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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 2, 1910)
SEPTEMBER 2, 1S10 15 The Commoner. could, prohibition or local option in cluded. May we have more Bryans como to the front. 0. B. McFall, Lakeside, Neb. My answer to the question would be because the people do not think in dependently and for themselves. They allow others to do their think ing for them and thus the party who does the thinking governs the voters' actions in casting his vote. I would suggest that the voters take such papers as The Commoner and keep posted on the issues that are before the people and think and act for themselves. And thus when the voter goes to the polls to express his convictions of right or wrong wo will have a ballot which will not be trammeled by the dictations of any man. E. Eubanks, Cambridge, Neb. As the question of Senator Owen is, do the people rule? I would say no, and would say they don't get what a large majority of them want, but I must say that they surely get what a large majority of them deserve. The great trouble is that so many people that don't seem to have an opinion of their own or don't seem to know what is their real interest, but are always ready to vote the other man's opinion. Well, I think I know my interest better than any other knows it, so will risk my own opinion. Old R. G. Ingersoll once said that every man was following the fife and drum of some party, but he said never follow the fife and drum of any party that isn't going your way, and that is the reason that the people are not getting what they want. There are too many people that haven't a mind of their own or are too easily led astray. R. B. Allen, Denver, Colo. First, because they rule in theory only, not in fact. They do not rule in fact because, for years past two power ful and corrupting agencies in this country, to-wit: The professional grafting politicians, directing their shrewdness and energies, first to the plundering of the municipalities of the country big and little; and, sec ond, this same factor, together with the great trusts and corporations, that with one purpose in view, that of gaining great pecuniary advan tages in the enactment of laws guar anteeing high tariffs to the trusts, and enormously valuable franchises, rebates and other privileges in the .interests of the corporations, have been allowed to manage and control the political primaries arid conven tions, nominate and elect candidates tor all offices, and ara thus enabled to enact laws favorable to their in terests, and regardless, to a large extent, of the interests of the people. This is the political pandora box, the Iniquitous combination, out of which so much inimical to the people, as distinguished from the privileged classes has sprung. The utter dis regard of the wishes of the people by those elected to office to do their bidding, makes it absolutely neces sary that we enact into law the ini tiative, referendum, recall, direct pri maries, headless ballot and election of United States senators by direct vote of the people. If these reforms were put in operation It would put a leverage in the hands of the peo ple that would enable them to con trol .the legislation of the country, and "get what they want." presidential election tho money pow er will give notice that shops are to bo closed if their Candida to Is not elected. When a man or company makes a threat to closo shop if the trust candidate is not elected ho should be considered guilty of trea son and dealt with accordingly. Al most all of our newspapers are man aged in tho interest of the money power or trusts. A few men calling themselves democrats own largo in terests in trustB, go to tho election and vote tho republican ticket. How many trust democrats voted for W. J. Bryan? Such democrats should not be allowed to say a word as to what should make up a democratic platform. When a candidate is elect ed to congress, and fails to do his duty by selling out to the trusts, ho should be held guilty of treason and dealt with accordingly. I hope tho party in power will enact a law that a man or company making a threat to close shop if trust candidates be not elected, shall be put to death. " J. J. C, Ashland, O. The people do not rule. The 'money power of this country have ruled for many years. They hire as many members of each branch of congress as they need to give them control, and the presidents, with very few exceptions, are very willing to do their bidding. Taft, Aldrich and Cannon are in com plete control, A short time prior to a W. J. Wimer, Waldo, Oregon. The people do not rule; if they did It would not be so hard to get good laws passed by congress and the state legislatures; nor would the prices of living be at the war scale. The reason they don't rule is first, the graft which has spread all over our country like the Itch or codling moth; second, the combinations of capital by unscrupulous men. The graft started during the civil war. When tho writer was a small boy in Iowa he sat on the floor by the fire place and heard Charles O. Lockard of the clothing firm of Lockard, Ire land & Co., of Cincinnati, tell his father how their business had gone. Mr. Lockard was a very honest, con scientious man and was known in the then west as such; and at first he resisted the terms laid down to him by the army contractors; but finally had to yield or go out of business. He said: "An army contractor will enter our store and ask us for prices on so many, thousand blouses, pairs of pants, caps, shoes, etc. Wo give him our regular wholesale prices; he looks it over and says: 'Now you double these pricea-and I will divide the double with you. " He added, "this is very dishonest, Jacob, but every deal we rejected was bought of our next door neighbor on these terms." The graft has been spread ing ever since. The combination of capital, called trusts, was fathered by able but corrupt lawyers, some of whom at first traveled about the country charging big fees to teach business men the art of organizing a trust and how to make a success of it; the result being that hundreds of honest men who would not enter in to such a villanous scheme were ulti mately crushed beneath the cloven foot of greed and gain. The Ameri can people are very strong on imita tion; hence the idea of combina tions have spread from high finance down to every country town to a greater or less degree; the retail merchants have taken it up quietly, of course, but surely; they get to gether and agree to charge certain prices which are very much above competitive figures, they fix the prices at which they will sell and the prices at which they will buy of the pro ducer; and right here we have one of the main reasons for the high cost of living. Thus the trusts and com binations, including the railroads with their unlimited wealth, aided by the unscrupulous element of the ablest legal talent in the United States have the busy and helpless masses at their mercy; and they have been known to down our presidents whenever they have made a deter mined effort to bring them Inside of the lines of a government by and for the people. This they have ac complished by withdrawing their money from circulation on tho threat of it and thereby paralyzing every avenue of business. How can "tho peoplo" do tho vast work of this great nation and at tho same time cope with such vicious humanity en trenched as they are behind all tho wiles of tho devil and the whole un worthy mess hell bent on tho mad dest rush for greed and gain that tho world ever saw. Such men as Bryan, Roosevelt, Folk and LaFol lette have pointed the way and now let all honest men got in lino for tho final struggle which shall force tho recognition of the Jefferson and Lin coln principles of government. WHAT THE CAMERA SAW Dr. Francis Clark tells an interest ing story of a youth living In Malno who was out in tho woods that day during his vacation with a camera, taking photographs of attractive bits of scenery. Ho came upon tho mouth of a little cavern between tho rocks, and he said to himself: "I will seo what sort of a picture I can get out of that cave," and as It was a dark day ho decided to take a "timo ex posure" instead of a "snap shot." Steadying tho camera upon his kneo aB well as ho could at tho edgo of thc cavo, ho gave the sensitive plato a long, doliborato look at tho floml darknoss within. Then ho contin ued his tramp through tho woods, and after a few hours returned to his camp. Sovoral weeks afterward, when de veloping his plate, you can Imagine his astonishment to see in tho plc turo, in tho vory center of tho cavern, with arched back and bristling fur, and within springing distance of tho spot whero ho had balanced his camera, a hugo Canada lynx, that might easily have torn his eyes out or destroyed his lifo. And yet ho camo and went and saw no signs of danger. Christian Herald. ENCOURAGEMENT Tattered Timothy "I'vo been trampin' four years, ma'am, an' it' all 'cause I hoard that tho doctors recommended walkln' as tho best ex ercise " Mrs. Prim "Well, tho doctors are right. Walk along." Tit-Bits. GASH OR CREDIT Cata logs FREE. BTNH M ONLY $10.00 Cash, balance $5.00 a month, buys this 3 -year guaranteed Buggy $33.50 on timo pay ments or $29.50 cash. Wo trust honest people located in all parte of the World, Write for t reo catalogue of Dorales, Surreys, Phaetons, Spring and Farm ceRtijry MANUFACTURING CO. Dcpt 41 3. BAST ST. LOUIS, ILL. ONE DOLLAR Pays for a Big Daily Paper 3 Times a Week and The Commoner Both One Year nri THRICE i ne A-WEEK New York World and The Commoner 1 Year $1 . This Extra Special Offer Good Only for a Limited Time A REMARivABLE OFFER By special arrangements, good only for a limited timo, The Com moner is ablo to make this unpar lelled bargain subscription offer to send The Daily New York World Thrice-a-Week Edition a big daily paper three times a week and The Commoner, both one year each for $1. Regular price of both is $2. This big offer means 156 big daily papers from tho nation's metropolis for all practical purposes as good as u regular daily and 52 issues of The Commoner, or 20 J r-apen. for only yl, less than a half cent apiece. his special offer Is good to all new or renewing subscribers who send in their subscriptions promptly. To get the two papers, the full amount, $1, must be sent to The Commoner, Lincoln, Nebraska, and mention this offer when writing. The Commoner wants everyon to 'call the attention of their friends to this great offer. This extra special inducement will enable you to help alcng thj work The Commoner Is doing by adding to Its list as many new names as possible. Address THE COMMONER, Lincoln, Neb. m V i i n m 1 WJHWWl