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EXIT HARMON
Mr. RooHovelt's recent speech at Columbus
shoves (lovernor Harmon off tho political stage
it imirkn IiIh exit from nallonal politics. Com
ing lift I ho ItoouRVoll speech did, immediately
lifter Governor Harmon had mudo an address
before the constitutional convention repudiating
bis own platform pledge in favor of the initia
tive and referendum, the difference between Mr.
Roosevelt and Mr. JJarmon Is accentuated to the
highest degree.
Hero is (lovernor Harmon, a citizen of Ohio,
asking a constitutional convention of his own
otate, not to indorse the initiative and referen
dum and even though a majority of the members
of the constitutional convention wore specifically
pledged to the initiative and referendum this is
precedont as a decision and then a republican
ox-president comes from another state and urges
the adoption of the initiative and referendum as
a democratic doctrine when have wo had a
contrast so striking, and when a humiliation to
our party more complete? There may have
been a time when the democratic party would
have tolerated a candidate like Governor Har
mon, but to nominate a man who is opposed to
putting confidence In the people now, would bo
suicidal It would bo worso than suicidal. Tho
democratic party can not afford to go to tho
pooplo as a reactionary parly as a party that
distrusts tho people especially at a time like this
when democracy is taking possession of a largo
olomont of the republican party.
Thero are a number of questions upon which
Mr. Roosevelt is not democratic, but his posi
tion on the Initiative and referendum is entirely
democratic, and In his speech at Columbus he
presented with great force, the idea that the
pooplo are tho sourco of power. In delivering
this speech at the very homo of Governor Har
mon and before a constitutional convention en
trusted with tho preparation of a now organic
law, he has read Governor Harmon out of active
politics, for tho democratic party will never
daro to offend tho democratic sentiment of tho
nation, or even or Ohio by naming a man who
has put himself on record as afraid to trust the
people with the control of their own govern
ment. If the two speeches, tho one by Mr. Harmon
and tho other by Mr. Roosevelt had been made
a year ago, the democratic sky would be clear
and wo would now bo engaged in a friendly con
test to see which progressive had tho greatest
strength in the party, but oven coming as lato
as they did, (hose two speeches will tend to
unite the democratic party by the elimination of
Governor Harmon as a political factor. Those
who have been supporting him under tho mis
taken idea that ho is progressive will now di
vide among tho other candidates, leaving him
only those who know of his reactionary leanings
and such supporters will not bo numerous
enough to give him a standing in the convention
TIIK PROGRESSIVE DELEGATES IN
NEBRASKA
I he following dolegates-at-largo and in the
districts, represent progressive sentiment ad
favor the nomination of a progressiva democt
for president on a progressive platfonTlw
are opposed to surrendering the party into So
control of tho predatory interests:
Dolegates-at-Large Judge G. L. Loomis
I. J- Dunn, .ludgo W. II. Westover, W J Brvn
D. Wheefer lr,Ct Delee8A. s Sbbittew!
WoSod?o1ughiStriCt DcleSates-C. J. Smyth, J. W.
LigKrT SSST G' L0Uis
MatrMmerDiStriCt Deleos-C. E. Bowlby,
pswansDon.tl'iCt -- W. Shea, Frank
Sixth District Delegates Frank Taylor Ortn
Reed, Jas. W. Finnegan, George c, Oman'
DRIVEN TO DESPERATION
That tho opponents of tho recall nm h,i
oefnn; l8fovW" "om the use they are tryng
to make of a recent crime. Tho fac tlia !5
one mentions the shooting of that vfrelnl?
judge in connection with the recall showa in
what straits tho opponents of the recall are fS
an argument. A person is assumed to use the
best argument ho has, and the poverty of arJn
merits aga nst the recall is shown by the use
that some have been making of that
lho argument must be attribufori tn ,unn.
tion for it would be a rXt
intelligence to accuse him of not bo?2e aW m
see a difference between the shooting of ajudS
by an outlaw and the recalling of audge at an
The Commoner.
election They also shot tho sheriff hut no
ycforeHno is heard to that as an objection to re-
""dv
sheriffs in Arizona. Do you think ho will now
that ho has read of the shooting of a sheriff in
Vlrciniji'
ThisVttcmpt to liken the recall to the murder
of a judge is about as far-fetched as Congress
man Campbell's effort to compare it with the
mob that cried "crucify him" when Christ was
on trial. This was not only like comparing the
action of a mob hanging a prisoner with an
election, but it overlooks a very important pass
age in tho Bible which declares it was tho com
mon people that "heard Christ gladly."
WAFjL street tactics
Senator Hitchcock ought to know the pro
gressive democrats of Nebraska ho used to be
with them well enough to know, that they can
not bo deceived by Wall street tactics. He
professes indignation that tho progressives
should desire to combine against a reactionary
candidate, lie pretends great fondness for the
primary law so long as it makes it possible for
a Harmon minority to defeat a progressive ma
jority, but if the progressives unite to defeat tho
scheme to turn Nebraska over to the predatory
interests they must endure the denunciation of
the senator's paper. Well, they can stand it.
The senator is also disturbed because the pro
gressives saw fit to indorse four delegates-at-large
his name not being included in the list.
He calls it "dictation." Have not the progres
sives as much right to urge the election of pro
gressives as he ha-$ to oppose them? ,Mr. Hitch
cock has picked out and published HIS ticket.
Why not a progressive ticket. The dele
gates from Nebraska will help to write a plat
form would reactionaries write a progressive
platform?
In case the person instructed for can not be
nominated delegates act on their own judg
ment would reactionaries, thus released, nomi
nate a progressive? Mr. Hitchcock says that Mr.
Harmon is his first choice. Mr. Harmon is a
progressive, according to Mr. Hitchcock's under
standing of progressiveness. "Why should pro
gressives intrust their interests to those who
openly ally themselves with the reactionaries?
A TIMELY WARNING
The Commoner of August 2G, 1910, contained
the following editorial:
"ROOSEVELT IN 1912"
. "It looks like Roosevelt expected to be a can
didate in 1912. Some of his enthusiastic friends
have been talking about him but there was
nothing to support their prophesies until the
confidential friends, who visited him after the
turn down for chairman, announced that he will
bo a candidate only if it is necessary to do so in
order to carry out "his policies." That means
that he is not satisfied with the administration
and expects to contest the nomination two years
hence. That means fun. And how will he set
forth, specifically, the policies which he regards
as Ms? It will be interesting to know what
policies he regards as of such vital importance
as to justify him in violating the precedent of
a century. Are there any good policies that a
democratic victory would not protect'"
This timely warning was given a year and
a. naif ahead of his announcement. If you want
to know what is going on, read The Commoner.
PRESIDENT BIGELOW
President Bigelow is not under any misappre
hension as to the responsibilities of leaders?
When in recognition of his long fight for the
initiative and referendum, ho was made presi
dent of ho Ohio constitutional convention he
did not deem it his duty to quit fighting An
the contrary, he fights the harder. He takes tho
floor whenever necessary to carry out the noH
cies which gave him tho presidency. He leads
and this leadership will bo a tower of strength
ilw 1)rgressive cause. If Ohio were uS
in fr l? P?e,siential nomination the demo
cratic party might think it wise to turn tn tw
state for leadership. Bigelow VoulrtlL a I
only a strong candidate bit an ffmiJaoleu-
mi PROGRESS
The republicans of the house voted 80 tn -in
moving when two-thirSf of the JenubliJ"
VOLUME 12, NUMBER 13
WHAT DOJltOU GUESS?
The political situation in the republican party
is as exciting asa guessing contest. Almost any
thing may happen.
First There may bo no primaries in which
caso Mr. Taft is likely to be nominated with the
aid of the organization, the officeholders and the
south.
Second There may be primaries in which
case Mr. Roosevelt may bo nominated.
Third Mr. Taft may find out that, although
he can get the nomination with the aid of his
organization, officeholders and the south, ho
can not hope to win with the rank and file of
his party against him in that case he may
withdraw and let Mr. Roosevelt have the nomi
nation, on the theory that Mr. Roosevelt, hav
ing disrupted the party should be allowed to
enjoy tho defeat that seems inevitable.
Fourth Mr. Roosevelt may find that he can
not win the nomination this time and, with
a view to 191G, may withdraw with some such
announcement as this: "Fellow republicans, I
have been misled. I was persuaded that the
people demanded my nomination and, so believ
ing, I sacrificed mtf own inclinations and yielded
to entreaty, but I find that the petitioners were
mistaken. That being the case, I am delighted
to withdraw and support my old friend, Will
Taft, who is, I am glad to say, all that I promised
when I picked him out, nominated him and
elected him."
Fifth La Follette may have enough delegates
to hold the balance of power and thus force his
own nomination or the nomination of a dark
horse.
Sixth The fight may continue up to the final
ballot in the convention in which case the con
vention will be well worth attending. The Com
moner will be pleased to print any other guesses
that its readers may send in.
GENERAL J. B. WEAVER
Fairhope, Ala., Feb. 28, 1912. Editor Com
moner: As a life friend and admirer of Gen.
Weaver and for many years an intimate co
laborer with him in politics, I feel like con
tributing some public expression to the volumo
of appreciation that his death has called forth.
Perhaps tho enclosed tribute to his worth may
find room in your columns. J. BELLANGEE.
A noble man died, when Weaver, our friend,
On the wings of the spirit departed. -
Great souled was his life and true to the end,
Devoted, sincere, openhearted;
The truth to support, the right to defend,
Ho ever was ready his life's blood to spend
When once on a cause he had started.
7-1,1. force,s of wrong he traced to their source,
with vigilance keen, never sleeping;
And bravely he sought by ever-y recourse,
Ip check their iniquitous reaping.
1 hough crushed by great odds, o'erwhelming in
force,
wlwf a ?00d Vlsht he finished his course
With faith quite undimmed in his keeping.
The thoughtless may judge that his struggles
for right
Were ended in fruitless endeavor.
Thnt'5 wn?fiWeir, merely a shiftin the fiS'ht
That s world-wide and terminates never.
night? WaS Wn when he challenged the
ThntTir'n?0 Saw the beacons of JiSht
Ihat shine from Truth's camp-fires forever.
HERE'S A GEM (?)
in ?avo?nnf v Seve;1d recently made a speech
ton audionop Tre8 ?ent Roosevelt before a Bos
d?UfeeV n the course of his remarks ho
h downfnV1 l8aid that a third term means
outfit to t , 1 10. 1,ePublic. Col. Roosevelt
put n Smi ?' M for nothinS else than to
one of ?h 1 S Silly sPerstition. Here is
Xced lnthfl?SBtof tho spurious gems yet
forth hvthnp collecon of imitations brought
supe It is a "silly
to keen rn J 1 n? U had SGnse enough in it
third SnS ? nniLGr;ni from beIn& nominated a
armies of thi 0U5h 6 had led the victorious
wa? of histo .v 0Artl turowsn tho greatest civil
"M$Bni&i? is U s Portant that this
should ifiw11 Ve ended that Mr. Roosevelt
l-e? elfVa0!! "' "
t ;ennsyivania platform
nounced hhSSiefP f East Brady Pa" nas an"
BaKore convonfi candldate 'or delegate to the
PonnsvlSLX TfU? from the Twenty-seventh
a Tstinctlv niiStric' He ls a candidate upon
UISUnctly Progressive platform.