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The Commoner.
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The Commoner.
ISSUED WEEKLY
Entered at the Postoflice at Lincoln, Nebraska,
as second-class matter.
WllXIAM J. Brtak
Editor and rreprifter
itOIA3U) U ilETCALTX
Associate Editor
CIUUUJ3 W. Brtajc
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OEcw 3M43 Sotsth Kth Street
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THE COMMONER, Lincoln, Neb.
Democratic Landslide
It was a democratic landslide in the 1910
elections.
The next house of representatives will be con
trolled by the democrats. The democratic ma
jority In the house will be large enough to be
entirely safe probably thirty-five.
Among the surprises in the congressional
elections was the victory for Victor L. Berger,
the socialist candidate from the Fifth Wiscon
sin district. He will succeed a republican.
Joseph G. Cannon was re-elected to the house
by a reduced plurality.
It is plain, too, that the democrats have gained
several seats in the senate!
New York elected John A. Dix, democrat,
governor over Henry L. Stimson, republican, by
a plurality of about 60,000.
New Jersey elected Woodrow "Wilson, demo
crat, governor over Vivian M. Lewis, republican,
by about 15,000.
Massachusetts elected Eugene N. Foss, demo
crat, governor over Eben S. Draper, republican,
by about 30,000.
Ohio re-elected Governor Judson Harmon by
about 15,000 over Warren G. Harding repub
lican. New Hampshire elected Robert P. Bass, re
publican, governor by about 6,000.
Pennsylvania elected John K. Tener, repub
lican, governor.
Rhode Island re-elected Governor Pothier,
republican by a reduced plurality.
Tennessee elected Benjamin W. Hooper,
fusion and temperance candidate for governor
by 15,000.
Nebraska elected Chester H. Aldrich, repub
lican, and county option candidate for governor
by about 15,000. It also elected G. M. Hitchcock,
democrat, over Senator Burkett.
Wisconsin elected Francis F. McGovern, re
publican, governor and chose a legislature that
will re-elect Senator LaFollette.
West Virginia showed large democratic gains
in tho congressional elections.
Delaware went republican and paved the way
for the re-election of Senator Dupont.
Oklahoma elected Lee Cruce governor and a
democratic legislature.
Maryland showed democratic gains in the
congressional election.
Georgia' elected a solid democratic congres
sional delegation.
Iowa wiped out the republican majority and
the fight between Governor Carroll, republican,
and Claude R. Porter, democratic candidate for
governor, was close, both claiming it. Later
returns Indicated Porter's election.
Kansas re-elected Governor Stubbs by a big
majority and chose at least six republican con
gressmen. Illinois showed big democratic gains, and
democratic members in the legislature who voted
for William Lorimer ran, according to the As
sociated Press, "considerably ahead of their
opponents."
Minnesota elected Governor Eberhart, repub
lican, over James Gray, democrat.
Missouri chose James A. Reed of Kansas City
United States senator over David R. Francis of
St Louis. The prohibition amendment was de
feated. Virginia returned the usual democratic vote.
Washington elected three republican candi
dates for congress and five republican supreme
court candidates. The temperance forces here
won victories, nine cities going dry.
Indiana elected the democratic state ticket
and. legislature insuring the election of John W.
Kern over Senator Beveridge.
Alabama elected Emmett O'Neal, democrat
and local optionist by 50,000.
Florida returned the-' usual democratic ma
jority and defeated the state wide prohibition
amendment.
South Dakota elected Vessey, republican, gov
ernor. Utah showed some republican gains in the
congressional elections.
Colorado probably re-elected. Governor Shaf
froth, democrat.
Louisiana gave the usual democratic majority.
Wyoming elected Carey, democrat, governor.
Texas elected all democratic congressional
candidates and the democratic state ticket.
Michigan elected Osborne, republican candi
date for governor.
Arkansas elected all democratic congressional
candidates. ,.
Mississippi elected all democratic candidates.
North Carolina went democratic by 42,000.
MERE 3IENTIOX
An Associated Press dispatch from Chicago
says: "Returns indicate that the democrats
have gained eight seats in the United States
senate. The following states which now have
republican senators, have probably elected a
democratic legislature, or assured by popular
vote a democratic senator: Indiana, Maine,
Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York,
Ohio and West Virginia."
As soon as it became known that there was
a democratic landslide Colonel Roosevelt became
conspicuous by his absence from public places.
An Associated Press dispatch from Oyster Bay
said: "The probable attitude of Colonel Roose
velt, in view of the result of the election, can
be judged only by what he has said the last
few days. In his speech at Davenport, la., last
Friday he said, if the republicans were beaten
this time they would win next time, and that,
win or lose, the fight would go on. Just after
he had voted today he said again that whether
the result was favorable or not 'the party would
keep up the fight. He had made it clear that
he regards today's election as only a step in a
fixed program, and that so far as the New York
state situation is concerned, he believes hi3
victory over the 'old guard has placed the party
in a position from which it can go steadilv on
ward. Colonel Roosevelt has given no indica
tion as to what political moves he will make in
the future. All he has said is that he hopes
to enjoy the seclusion of Sagamore Hill for
some time to come."
William B. McKinley, chairman of the repub
lican congressional committee, James T. Lloyd
chairman of the democratic congressional com
mittee, and Champ Clark, minority leader, all
agreed that the tariff was the cause of the land
slide. An Associated Press dispatch from Pittsburg
says: "The first news of the complexion of
election returns from the various states was
received by President Taft when he reached this
city at 11 o'clock tonight on his way from Cin
cinnati, where he had gone to vote, to Washing
ton. A summary of the results were placed In
the president's hands, but he would make no
comment upon them."
A DEMOCRATIC VICTORY
Democrats have reason for rejoicing. The
election returns indicate democratic gains
throughout the country. The next congress will
be democratic by a safe majority which means
VOLUME 10, NUMBER 44
Champ Clark for speaker and the overthrow of
H?n?ns,2-n,Tlle democrats gain several seats in
the United States senate, and these, with gains
made by the progressive republicans, make it
probable that the senate will submit a constitu
tional amendment providing for the election of
United States senators by direct vote of the peo
ple. Mr. Taft had an opportunity to recommend
the submission of this amendment, and had he
done so, he would have secured the credit for
his administration but he failed to do so and
now the honor will go to the democrats and
progressive republicans.
The democrats have carried New York New
Jersey, Massachusetts, Ohio and Indiana.' The
result in a number of states is in doubt as The
Commoner goes to press, but enough is certain
to give the democrats reason to hope for a presi
dential victory in 1912 if the new democratic
congress makes a good record. Let us hope that
the democratic members will appreciate their
responsibility.
HAMIIiTONIANISM .
Tho Independent, of New York, is not afraid
of Hamiltonianism as revived by President
Roosevelt. It says: "Mr. Bryan accuses Mr.
Roosevelt of the Hamiltonian bent of mind.
Hamilton was, he tells us, a believer in centrali
zation. So he was, and he was also a believer
in States rights. He was one of the principal
writers of The Federalist, whose purpose was
to defend and secure the adoption of the con
stitution, with its centralized power, as well as
the decentralized rights of the states. Did
Alexander Hamilton belong to the federalist
party? Equally did John Adams, and we might
say, George Washington. The charge of Hamil
tonianism, which Mr. Bryan brings against Mr.
Roosevelt, is based on the fact that he wants
corporations like railroads to seek national in
corporation. So he does, and for the reason
that this will allow better supervision. No, says
Mr. Bryan; not that, but in order that they may
escape state control. We accept the reason
given by Mr. Roosevelt as adequate. One na
tional control is better than forty-six state con
trols, and more likely to be effective in restrain
ing wrongs. It is state legislatures that have
been most subservient to corporations. It will
not be easy to frighten the people by talking
to them of usurpations of power by the national
government. It is only what the people give
that the central power at Washington, through
the will of congress and the approval of the
supreme court, will execute. Never was our gov
ernment more absolutely democratic, in state or
nation, than it is today. We shall Have no new
nationalism except as the people demand it;
and this we may assert, that the people take
more interest in the national interests, a against
state interests, than they did in the old Hamil
tonian and Jeffersonian days. And the people
will rule, undisturbed by bugaboos."
If the editor of the Independent will examine
the plan of government prepared by Hamilton
he will find that Hamilton was not at all in
harmony with our system of government as it
is today and that we have been growing away
from his ideas rather than toward them. The
Independent Is also mistaken when it thinks
that national incorporation is intended for tho
better supervision of railroads. Mr. Roosevelt,
in his message recommending national incorpor
ation, gave three reasons, one of which was
that it would relieve the railroads of state super
vision. This was the real reason. We intend
national incorporation to secure such additional
federal control as may be desirable. There is
no need of national incorporation except to get
rid of state control. The democratic platform
declares in favor of both state and national
control, the national control to be added to state
control, not substituted for it.
It may be truet as the Independent suggests,
that the people do not fear usurpations of power
by the national government. All usurpations
of power have come gradually and without the
people recognizing the danger, but Mr. Roose
velt's new nationalism presents the matter so
clearly that when exemplified by his own well
known views, the people are likely to resist
before It is too late. The word bugaboo may
serve the purpose of the Independent now, but
if it intends to assist Mr. Roosevelt first to con
centrate everything at Washington and then to
concentrate everything in the president and then
to have the president act as a sort of guardian
of the public, It will have to quit using phrase
and employ arguments.
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