
passed a ratifying resolution hut le1gBlaturo
New York and New Jersey none of which
has acted upon the amendment. The legisla
ture of Georgia will meet again in June and a
special session of the Louisiana legislature is
likely to be called soon, Vermont's legislature
assembles in October, so that by the end of 1910
practically one-third of the states will have had,
an opportunity to pass on the amendment and
its chances of approval will have been fairly
tested.
"An affirmative vote by six possibly by seven
states, with a negative vote by only one, in
dicates a substantial popular pressure behind
the amendment. It has to overcome a formid
able inertia, since it must carry both branches of
the legislatures in three-fourths of the states,
but it has in its favor the fact that each victory
it gains is final, while each defeat may be re
paired on subsequent trials.
OANNONISM REVEALED
What is the difference between the new com
mittee, for which tho entire republican mem
bership is responsible, and the old committee,
for which the speaker was directly responsible?
There is no difference but this: the new com
mittee is twice as large as the old one.
There is absolutely no difference in its quality.
It is as strongly standpat; as strongly pro
Cannon; as brazenly representative of "the sys
tem," as the committee against which the revol
ution was gained.
This is a self evident fact, which it is impos
sible to deny.
Dalzell of Pennsylvania, the speaker's right
hand man, was a member of the old committee
and is a member of the new one.
Smith of Iowa was a member of the old com
mittee and is a member of the new one.
These two men represented the speaker's first
choice, out of the entire house membership.
The four new members chosen by the repub
lican caucus are a strip off the same bolt of
cloth; each of them is a warm personal friend
and an ardent political supporter of Cannon.
Each is a tory; each represents the extreme of
standpatism.
J. Sloat Fassett is a millionaire New York
politician "practical" to his finger tips. In
last week's fight he made the bitterest .speech
that was made against the insurgents and in
surgency. George P. Lawrence is a graduate of the
Lodge Massachusetts machine, and of the Massa
chusetts legislature of which he was once
speaker.
Henry S. Boutell is a chief of the Illinois
standpatters, and for years has been one of
Cannon's most trusted lieutenants.
Sylvester C. Smith is a California standpatter.
In what is this new committee better than
the old? How is it less under the influence of
the system?" It would be interesting indeed
if some kindly Insurgent would tell.
m And this new committee, be it borne in mind
is a committee for which each insurgent in tho
house is as directly and personally responsible
as is the speaker himself. It is a committee for
which the entire republican membership is re
sponsible. . An?i since lt differs in nothing but size from
;5e ?. committee, it stands aB living proof of:
tho fact that there is no difference between Can
non and the republican membership of tho
house! It stands as living proof of the fact
that Cannon, in naming the old committee, was
In congs?861111 and SGrVant of bis party-
"PannnSfan no lon?er be made a scapegoat.
aR?S!HCan no longer be explained away
Snd n. ?2LPan?. PYer by Cannon himself
? W ,f ,blB croniGs- "Cannonlsm" now
stands revealed as the republican majority in
the house of representatives! .!
ed Mdi?SJ?.ati Cam?onIsm. now constitute
ed and in power, is a Cannonlsm in which every
insurgent member who went into the caucia
ha acquiesced, and to which he gives hfs as-
anevontU fornhSf CngrG,SS may be thanked, in
Sv
circS fc
?? ?hQ emineny sensible couSo peLns0
K;Srage thGm at a"-WarsnanPgton!