The Commoner.
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
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VOL, 12, NO. 3
Lincoln, Nebraska, January 26, 1912
Whole Number 575
Commoner Readers Should Act
Wall Street is making every possible effort to discourage the democratic
house of representatives from making an investigation of the money trust. Every
reader of The Commoner is asked to-immediately wire or write his member
"tf congress to support Robert L. Henry, Chairman of the Committee on Rules,
House of Representatives, in his efforts to have the democratic house push the
Money Trust investigation. Mr. Henry is a brave and conscientious man and
is heartily in sympathy with the proposed investigation. Democrats have for
years been complaining of the dark deals. Now that they are in power in the
house they should not hesitate to turn on the light.
AN IRREPRESSIBLE CONFLICT
M : : . ''-
Tho decent tfreak between Governor Wilson
and Col. Harvey illustrates the impossibility of
co-operation between men who look at public
questions from different points of view. Col.
Harvey became a supporter of Mr. Wilson when
he was selected as the democratic candidate for
Governor of New Jersey, and he continued his
support when Governor Wilson began to be dis
cussed as a candidate for the presidency. Of
course, it is absurd for Col. Harvey's friends to
talk about his "bringing Governor Wilson out."
No man or paper could have made Governor
Wilson available as a candidate if he had not
himself attracted attention; it would have been
impossible for Col. Harvey to have prevented a
discussion of Governor Wilson's availability.
But let us assume that Col. Harvey was doing
all that he could for his choice, what was the
situation? His conspicuous support was not
only of no advantage but it became actually a
disadvantage; it did not bring to Governor Wil
son the class for which Col. Harvey speaks, but
it alienated men just as honest as Col. Harvey's
friends who could not understand why CoL
Harvey praised Governor Wilson personally
without indorsing the things for which Gover
nor Wilson stands. It naturally aroused sus
picion as to the sincerity of one or the other,
and when Governor Wilson was asked the
question he admitted that ho regarded the sup
port of Col. Harvey as a liability instead of an
asset. Should he have PRETENDED that he
thought Col. Harvey was helping him when he
was -not? And why should Col. Harvey com
plain? If ho really favors Governor Wilson he
must desire to aid him; why should he be
offended then at Governor Wilson's frankness?
Is he more interested in being known as "the
man who made Governor Wilson famous," than
in advancing Governor Wilson's cause?
Col. Harvey should recognize the situation and
face.it like a man. There is an irrepressible
conflict between aristocracy and democracy; it
is a world-wide and continuous contest. Gover
nor Wilson used to be, consciously or unconsci
ously, on the . aristocratic side. He was thero
when Col. Harvey saw in him an available can
didate -forgbo'rnorrSBd the-presid5ntial boonr
was launched before the governor had allied
himself with the reformers.
Then came a change if not a change, at
least the open manifestations of it and Gover
nor Wilson's support shifted. As soon as it be
came apparent that he was a progressive demo
crat the predatory interests were shocked, and
this anger has grown hotter and hotter every
day. The masses, on the other hand, were
attracted and his political strength today is in
exact proportion to the confidence that they
have in the completeness of the change he has
undergone. His former friends are now his
bitter enemies and they are proving the sincerity
of his present position by the violence of their
attacks upon him. They are now publishing his
former utterances in the hope of alienating his
new found friends, but they forget that former
utterances only prove the EXTENT of the
change while the venom of his adversaries re
moves all doubt as to the REALITY of the
change.
A realignment of political friends is neces
sary whenever a fundamental change takes
place on important questions. The most con
spicuous Bible illustration of a fundamental
change in life is found in the experience of
Saul of Tarsus, who became Paul. He was as
honest when he persecuted the Christians as
he was afterward when he risked shipwreck,
stripes and even death to preach the gospel.
He doubtless retained many of his personal
friends, and some of them may have undergone,
later, the same change of heart, but he would
hardly have entrusted to an unrepentant perse
cutor of the Christians the planning of one of his
missionary tours. His epistles, after the change,
were not to his early friends, but to the breth
ren of the church.
Col. Harvey has shown no signs of conver
sion; if he communes with Ananiases it is not
with any consciousness of blindness. He has
seen no new light; and when he does, he will
feel so ashamed of his life-long fight against
progressive democracy that his first desire will
be to bring forth fruits meet for repentance
not to assume leadership. It must pain Gover
nor Wilson to break with old friends, but the
breaks must necessarily come unless ho turns
back or they go forward. "A man is known by
the company he- keeps" and he can not keep
company with those going in opposite directions.
Governor Wilson must prepare himself for other
"desertions they will distress him but there is
abundant consolation in the consciousness of
duty done. It should mater little to him
whether he roaches the White house or not
that depends on circumstances which he can but
partially control the joy that comes from tho
faithful rendition of Bervice surpasses any satis
faction that one can derive from tho gratifica
tion of political ambition a joy that makes one
strong enough to endure even the severest of
strains, namely, tho breaking of the bonds of
friendship.
THE WORLD'S JOKE
The New York World has taken a poll and
finds Wilson and Harmon neck and neck. It
then comments editorially on the situation. It
declares that "the blurider of 1904 is not to bo
repeated." Then it insists that it is a minor
question whether "sentiment swings toward
Wilson, Harmon or Underwood." "Tho impor
tant fact Is that the country has a united PRO
GRESSIVE militant democratic party, etc."
That is a good joke. If Harmon and Underwood
are PROGRESSIVE who are the reactionary
candidates? Why not be honest?
"TRUE PATRIOTS ALL" .
Messrs. Morgan and Frick have both gone for
indefinite visits In Egypt. Surely the Stanley
investigating committee has made a high record
for efficiency. It has not secured all it went
after, but there is ample proof that the trust
magnates have a wholesome respect for the
fidelity of the Stanley committee to the public
interests.
The democratic party has reason to be proud
of the good efforts put forth by this committee.
It is one of the few investigating committees in
the history of the American congress that has
won public confidence.
ABOUT PLATFORMS
The Washington (D. C.) Star says: "A good
platform for the democrats this year would be
one that wouldn't suit some of the extremists
who are calling themselves progressives."
A better one would be one that would impress
tho people with the belief that the democratic
party means to be true. to its principles by pro
viding the people with relief from trust oppres
sion. . '
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