The Commoner.
WILLIAM J. BRYAN. EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
VOL, 12, NO. 5
Lincoln, Nebraska, February 9, 1912
Whole Number 577
Question the Thirteen
?ho following democratic -congressmen voted
rAINST tho Cullop amendment:
Brantley, of Georgia,
Dies, of Texas,
Garrett, of Tennessee,
Hammond, of Minnesota,
, Holland, of Virginia, , 0
Korbly, of Indiana,
Littleton, of New York,
Morrison, of Indiana,
O'Sliaughnessy, of Rhode Island,
Peters, of Massachusetts,
Shirley, of Kentucky,
Post, of Kentucky,
White, of Ohio.
Tho Sullop amendment reads as follows:
"Hereafter, before the president shall appoint
fetny district, circuit or supreme judge, he shall
fmake public all indorsements made in behalf of
fany applicant."
Ts there anything in that amendment that an
honest man can object to? Why should the
President DESIRE to conceal the recommenda
tions upon which he appoints public servants?
"And why should he be PERMITTED to conceal
recommendations if he does desire to do so? The
amendment does not interfere with his RIGHT
ETO APPOINT; it simply asks him to step out
lihto tho daylight and let the people see to what
gindorseraents he gives weight and what indorse
ments he ignores. Anything wrong about that.'
The opponents of the amendment say that it
is unconstitutional. The objection is ridicu
lous, but suppose.it wereadoubtful question?-
Why not let the court decide the question of con
stitutionality? If 'the amendment is DESIR-
ABLE let congress pass the bill: the federal
Tp courts can be relied upon not to allow the people
to nave any more ugui uiuu iuo uuusumuuu
permits. The thirteen democrats opposing the
law give the benefit of the doubt to the preda
tory interests. If the thirteen had their way
about it the courts would have no chance to
decide tho question on the side of the people.
The thirteen democrats made a mistake a
u rrrov nun TninfnlrA With anrriA nf rhftin nnnh mis-
takes are a matter of habit, but some of tho
thirteen are new offenders. It remains to be
seen whether they have been misled or have
deliberately started on a downward course.
Their constituents should write them, demand
ing an explanation. By the time they get
through explaining they will know more. Those
democrats (In the districts represented by the
thirteen democrats) who favor the Cullop
amendment should make it an issue. It should
s. be indorsed in the . congressional platforms in
these districts and the candidates should be com-
00
0 . . '
EVERYTHING ANTI-TRUST IS
"RIDICULOUS"
0 -
In his testimony before the Stanley
investigation committee at Washington
Andrew Carnegie said that the day of
competition in tho steel trade had gono
by and ho admitted that prices are con-
trolled by agreement. Mr. Gardner, the
attorney representing the committee
0 then read to Mi4. Carnegie the following
paragraph:
"Every contract, combination in the
form of trust or otherwise, or conspiracy
in restraint of trade or commerce among
0 the several states, or with foreign na-
tions, is hereby declared to be illegal.
0 Every person who shall make any such
0 contract, or engage in any such combi-
0 nation or conspiracy, shall bo deemed
0 guilty of a misdemeanor, and, on convic-
tion thereof, shall bo punished by a fine
not exceeding $5,000, or by imprison- 0
0 ment not exceeding one year, or by both 0
said punishments in the discretion of
the court."
Mr. Carnegie was then asked: "Would it
0 be advisable for congress to enact such 0
a law as I have just read to you?"
0 "Such a law would be ridiculous,"
0 promptly responded Mr. Carnegie.
"Well," replied Mr. Gardner, "what I
have just read iB the first section of tho
Sherman anti-trust law that has' been
on the statute books since 1890."
The' New York World's correspondent,
referring' to 'this 'incident, says': "Mr.
'Carne'gie'lo'bked'shpish, overybody else
0 laughed."
0
mitted to publicity or left at home. A MAN
WHO REALLY BELIEVES THAT THE PRESI
DENT SHOULD BE PERMITTED TO MAKE
HIS APPOINTMENTS ON SECRET RECOM
MENDATIONS CAN NOT BE TRUSTED TO
REPRESENT A DEMCORATIC CONSTITUENCY.
CONTENTS
QUESTION THE THIRTEEN
ARTFUL DODGING
THE CHILD'S BUREAU
HOW THE BEEF TRUST OPERATES
TIMELY QUESTIONS BY A "COUNTRY
EDITOR"
A CHINESE REPUBLIC
REQUIRING PUBLICITY ANNOYS THEM
THE FIGHT DESCRIBED
OHIO PROGRESSIVES AT WORK
GOVERNOR FOLK OPENS MISSOURI
CAMPAIGN
RICHARD L. METCALFE'S PLATFORM
HOME DEPARTMENT
WHETHER COMMON OR NOT
NEWS OF THE WEEK
WASHINGTON NEWS
THE MONEY MONOPOLY
Kansas City dispatch to tho Lincoln (Neb.)
Journal: Arthur E. Still well of the Kansas
City, Mexico & Orient railway, says the money
trust is blocking the development of this coun
try. Unless a project is sanctioned by the trust
no big deal can bo carried through.
Mr. Stillwell cites as an instance the recent
underwriting of a large block of Orient bonds
in France, and says:
"Recently, having secured underwriting for
a large issue in Franco, the securities were
approved by the French government; yet no
bank could be found to act in connection there
with on account of interference by the money
trust of this country. There are hundreds of
the subscribers to the stocks or bonds of this
company who have been urged by some emis
sary of the money trust to cancel their
subscriptions as soon as made and hundreds of
others who have been dissuaded after stating
that they would subscribe.
"Up to the present time we have remained
silent in the hope that as the road progressed
these attackB would cease. But now with nearly
nine hundred miles in operation we think we
are justified in calling attention' to the obstacles
we are daily encountering in a persistent en
deavor to prevent the completion of this great
international, transcontinental road."
"PRACTICAL"
If, as Col. Watterson avers, Governor Wilson
expressed a fear that money received from Ryan
would, if known, do more harm than good, he
may have offered it as a "practical" suggestion,
calculated to influence Bro. Watterson after the
. said journalist had refused to consider the gov
ernor's objection on its merits.
Artful Dodging
Tho money trust having failed in its offort to
prevent an investigation, is now trying to forco
an investigation by the banking committee. Tho
fact that .the monoy trust wants that committee
intrusted vlth tho Investigation Ib proof positive
that it thinks it can control that committee It
may bo mistaken, but a democratic congress
can not take chances In such an important
matter.
Press dispatches report that members of tho
banking committee havo threatened to resign
if the special committee is appointed. Let them
resign! Men who would resign on such grounds
admit themselves unfit for tho committee.
This is no sham battle. It is tho real Issue
between democracy and plutocracy, and a roll
call will enable the people to mark for slaughter
any democrat who, for any reason or under any
pretext, plays into the hands of tho financial
pirates who, having plundered tho weaker busi
ness men, are now trying to terrorize tho demo
cratic party.
A special committee is needed to make this
Investigation a committee made up of men
picked for tho purpose, and no man can be so
ignorant of the forces at work as not to know
which side is the people's side In this contro
versy, and ho who takes Wall street's side takes
it at his peril. In a crisis like this tho congress
man who can be fooled is as much a public
menace as the open and wilful tool of tho in
terests. Strength to Mr. Henry! Drive tho Wall street
crowd into tho open!
THOROUGH INVESTIGATION DEMANDED
Editorial In Lincoln (Neb.) Journal: Arthur
E. Stillwell, an independent railroad builder of
some note, gives a concrete example of tho abuse
of power charged to tho so-called "money trust."
Ho has been raising funds to complete his
Kansas City, Mexico and Orient railway. He
had arranged for placing a largo block of bonds
in France, but could find no American bank
through which to make the exchange. This, ho
claims, waB duo to pressure by tho centralized
banking interests of Now York. These interests
are identified with railroads of their own. Tho
inference Is that they would neither help Still
well finance his competing lino nor allow others
to do so if they could help It. He adds that
these same Interests have used their Influence
with American subscribers for tho stock olr
bonds of his road to secure tho cancellation of
subscriptions.
This charge is- of the same nature as was
made recently by Baltimore men who had tried
to raise funds to build an independent steam
ship line to ply through the Panama canal. In
general terms the condition alleged is about
like this: New York has become the nation's
money market. The country's surplus grain
goes to Chicago to be sold. That brings it in
control of Now York banks. These banks aro
controlled by men with great industrial interests
railroad, manufacturing combinations, and so
on. For mutual advantage they have come to
act as one man. Tho country's fluid capital is
thus in control of men with industrial interests,
and they refuse to loan it to any business that
competes with their own. It Is also charged
that this group uses this money supply to
manipulate the stock market to their own advan
tage or tho disadvantage of competitors.
Through their control of this money, It is
charged, they can say whether business is to
expand or contract; whether times are to bo good
or bad.
How far this Is true is the question congress
.Is asked to investigate. No less an authority
than Secretary MacVeagh and other supporters
of the monetary commission plan of banking and
currency reform can be found for the belief that
the case is at least potentially as these charges
make it. An honest and able investigation of
tho facts would bo of unquestionable value.
Whether such an Investigation by congressional
action is possible this political year is another
matter.
M4tf
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