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.TBFVJBIISON'S RIEASONS
One of Jefferwn'i rowwuu for gupporUag iUii
Government in all tbelr rlghti wm that they
woro the uret bulwark againat anU-repuoii-can
tendencies Those anti-republican ten
dencies exist today, aud tbe bulwark ran not ba
diapenaed with. While popular government II
growing atronger all over the world, there ar
Btill those in this country who distrust the
people. Th pre are many prominent men who
rogard Hamilton as the greatest of the political
thinker of hii day, although his atatearaan
8h1p can not be considered independently of J he
views embodied in his plan of government.
There are those who are constantly irritated by
the limitations whJch the constitution has placed
upon the sphere of the federal government, and
who resent the independence of the state in its
local affairs. This very irritation ought to be a
warning: if there are those who are irritated be
cause they can not override tbe wishes of the
community, what would be the irritation in the
community if the wishes of its members were
overridden? A systematic absorption of power
by the federal government would not only cause
discontent and. weaken the attachment of the
people for the government, but a withdrawal of
power from the state would breed indifference
to public affairs the forerunner of despotism.
The exercise by the federal government of re
straining power is not so objectionable as the
exercise of creative power, but even in the ex
ercise of restraining power care should be taken
to preserve to the states the exercise of concur
rent authority, so that the state government, as
well as the national government can stand guard
over the rights of the citizen.
The demand for the enlargement of the
powers of the federal government comes from
two sources, viz., from those who believe with
Hamilton in the theory of centralization, and
from .those who want legislation which the
state's rights doctrine obstructs. Of these two
classes the last is most influential, because the
members of this class impart to their method the
strength supplied by the object aimed at. An
abstract theory seldom provokes discussion, but
wars have been fought over a theory embodied
in a concrete issue.
THE HIGHEST OFFICE
The following letter is a sample of many
letters Mr. Bryan has recently received:
"January 22, 1912. Hon. William J. Bryan,
Lincoln. Neb. My Dear Mr. Bryan: As one
of the 'six million' democrats whom you repre
sented and whose party rights and honor vou
defended at the meeting of the national com
mittee in Washington on January Sth, I thank
W'T, havo had many mc,ial presidents in
Washington since you -first began being our
candidate and although from one administra
, t!,tll"ext the P0tical, financial, and in
dustrial affairs of our country have gone from
bad to worse, we have not failed to distinguish
between the office and the man, and with every
act of misfeasance on the part of the successive
Incumbents six-million-and-a-half of us have in
our minds and hearts renewed our standing vote
for Bryan So that you have thus been per
petually elected to defend the faith of the de-
D1'Thayt lnonhnrinSrti,tnn,,0nS f free government.
a Tuaty" are fulfilling your trust earnestly
and well attest the thunder of admiring ap
proval from these millions of your fellow c?
zens, echoed and re-echoed from every human
breast that harbors hope of liberty Very X
cerely yours, DAVID R SMITH "
To say that one has been "perpetually elootPri
to de end the faith of the democracy in ?he in
stitutions of free government" is to say that
one has been elected to the highest of all hnmnn
SEfti Mr ??r arecia the compUment
paid him but his efforts have been 3 Tl
are, to the end that every American citizen
however humble his station in life may b Si
awaken to the fact that he, too, as been chose
for this great office that every Am o!Ln
been "perpetually elected to dUnTth ViS
of the democracy in the institutions of ?
government." uuons or Jree
Let us hope that every democrnt win J,
himself worthy of this great honor 8,10W
A GOOD PLATFORM
The Commoner is tMadT;)r0eLntlan;earCsh
The Commoner.
candidacy as a result of back-room consultations
wHh professional politicians, and closed door
conferences with the attorneys and agents of
special interests. .
"I have not, therefore, conferred with nor
sought the advice of any interested politicians
or of any agents or attorneys of privilege seek
ing organizations.
"I would, however, very much appreciate tne
advice and opinion of those democrats who have
no axes to grind, and who desire only such
measures and methods in state legislation and
government as will result in equal and impar
tial benefit to all the people.
"As fundamental principles I believe in the
rule of the people in party management and
slate government; in the nomination of all
candidates for office by direct primaries; in the
elimination of machine politics within the party;
in legislation for the benefit of all the people,
and not for special interests at the expense of
the masses.
"I favor more stringent criminal lawB
against all forms of graft, bribery and corrup
tion, and the passage of laws that will effec
tively prevent the acceptance of free passes and
other gratuities by public officials.
"I favor a corrupt practices act which shall
require the publication, before election, of an
itemized statement of each candidate's campaign
and election receipts and expenses, and I am
opposed to campaign contributions from cor
porations or individuals who have any selfish
interests in legislation or administration. Should
I become a candidate I will not accept contribu
tions to the expenses of my campaign from
such sources."
SENATE DEMANDS INVESTIGATION
Following is an Associated Press dispatch:
Washington, Feb. 12. The proposed congres
sional investigation of the "money trust" got
an unlooked for impetus today in the senate and
had some developments in the house. Senator
Kenyon, republican, and Senator Lea, demo
crat, joined in framing a proposal for an investi
gation by six men to be drawn from both
houses. This is expected to be introduced in the
senate in the form of a joint resolution which
will require the concurrence of the house. With
the house investigation well on its way to the
hanking and currency commission as was
directed by the democratic caucus, against the
wishes of Chairman Henry of the rules com
mittee, William J. Bryan and others, a senate
resolution of inquiry would put a new feature
on the fight.
Arthur E. Stillwell, builder of the Kansas
City, Mexico & Orient railway, who has said he
learned of the money trust in financing his
railroad, had a conference with Attorney
General Wickersham. Neither of the men would
discuss it but it was known that Mr. Stillwell
told the attorney general about the alleged
money monopoly.
The house rules committee got together today
to discuss a procedure for the hanking and cur
rency committee. Chairman Pujo, of the lat
ter committee, has submitted a resolution for
an investigation which makes no mention of a
money trust Statements by several democratic
members indicated that there was no complete
harmony in the committee. Chairman Henry
?mwirU!f8 committee' wno bought for a special
Sir11; wa,nted t0 &et some of his original
resolution into the Pujo resolution, but did not
succeed. There is some conflict in sight whirl
the subject of a money trust might lap o?5
into the jurisdiction of some other committee
ENTHUSIASTIC
n?r?f the renublican papers are enthus
iastic in their support in the action of the hnnR
VS?UB !? """S Mr- Henry's plan for invest?
Ration of the money trust. The Chicago Record
Herald says that on that occasion "mere nl
mon sense prevailed in the democratic caucus
vientTSinSn XMS H
i&
investigation of the Money l"ytletl
so easy to get an investitmH in,; i J Is ifc
posed against Secreta pvT AgrtcSltoV w.Pro"
and practically impossible tn i r, wson
VOLUME 12, NUMBER
MR. BRYAN IN TEXAS
Following Ib an Associated Press dispatch:!
Dallas, Tex., Jan. 30. In tho opinion of W. J,
Bryan, Governor Woodro-w Wilson, of New
Jersey, has been helped rather than hurt be
cause of his controversy with Col. Henry Wat
terson, and he considers Governor Wilson "right
in believing that a man Is sometimes hurt by
the sort of men clamorous in his support."
"I am under no bond to keep the peace,"
Mr. Bryan said tonight in an interview given
while waiting for his train enroute to his farm
at Mission, Tex. "Harmony is not the most
desirable thing in public life. Tho organization
proceeding upon that principle can progress only
as fast as the slowest of its elements."
The contest in Missouri between Speaker
Champ Clark and former Governor Joseph W.
Folk he described as "distinctly unfortunate."
"Whatever the result of the primaries," Mr.
Bryan said, "it is to fear that either of the
contestants will have weakened his chance of
carrying Missouri in the general election.
"It was a mistake that the Clark men would
not accept the Stephens . suggestion, which I
heartily approved, that the two Missouri men
divide the vote of the state on the first ballot in
the national convention and that the one who
secured the larger vote in the delegations from
the other states take the .full vote of the dele
gation afterward."
"How about the letter Governor Wilson wrote
to A. H. Joline several years ago?" Mr. Bryan
was asked.
"A shining illustration that Mr. Wilson is
the best modern example of Saul of Tarsus,"
Mr. Bryan exclaimed. "He has been soundly
converted. Anyone who talks with him or hears
him will be convinced of that. Mr. Wilson's
sort of progressiveness is best illustrated in the
Smith incident in New Jersey."
Mr. Bryan said he would not now make
any announcement as to his choice of candidates
forthe democratic nomination.
"There will be a campaign in my state in
about two months," Mr. Bryan continued. "I
expect to be in that campaign and before that
time to decide between the democratic presi
dential candidates. We have a splendid oppor
tunity to win, and I hope for the selection of
that man who can unite the democratic ele
ments." Mr. Bryan also expressed his approval of
presidential preference primaries.
"While primaries are still in the experimen-
21 gl t0 a large extent" he said, "I favor
this method of selecting candidates. Ultimately
I favor the making of a majority vote the de
ciding method in primaries."
CONGRATULATIONS TO MISSOURI
Missouri democrats are to be congratulated
thJ; settlement of the contest between
ti w lk and CIark- That contest promised
r?v n ?moIa 1Zi?s effect not ony on the
Ko,,?i lQ fSta G but upon the national party.
frl i?8 t0. be conSratulated that the dif
SnShfe b,ee.n settled and every democrat
ment ifpnHK m .bringing about that settle
ment is entitled to thanks.
THE POSTAL SAVINGS BANK
mini t?lnn ?end,ns its usulness. The ad
ha ? mnvnS 2 m0Vecl very leisurely; but it
limit oTln7 notJncrease its value? The
aewrltv hm,?81t, Ught to be raised d ItB
tertlon of A? T l mQ available for the pro
Bhou?? li ho handle trust funds. Why
tee da aiinxve?Ut0rSV amistrators and trus
tees be allowed to deposit without limit?
PROGRESS
third6 oarteh.mfing rsress. More than one
allow M TTimCrat,s of the huse refused to
Wal7SHePtUT,erWnnd to lead them into the
mute as in5?m Q?ey arG not supporting him
the DlStoST181? aS, tbey did (according to
denoPu Seed Mr P"n Whon a few eks-ago he
WILL KEEP TITEM BUSY
to thTnk Hmwh democtic congressmen seem
to show ItlGJ; muBt vote witb Wall street
that excBS Jnf2n?n dfnC0 f Bryan Wel1'
will Imptnl,? th.0,p constituents but they
w conn,i ?r l .quite often fr Mr. Bryan
democrats n fisllt Wa" 8treet influence over
utmocrats in congress and out.
the NM1onUVu0sVUnny l See Pujo instigating
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