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VOLUME 12, NUMBER 30
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The Commoner.
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A SPECIAL OFFER FOR CAMPAIGN LITERATURE
An old-time reader of The Commoner writes: Wherever The .Commoner is regularly read the democratic vote increases. One of the
most effective methods of increasing Governor Wilson's vote would be by the circulation of The Commoner (particularly among men who
have heretofore voted the republican ticket) in every state of the union. I suggest that you make a special rate for campaign purposes
and I am sure there are many hard working democrats who will take advantage of that rate to put The Commoner regularly into the hands
of their republican neighbors."
The Commoner will be sent to any one from now until the close of the 1912 campaign for the sum of 25c, or four subscriptions will be
entered until the close of the campaign for $1.00.
U
The Honor of Virginia
9
Patriotic eons of tho "Old Dominion" deny
that Ryan is lior representative.
To tho Editor of tho Richmond Times-Dispatch:
Sir I am rejoiced to sco that you do
not appear to bo hypnotized by some malign
influence, as so many of tho papers of our dear
Old Dominion have been of late. There , was
a time, I well remember, when tho Virginia
press was a light and a worthy guide to the
honest searcher after tho truth in politics and
morals, but if the articlo in a Danville paper
of lato issuo called "Tho Psychological Moment
at tho Baltimore Convention," represents the
views and teachings of the Virginia press gen
erally, how terribly have we fallen from the old
standard.
"Who or what has hypnotized so many of our
Virginia papers? How can a Virginia paper
dare to say that Ryan is a true representative
of tho intelligence and honor of our old state?
Havo the voters of Virginia so degenerated
that such papers do oxpress their ideas and
sontimontB? Can they indeed be deceived 'by
such falso guides any longer?
Who has hypnotized such papers? Who are
tho roal owners of those editors? Thousands
of us are now of tho opinion that an investigat
ing committee, appointed by Wilson and Wil
liam J. Bryan, if possible, would quickly focus
tho light on the real corruptors of the people.
Lorimor had the light turned on him at last by
an outraged peoplo; now keep tho ball in mo
tion for old Virginia's sake. Let us have light.
I am firmly convinced that you voice the senti
ment of every intelligent person in Virginia in
your little piece called "Esau's Repentance,"
tho Danville paper to the contrary, notwith
standing. Just keep it up. "You can not fool
all tho people all tho time."
Now tho people are at last awake, and want
to know who owns this commonwealth. Surely
not Ryan and the Pennsylvania railroad.
I am an ex-confederate of Jackson's corps, and
and must still defend my native state as best I
can oven to tho end.
REV. GEORGE. S. FITZHUGH.
Port Royal, Va.
REACTIONARIES "RUNTY PIGS"
To tho Editor of tho Richmond Times-Dispatch:
Sir I havo been very much interested
in the discussions recently In your columns con
cerning tho Bryan-Ryan episode at tho Balti
more convention, and if space permits I would
like to add still another opinion.
Formerly the writor has taken very little part
In politics, but has always been interested in tho
affairs of government, and in those few per
sonalities who occupy tho central stage of
action. Boing a student of political economy,
Mr. Bryan's principles of economy and of gov
ernment have received particular attention, and
whilo I am not a hero worshipper, I am an
ardent admirer of both Mr. Bryan and his prin
ciples. It might be possible that I am some-i
what prejudiced against those who differ from
him. Be that as it may, it r.ppears to me that
tho few attacks which have been made against
him relative to his brilliant maneuvorings at
Baltimoro are totally in lack of reason, and of
proper foundation. This is not said in defense
of Mr. Bryan personally, because he himself does
not need it, my object being to register one
more dissenting voice against those small men
who got mad and accuse Mr. Bryan of inconsis
tency without supporting their accusations with
any logical argument.
. This sort of thing, to my mind, illustrates tho
difference between "progressive" and "reaction
ary" politics. Tho ono is according to reason
and the other according to rule, or the one for
tho people and the other for ulterior purpose.
The other day I heard a farmer trying to illus
trate between these two kinds of politics, and
while he did not give the exact idea, to my mind,
it serves a purpose in this Instance. "In every
family of swine," he said, "there Is always one
member which does not develop with the rest,
and is known as the 'runty pig,' tho rest being
moro luxuriant and progressive. Now, this
runty pig reminds me," he said, "of a reac
tionary politician, because he is not progres
sive." It is in about this same proportion that Mr.
Bryan and his sayings compare with his critics
and their sayings at Baltimore. For example,
when Mr. Bryan introduced his now famous
anti-Ryan-Belmont resolution and substantiated
it with a most brilliant argument his enemies
were on tho floor at once, uttering mostly
monosyllabic protests and epithets. Ono gentle
man distinguished himself to the extent of a
whole sentence, as follows:
"I regard Mr. Bryan as the only man here who
is trying to wreck the democratic party." This
was truly a most brilliant squeal, and is it any
wonder that it put him in line for nomination
to second place? Tho wonder is that he did not
get the nomination for tho presidency, so bril
liant and so truly bravo was his act of defense.
But when we consider these statements along
with Mr. Bryan's In answer to these attacks by
his enemies, it really seems as though his oppon
ents deserve the term of reactionary in the sense
the farmer used it. One is obliged to wonder
which would live the longer in history these
reactionary statements or these progressive
ones. Take for example this statement from
Mr. Bryan's "valedictory" and compare it for a
test of literary merit, power, brilliancy and
truthfulness with the - protest of the gentle
man as above stated, and one can but feel that
it would be a shame to 'mention the name of
the three-times defeated candidate for tho presi
dency and that of the new aspirant for tho "vice
presidency" on tho same day of tho week:
"I have never advocated a man except with
gladness, and I have never opposed a man ex
cept in sadness. If I have enemies in this coun
try, those who are my enemies havo a monopoly
of hatred. There is not one single human being
for whom I feel a hatred, nor is there one
American citizen in my own party or in any
other that I would oppose for anything except I
believed that in not opposing him I was sur
rendering the Interests of my country, which I
hold above any person."
I think that Mr. Bryan has pointed the finger
of scorn so clearly and directly at every little
member of the reactionary wing of the party
that we need have no fears of tho power of the
machino, certaintly during this coming election,
and I would like to say to those who believe in
government by tho people, and more particularly
to the young mon like myself, who have former
ly taken little or no part in politics, that now
is the time for us to enter the race and to help
to boar the democratic standard to victory. Join
a Wilson-Marshall club if there is one handy
and if not organize ono and see that every right
thinking citizen comes out to tho polls in No
vember, and thereby wo may recover for Vir
ginia some of the honor she lost at Baltimore
through the workings of the powerful, malicious
and disgraceful machine which has been allowed
to operate within our midst. Formerly the
writer has not been in politics because the game
seomed too big for him to play, but now it has
ceased to ho a game, thanks to Mr. Bryan, and
I beg leave to enter the fight for government by
the peoplo and for the people. E. F. COLE
Covesvillo, Va.
MRS. CLAYTON'S ADDRESS OF WELCOME
Mrs. Henry D. Clayton, wife of tho chairman
of tho judiciary committee of the house of
representatives, as chairman of tho executive
committee for the Dolly Madison "harmony
breakfast," welcomed the guests.
"Our honored guests, permit me, on behalf
of the ladies who planned this festal occasion,
to greet you most cordially. Indeed do we give
you a hearty welcome, and hope that you your
selves may derive as much pleasure from being
with us as we do in having you as our guests.
"Ladies, this is a patriotic gathering. If the
observance of the birthdays of George Wash
ington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, or
any renowned American soldier or statesman
serves a wise purpose, surely a tribute to the
life, character and conspicuous virtues of a
good and distinguished woman is equally as
wise, and is of equal public benefit.
"It is the woman, the mother, who molds
the character of the patriot and statesman. It
is the mother, the wife, sister and daughter who
teaches most efficiently the higher ideals and in
culcates the broader patriotism and the more
elevated and better individual and national life.
Therefore it is not too much for us to say that
we believe the inspiring influences which have
brought us here today are as lofty and as useful
as those influences which bring any of the
American 'people together in celebration of the
life and character of any great American sol
dier or political leader. All honor to Dolly
Madison and this occasion, and, again, heartiest
greetings to our guests.
"Ladies, allow me to introduce to you the
charming woman who originated the idea of this
celebration. To her efforts 'and personal in
fluence must be attributed a very large part of
tne credit for the success with which this
occasion is crowned Mrs. Robert C. Wickliffe
of Louisiana."
Mrs. Wickliffe introduced Mrs. Clark as pre
siding officer and toastmistress.
GOOD WORK PROCEEDING WELL
i 7ANeW Yyk disDatch says that there are now
o ?7QAf oca"n with a total membership
of 563,479 in North America, according to tho
ft?? th association to be issued6 Angus?
la Z lQ has been a gain of 2750 members in
the past year. The value of the new buildings
25S.W iS approximately $3,500,000 making a
total of about $73,000,000. Further funds are
$ioooooood- a,nd,Auildings iche;4untooset
,0Ii Hand $6,500,000 are being erected.
The association expended $10,000,000 last year
in the conduct of the work!
It ?sha mnrt'nStJ- enLeed in a great work,
its woSrfi?i tICal SOrt ?f Christian effort and
its wonderful progress is entirely deserved.
0000
THE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND
We nedd not think that what is don
ta convention is done secreTly We T-
Uves8 of th1 thG TB 0f "PrSonto
uves of the press, who know why we
act and who told us to do it? we "must
not presume that those at homJcan be
tht VthP ,Tflhe People at omS wiU Iknow
that the influences that dominated the
Chicago convention are here and are
more largely at work than they were In
Chicago. I appeal to you to so art that
the democrats of this country can sav
d thartSSf8 trUG t0 th0P
your iLt V not b0 lightened by
monts-FrnM b?Ught by yur Bei-
JemocrTtfo T,T' ?ryan's speecn in the
uemocratic national convention.
:
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