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XX.-? J' JI,V
'AUGUST 2, 1111.
Mvin' millionaires. Talk about rough-houso!
Ho stood up on the high ground, palo aa wax,
with electricity snappin' all around him somo
of us yowlin' at him to go ahead, others barkin'
up at him like coon dogs around a sycamore,
and a good many more weepin' inwardly and
scared bluo. The harmony program had seven
punctures and a blow-out. Wo couldn't stand
by Champ without buckin' William J., and wo
couldn't turn down William J without puttin'
our O. K. on Wall street. But wo crawled out
o' that hole. Wo paBsed the resolution with
the black sheep helpin' to denounce themselves.
We sat there all night watchin' the maniacs per
form, and staggered away at daylight with
Champ holdin' a safe lead on the first ballot. It
looked like a cinch. New York was ready to
fall in. That would give us 90 at one slap.
Then a tall scramble for the band wagon.
That's what we dreamt as we lay in rows on our
little hospital cots, the sun beatin' down on our
smilin' faces. We came back at four o'clock and
began votin' again. We voted and rested and
voted again. It's all like a bad dream after that.
The hall was hotter than a hawmow. Most of
us were half undressed. We panted and pers
pired and polled every fool delegation one thous
and times, as near as I can recollect. Some
where in the noise an' dust, an' between pieces
by the band, we saw William J. clinched with
Champ. When Damon started in to swat
Pythias, we threw up our hands. Boys, I'm for
any ticket labeled democratic, but I'm shakin'
with dread. Let me go home and calm down.
I ve seen five hundred democrats, callin' them
selves regular and progressive, stand up on their
toes and demand the blood of Bill Bryan. I
guess the world's comin' to an end."
He lifted his coat from the bunch of bananas
and moved into the sunlight. The Lamsoy boy
and Earl Pettit, keeping well behind him, did
not dare to break in on his grief.
On the very day which brought the real news
to Pigeon Crest, another delegate of a different
mold alighted from the Louisville express at the
tree-sheltered county-seat known as Juniper,
State of Kentucky. Colonel Milo Stansbury
wore a gray suit. The coat was a frock in pat
tern, but of light fabric and not lined. Such a
coat enabled the colonel to maintain the out
ward decencies of the legal profession even in
the dog days. Hfs hat was a wide Panama, and
his mustache was silvered almost to whiteness.
The colonel supervised the transfer of the
valise from the negro porter to the negro hack
man, and made a saluting gesture with a very
rigid forearm, to the station loafers.
Two hours later he was on the shady part of
the porch with Judge Trueby, Captain Hanchett,
and Clay Radbourno, editor of the "Beacon."
At the risk of losing the real "atmosphere" of
this stage picture sunny afternoon, colonial
pillars, climbing vines, and four Kentucky
gentlemen in soft colors it must be recorded
that the glasses contained homemade mead, rich
with nutmeg and cinnamon, Mrs. Stansbury be
ing away up in the W, C. T. U.
"Gentlemen, he sought to bestride the demo
cratic party like a Colossus," Colonel Stansbury
was saying. "He'lecturod us, by gad, sir, just as
the principal of our high school would go after a
lot of unruly boys. His effrontery was amazing;
his presumption unlimited; his egotism spec
tacular. We bore with him patiently; but the
situation, sir, was most trying."
"I couldn't make out from the newspapers
just what proof he offered that Ryan and Bel
mont were trying to dominate the convention "
said Judge Trueby. '
"We had no proof. They were of Wall street,
therefore guilty. I hold, sir, that we should
have been flattered to know that men of largo
private means and undoubted social eminence
were' sitting in our .midst as delegates. They
sought no personal controversy with this ram
pageous person from Nebraska. They came, as
most of us came, animated by the hope that our
beloved party was about to sweep away a falter
ing and demoralized opposition and assume con
trol of all departments of the government.
Gentlemen, I met these money kings and I had
conversation with the so-called 'bosses.' They
impressed me, sir, as being fair-minded and sin
cerely devoted to our party. Mr. Murphy, Mr.
Sullivan, and Mr. Taggart each gave me assur
ance of his devotion to the progresisve policies
advocated by Mr. Bryan. Strangely enough, all
three claim Irish antecedents. As they come
of warlike stock, I expected to hear them speak
bitterly of their antagonist. On the contrary,
gentlemen, they bore his insults with incredible
humility. They had no desire to drive him from
the party."
The editor allowed that the reunited party
The Commoner. 5
Form a Commoner Club in Your Precinct
Special Rate of 25c Secures The Commoner from Now Until Campaign Closes, or 4 for $1
Tho work of organizing Wilson and Marshall
clubs is boing actively pushed in every stato in
the union. Democrats ovorywhoro are alive to
tho opportunities of this campaign, and anxious
to secure a sweeping victory for tho cause of
progressive reform.
With a progressive ticket and platform, tho
democratic party has taken its stand before the
people. Thousands upon thousands of voters
from other parties are flocking to its standard,
because they believo tho democratic party can
bring relief from present burdens. A largo
percentage of these votors have never before
voted the democratic ticket. Thousands of
young votors will cast their first ballots at tho
corning election.
The most important work, therefore, that can
engage the attention of democratic workers at
the present moment is to roach and hold these
two classes of voters in tho ranks. Tho first
step is to organize a good Wilson and Marshall
club, and the next is to place reliable campaign
literature into tho hands of as many members as
possible, particularly those who hav.o formerly
affiliated with other parties.
It is imporant to secure as many mombors as
possible for tho club. It is important to secure
their promise to support tho democratic ticket,
but it is vastly more important that they cast
their ballots with a proper understanding, con
viction and belief in tho great principles that
the democratic party stands for in this cam
paign. Unless tho now convert or the now voter
can act intelligently, he will bo easily influenced
to vote the opposition ticket by the preusuro
that will certainly bo brought to hour upon him
from other Hourcos, even though hl name may
bo upon tho party club roll.
Just as soon as a Wilson and Marshall club
Is organized, an offort should bo mado immedi
ately to placo good literature into each now club
member's hands. No other form of literature
is so effective tin a good democratic wcokly.
Going ovory woolc during tho campaign to tho
voter personally, It carrlos tho party's authori
tative information, arguments and reasons,
speeches and utterancos of the party's candi
dates, answers to opponents Just tho things
needed to arouso and hold tho interest of tho
votors. Every voter that can bo Induced to road
and think can bo dopondod upon to voto right
whon tho time comes. Evory club should ap
point a committee to look aftor this work.
To assist tho democratic clubs and demo
cratic workers In this work, The Commoner is
making a special rate of 25 cents each for cam
paign subscriptions, from now until oloctlou day.
or four subscriptions for $1. An especial offort
should bo mado to placo Tho Commoner in tho
hands of tho voters, particularly among republi
cans who have announced their intontlon of vot
ing tho democratic ticket. Lot a Commoner
campaign club bo organized In every precinct.
Do not wait for somo ono else to make tho start.
Every one may have a hand in this work, and no
other work will contribute moro to democratic
success in this campaign. Use tho attached
coupon. Where a larger club is formed, uso
blank shoot.
FOUR FOR $1.00 CLUB
THE COMMONER, Lincoln, Neb.:
Gentlemen Enclosed find '$1.00 for which please send Tho Commoner to tho follow
ing four new subscribers under your special campaign offer FOUR FOR $1.00 from now
until tho close of the presidential campaign.
Name P.O.
Namo P. O.
Name .' , . . , P. O,
Name , P. O.
was in a kind of a hole.
"Gentlemen, I havo been to Baltimore," said
the colonel, wearily. "I am willing to bo In any
kind of a hole if Mr. Bryan is not present."
Now, listen to the third voice. Tho delegate
is sitting in a side-bar buggy on a lonesome
thread of black roadway that leads across wide
billows of prairie. He was one of the battling
Wilsonites of South Dakota tho little group
that drew on the fighting of the second day.
"Boys, ho looked bigger to me than ever."
That's what he is saying to the three in bluo
jumpers who ran from the shack to head him off.
"We traveled all the way to Baltimore to cele
brate the final victory of everything progressive,
only to find the front seats occupied by the same
old crowd of safe players and money counters.
Fought' em? Of course he fought 'em, from
the drop of the hat. All they wanted to do with
him was sew him up in burlap and bury him
under tho weeping willows. We all wanted har
mony, but lookin' back at It, boys, I begin to
perceive that you can't expect sheep and goats
to bleat in the same key. It started with a
skirmish and finished with a massacre. The
people had won a great victory. In the hour of
triumph they were politely requested to stand
aside and let the boys lookin' for meal tickets
take charge of the jubilee. And becauz William
Jennings rose up and demanded a real progres
sive candidate, he was called a disturbing ele
ment. Mr. Murphy wanted a man who would
look like a progressive from the front, but who
could bo counted on to leave the back door open
and receive friendly calls from the boys who
gave him the votes. We didn't want anybody
who was in cahoots with Murphy because we
never heard of Murphy workin' for anybody
but himself. We wanted tho only big caliber
progressive statesman in sight. And wo got
him. But wo had to fight all tho way."
Charley Borklen, foroman of tho traction
plowors, said that ho guessed New York demo
crats must bo funny to look at.
"I felt sorry for somo of them," said the dele
gate. "Hero's a man with a ninety-dollar suit
an' a pleated shirt, his whiskers trimmed, nails
polished, two automobiles, wife owns a dog,houso
full of servants and yet anybody walkln' up
street with him Is under suspicion. Gittep!"
0
0
0
ORGANIZE WILSON AND MARSHALL
CLUBS
Preparations for tho national cam
paign can not begin too early and tho
work ought to be started at once In
every precinct in every stato. Tho Com
moner calls upon its readers every
where to proceed to the organization of
Wilson and Marshall clubs. Sometimes
It is difficult to get men to attend meet
ings but these clubs could be organized
even If only two or three persons are In
attendance and then the membership
could be built up as the enthusiasm of
the campaign grows. The Commoner
will print brief announcements of the
organization of Wilson and Marshall
clubs. Organize your club and send tho
fact of the organization and the names
of the officers to The Commoner.
Who will be the first?
Tit&toGt&iaJMtoS Adrilfriiijjd n'-w.
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t M&d' A
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