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DECEMBER 23, 1810
The Commoner.'
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REPRESENTATIVE Champ Clark has issued
a statement outlining his platform as the
prospective speaker of the democratic house of
representatives in the next-congress. He pro
claims himself in favor of tho appointment of
committees of the house by a committee rather
than by the speaker, and he states his belief
that the tariff should be revised schedule by
schedule rather than in one single bill. These
two subjects, says Mr. Clark, are the ones upon
which ho has been continually importuned to
make some statement.
EEFERRING TO Mr. Clark's statement the
Associated Press says: "The democratic
members of the house sent out a call for a cau
cus January 19 of 'the" democratic members of
,the next house of representatives. Mr. Clark's
- statement is both an explanation of the call
and a declaration of his own platform as tho
probable speaker of the house. The caucus will
select a ways and means committee and a rules
committee somewhat larger than the present
committee of seven. Mr. Clark believes ono of
these committees should then bo empowered to
select the committees of the house. 'There are
two theories of tariff revision says Mr. Clark
in his statement, 'revision by one general bill
and revision by separate bills for separate sched
ules, This is a matter not of principle but of
methpd. Individually I prefer the scheme of
separate bills for separate schedules, taking the
schedules with the most obnoxious features
first, perhaps in certain cases having separate
bills for particular items. The statement pro
ceeds to say that whatever method is decided
upon a full hearing, as comprehensive as that
.which .preceded the framing of the Payne-Aid-ricft.J,.aw
wUl, .betyhad by the new ways , and
. means, cjommfttee The assumption-growing out
. of ignorance In certain quarters says Mr.
'Cla'rk, 'that President Taft or Senator Cummins
or any other republican has discovered some
thing new In tariff revision by the separate
schedule scheme is preposterous. As far back
as the Fifty-second congress Mr. Chairman
Springer introduced separate bills for separate
schedules, and even for particular items which
were derisively denominated 'Springer's popgun
bills' by ribald republican speakers and writers,
and several years before Mr. Springer was chair
man of the committee on ways and moans, Mr.
McKenzie of Kentucky achieved great renown
and the sobriquet of 'Quinine Jim' by tho se
curing of a bill putting quinine on the free list
and touching no other item whatsoever in any
tariff schedule "
MR. CLARK declares that he is heartily in
favor of inviting to tho caucus all tho
democratic members-elect. He goes on to say
that his efforts for the past two years have been
directed to the unification of tho democrats in
the house, and for that reason tho members
elect should be given every opportunity, if that
unification is to bo maintained, to express their
choice in the naming of the members of tho
committees. Two questions, Mr. Clark says, in
terest the country, how tho democrats will select
their committees and what tho party will do
with the tariff. This last question has been
answered, and procedlng to tho first ho says:
"As to the mode of selecting committees in tho
event of my own election to tho speakership, I
would not care tho snap of my finger to exer
cise the power of appointing them. I have stat
ed that to every democratic member who cared
to inquire my opinion., Tho exercise of that
power would undoubtedly have certain unpleas
ant features." Of tho twpplans for tho elec
tion of committees by the democratic caucus,
or directly by the public itself, Mr. Clark favors
the last named. This is based on tho
fact that in the debatable states tho Independent
voters appear to favor it, and tho future speaker
of the house frankly acknowledges that it may
be adopted 'because of the influence It would
fhave in returning a democratic president -arid
a democra'tlc congress In 1912.
THE NEW YORK World Is hot after Senator
Aldrich. It says: "The books of tho
United States Rubber company show that 340
shares of preferred stock are 'hold in tho name
of Nelson W. Aldrich, United States senator
from Rhode Island, and that the names of four
other Aldriches appear as stockholders of record.
In replying to tho charges made by Senator
Bristow, Senator Aldrich emphatically denied
that ho or any member of his family 'ever hail
any pecuniary Interest as to whether tho rates
on manufactured rubber woro 30, 35 or 300 nor
cent, or whether crudo rubier was on tho frerj
or dutiable list Tho proved facts are that Sen
ator Aldrich and his son are heavily Interested'
n tho Inter-continental Rubber company, which
is tho chief importer of crudo rubbor; that Sen
ator Aldrich 'n son Ih vice president and oxecu
tlvo head of the concern; that 8onator Aldrich
as chairman of the senate finance committee kept
crude rubber on tho free list; that Senator Alil
rlch and his family arc also stockholders in tho
United States Rubbor company, commonly
known as tho trust, wlilch is. tho chief manu
facturer of rubber In this country; that Senator
Aldrich as chairman of the senate fltintico com
mittee arbitrarily raised tho duty on manufac
tured rubber from 30 to 3d per cent. The Aid
rich family Imports rubber and tho Aldrich fam
ily manufactures rubber. Tho Aldrich family
Bells crudo rubber to tho Aldrich family to man
ufacture and resell to tho public. In both cases
tho duty Is adjusted by Senator Aldrich to tho
financial benefit of tho Aldrich family."
SENATOR NOHRIS BROWN of Nebraska
makes Important suggestions with respect to
tho olectlon of delegates to tho national con
vention and members of tho national committer
by popular vote, Senator Drown says: "I hopu
the legislature will amend tho Nebraska statuto
in three respects: First, It should bo amended
so that "no party can have a volco In tho selec
tion of candidates of any other party. Tho In
tegrity of all party organizations should be pro
tected. The only way to do that is to protect
tho integrity of the primary itself, where each
party may attend to Its oWn business' without
Interference from the outside. ' Second, It should
bo amended so that tho rank and fllo of all tho
parties may select delegates to the national con
ventions and may vote their preferenco for
president and vice president, such Vote to oper
ate as an instruction to tho delegates. Third, It
should also be amended so that tho rank and
fllo of all parties may at the primary election
in tho year preceding the national convention
select their national committeeman'
THE OHIO SENATORSHIP
Editor Post, Cincinnati, Ohio. Dear Sir: Tho
question uppermost in the minds of the people
of Ohio at present, is the selection of a United
States senator. While you have not advocated
tho selection of any particular candidate, you
have very strongly advocated against tho selec
tion for the senatorship of men like McLean, of
Washington, D. C, and Hanley of Dayton, Ohio,
and .you deserve the commendation of tho people
for your stand in this matter.
On November 16, the Enquirer published an
article from tho New York Journal, advocating
the election of John R. McLean.
The Journal starts off by stating, "John R.
McLean is to bo the next United States senator
from Ohio," and "tho announcement will gratify
those who believe the senate shoufd be made up
of cdmpetent, energetic, intelligent and honest
men."
Who gavo the Journal this "insido informa
tion?" Have the "interests" got it all fixed up
who is to represent Ohio in the senate? I do
not believe that McLean ever will bo senator
from Ohio, but if such a thing should happen,
there will be a deep snow in July before Ohio
ever again goes democratic by 100,000 or any
other plurality. The result of the recent elec
tion' shows a protest by the people of Ohio
against being "sold out" by their public ser
vants, and they had no intention of substituting
"Democratic" McLean, the representative of tho
"interests," for Republican Dick, the repre
sentative of tho "interests." The Journal speaks
of McLean's competency, energy, intelligence
and honesty. The first three are certainly de
sirable attributes for a senator, but are not
necessarily associated with- honesty. There aro
probably no men in 'congress more competent
energetic and intelligent than Senator Aldrich
!id Speaker Cannon, yet the people all over tho
country at the recent elections seriously ques
tioned their honesty.
Another recommendation of the Journal is
that "McLean usually gets what ho goes after."
The Journal might as well have substituted
"interests" for "McLean" and told the same
story. However, as much can be said for politi
cal pirates the country over, be they called dem
ocrats or republicans. The name does not sig
nify much to a machine politician. McLean's
democratic Enquirer has not supported a demo
cratic candidato (except McLean) for fifteen
years or more, while tho republican Commercial
Tribune, formerly controlled by .McLean has al
ways consistently and persistently advocated the
selection and election of republican machine
candidates.
I am opposed to Mr. McLean for senator
First Because he is not a real democrat,
has not for years supported the democratic can
didates, but to the contrary has opposed them;
he has not advocated the progressive reforms,
and his selection would be a step backward.
Second His competency, energy and intelli
gence would be exerted in tho interest of tho
favored few, 'instead of for the whole people.
Third If the people of Ohio aro not good
enough for McLean to live among, I know of
no reason why Ohio should honor him with a
seat in tho United States senate.
JOHN JAMES.
Cincinnati, Ohio,. November 24, 1910.
SMITH IN THE RACE
Former Senator James Smith, Jr., has an
nounced that he will be a candidate for tho
senate before the New Jersey legislature, oppos
ing James E. Martlne, who received a majority
of votes in- tho democratic primary.
More power to your elbow, Dr. Wilson.
CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS
(Continued from Pago 5)
worthy of perpetual celebration but all these
added to the matchless majesty of a perfect lifo
and the inspiring Influence of an all-pervading'
lovo, aro turning tho eyes of an ever-increasing
number to tho path that lie trod from the
manger to tho cross,
Lovo was tho dominating force of His life,
and lovo is today tho overmastering impulse
whose ebb and flow mark tho retreat and ad
vance of civilization. And lovo, too, sanctifies
the Christmas gift. With it tho merest triflo
swells into an object of importance; without it
tho most expensive present dwindles Into Insig
nificance. Love Is the alchemy which invests
with priceless valuo all that it touches tho
magic wand that converts tho humblest cottage
into a palace and gives to earth's pilgrims a
glimpse of paradise. (From an editorial by Mr.
Bryan in Tho Commoner.)
VIGILANCE IS NECESSARY
"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty,"' is
a motto which needs to bo remembered at this
time. In several of the states democratic legis
latures have been chosen where the state was
conceded to republicans. In such states tho
corporations aro now at work trying to securo
the election of their tools. West Virginia is a
case in point. In that state the Standard OH,
tho railroads and the mines exert a large influ
ence and as they have employes in both parties
they are prepared to furnish a candidate, no
matter which party wins. But Is it not time
for the people to have ar senator from West
Virginia. Is it not possible to find an Intelli
gent, aggressive and progressive democrat In
West Virginia one who would be the incor
ruptible representative of the common people?
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