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APRIL 5, 1912 ' '
human evolution. History works over toward
ever greater results. Its methods sometimes
confuse ub, that is all. When we are momen
tarily alarmed it is because we do not under
stand. Just now, we realize that our old faith has
been torn from us. And this, our old founda
tion, has broken from under us because our old
time mode of life has passed away. Our moans
or mode of life are of primary import; our
belief or unbelief but secondary.
I have had assigned to me the discussion of a
single feature of our national life. My discus
sion is" to center about an extremely disconcert
ing topic: "The Idle Rich."
The public mind seems to have concluded that
in behalf of "The Tdle Rich" nothing can be said.
I speak neither to detract nor to defend, only
to state the truth.
Forty years ago Lincoln's philosophy of life
was the American philosophy of life. Now,
among a class, all this has changed. Again and
again while given to the diversions and duties
of society, a disconcerting thought comes to me.
Suppose that the tall, gaunt form of our hero
of forty years ago should pass slowly and silently
through the halls and parlors and the gay cafes
where the idle rich resort. What would he
think? What would he be moved to say? What
anguish might we read in his face? What looks
of bitter reproach?
(Continued on Pago 10.)
THE MONEY TRUST
Below will be found an editorial which re
cently appeared in "Business Common Sense:"
Is there a money trust? Many of our law makers
at Washington are asking this question. It can
not bo denied that the banking- resources of New
York City are concentrated in tho hands of a
small group, the central figures of which are J. P.
Morgan, and the Standard Oil. Whether this con
centration of banking Interests constitutes a trust
or a combination In restraint of trade remains to
bo seen.
Every country of any commercial importance lias
witnessed concentration of banking capital, but
in the great European nations the various govern
ments have recognized the fact that a centralized
banking power should be under governmental con
trol. The leading bankers of this country are advo
cating a reform in our banking arrangements that
Will give freer scope to individual activity, but
at the same time allow concerted action for the pur
pose of providing an expansive currency that shall
preclude the possibility of panics in the future.
The following table gives a list of tho banks
connected with the Morgan and Standard Oil in
terests and embraces all of the Important banking
Institutions of the City of New York:
MORGAN GROUP
Cap. & Surp. Deposits
First Nation'l ? 31,984,400 $114,458,500
Com'orco Nat. 40,893,400 141,592,400
Chemical Nat. 9,920,400 31,891,600
Liberty Nat.. 3,770,000 19,255,800
Chase Nat 13,704,500 106,605,900
Mech. & M. N". 14,382,400 69,815,700
Astor Trust.. 2,389,400 18,663,200
Bankers' Trust 13,518,400 137,493,100
Guaranty Trust 27,888,100 156,022,800
Manhat. Trust 2,252,100 21,093,100
N. Y. Trust... 14,572,300 38,044,600
Stand. Trust.. 2,411,200 17,561,000
Total
152,
195,
42,
23,
121,
87,
21,
157,
208.
24,
53,
20,
Assets
678.300
028,800
107,000
506,800
305,600
168,500
813,000
678.200
793,600
652,400
918,300
642,500
Total $182,687,200
STANDARD
$872,857,700 $1,109,291,000
OIL GROUP
National City.$
Second Nat. . .
Lincoln Nat..
Citz. Cen. Nat.
Hanover Nat.
Nat. But. & Dlv.
.Fidelity
Columbia ....
Colonial
Greenwich . . .
Farm. L. & T.
Franklin Trust
Equitable Trust
Trt. Co. of-Am.
U. S. Trust. . .
U. S. Mt. & Trt.
51,688,400
3,329,400
2,663,900
4,464,600
15,952,400
447,100
367,400
1,117,600
877,600
1,398,400
7,340,400
2,360,800
14,205,300
8,541.200
16,315,500
6,502,200
$203,910,600
15,155,500
17,746,100
24,993,100
93,905,400
3,040,000
1,118,300
8,740,500
7,397,300
12,036,800
132,631,300
11,261,200
40,348,700
25,563,500
63,097,500
46,370,500
$
205,845,600
19,968,700
21,756,100
31,386,900
111,668,300
3,534,700
1,492,400
10,172,400
8,325,700
13,459,100
140,627,900
13,787,100
54,885,700
34,220,900
80,318,400
62,516,000
Total $137,552,200 $707,312,200 $ 873,965,800
TOTAL BOTH GROUPS
Morgan ....$182,687,200 $ 872,857,700 $1,109,291,000
Stand. Oil... 137552;200 707,312,200 873,965,800
Total $320,239,400 $1,580,169,900 $1,983,256,800
And yet there are men calling themselves
democrats who favor the Aldrich scheme for a
closer consolidation of the banking interests.
WHERE HARMON STANDS
Editorial in Steubenville (Ohio) Gazette: The
Harmon bureau at Washington is very busy
these days and is handing out licks right and
left to Wilson and. Clark. Just now it is the
most militant organization in the presidential
fight. That It is backed by the money trust is
evident by its style of campaigning. In tho news
matter sent out under date of March 19, we
find the following:
"Wilson is not in any sense a candidate of
tho. congressional democrats. Most of them
have already selected Harmon and accepted him
The Commoner.
START THE 1912 FIGHT NOW
BY GETTING GOOD DEMOCRATIC LITERA
TURE INTO THE HANDS OF THE VOTERS
One of the most important tasks confronting
the democratic party in the coming campaign is
the work of placing its position squarely before
the people by a thorough CAMPAIGN OF EDU
CATION. The time to start this work is NOW not
after the country is deluged with tons of mis
leading campaign literature. NOW is tho time
when the voters are in a receptive mood and
have the time to weigh questions carefully.
NOW is the time when the most effective work
can bo done.
Victory in 1912 is a POSSIBILITY not a
CERTAINTY. Success will depend on whether
the democratic party is alive to its opportuni
ties in this campaign." Much will depend on
placing good literature into the hands of the
voters, old and young alike. The American
people can be trusted to settle questions right,
but they want the facts, figures, arguments and
reasons from authoritative sources.
How can this be done to the best advantage?
Through the medium of reliable democratic
newspapers. It is an admitted fact that good
newspapers have a greater influence with all
classes of voters than any kind of campaign
literature that can be circulated. A newspaper
paid for by the reader has a far more definite
value and influence than any publication sent
out for free distribution. Every campaign
manager recognizes this fact. Ilonce the impor
tance of assisting in tho work of getting good
democratic papers into the hands of the voters.
Many democratic papers will make special
campaign rates rates so low that it will bo an
easy matter to got these papers into the hands
of a large number of new and doubtful voters.
Democratic workers could do nothing better to
strengthen their party than help circulate demo
cratic newspapers in their own precincts. To
aid in this work The Commoner also makes a
special campaign rate of 35c on new subscrip
tions from now until the close of the campaign
or THREE NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS for $1.00.
Arc you willing to do your part in this work?
Will you do your part to help place In the hands
of new and doubtful voters a medium that will
keep them posted on the democratic position
clear through the campaign? If you are, get
up a club of THREE NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS
FOR $1.00, and send in at once. It is the surest
way to win votes in your precinct and add to
the strength of the party. Every democrat can
form at least one CLUB OF THREE in his pre
cinct. It will be only a matter of a few minutes
work to securo ONE club many will send in
a number. Ask your neighbors and friends
to join a CLUB OF THREE; invite tho new
or doubtful voters to join a club. Use tho
coupon below:
"
THREE FOR $1.00 CLUB
THE COMMONER, Lincoln, Neb:
Gentlemen Enclosed find $1.00 for which please send The Commoner to the following
new subscribers under your special campaign offer THREE FOR $1.00.
Name
Name
Name
.P. O.
.P. O.
,P.O.
as the man of the hour. Democrats fn congress
represent on the average, rather a more conser
vative view than do democrats en masse through
out the country. The democrats who break into
congress are impressed with the necessity of get
ting campaign funds and of maintaining touch
with the fixed powers of business, which always
concern themselves with big politics. Democrats
who have seen their party defeated because of
its extreme radicalism In other years when
Bryan was "licked to a frazzle," would like to
see the party got in line for a victory. They be
lieve that Harmon is the right man to lead
them to triumph."
Now, if there was anybody around here who
had doubts about where Governor Harmon
stands in tbis campaign, those doubts need no
longer exist after this testimony from Harmon's
own bureau. He has definitely committed him
self to the same powers that nominated Parker
in 1904, and thereby led to the worst defeat
the democratic party ever sustained in its whole
history, and this because it was faithless to its
trust. And speaking of being "licked to a
frazzle," McKinley led Bryan by 50,000 in 1896
in Ohio, while Roosevelf's'majority' over Parker
in this state was 255,000 in 1904.
AND YET THE GOVERNOR FAILED TO JCEEP
HIS PLEDGE
"Governor Harmon asked every democratic
member of the legislature to meet him in a
caucus last winter, at which he made an earnest
appeal to them to carry out, to the very letter,
every promise that had been made to the people
In the democratic platform at Dayton. Some
of those who refused to help him keep tho faith
with'the people, now pose as progressives. They
are the fellows who prevented some of the re
forms promised. The governor believes In keep
ing promises." Mr. Sandles' Paper.
The above extract we take from the Ottawa
Sentinel, a paper owned and edited by Mr. Put
Sandles who holds tho job of secretary of tho
state board of agriculture under Mr. Harmon
at $3,500 per year.
We can't imagine why Mr. Sandles should
write such an editorial as that when he knows
that Governor Harmon, himself, failed to keep
one of the most important promises made to tho
people of Ohio that of indorsing and urging
into our organic law, the initiative and referen
dum, the rule of the people. He ran upon a
platform that promised this very thing and after
he was elected, stood up before the constitu
tional convention and repudiated this pledge
and promise that he as well as all other demo
crats had solemnly made to the people.
We are perfectly willing that Mr. Harmon
shall have all the credit he is entitled to as a
democratic governor but his job holders like
Mr. Sandles must not make tho attempt to de
ceive the' democrats of the state and country
as to what the governor has or has not done.
Three years ago, we were inclined to the be
lief that Mr. Harmon had made considerable
progress toward the democracy of tho people.
Wo were mistaken, we are sorry to say. Ho
is still a corporation democrat and his nomi
nation for the presidency means defeat to begin
with; and if Mr. Sandles could lose sight of
the dollar mark for the nonce, he would know
that as well as anybody. Waverly (Ohio)
Democrat.
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