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The Commoner-
VOLUME 12, NUMBER 34
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MR. MACK ON MR. BRYAN
Mr. Mack, in his National Monthly, makes
tho following comment on Mr. Bryan's part in
thb Baltimore convention:
There may be In the part played by William J.
Bryan Bomothlnj? not yet fully understood. Un
doubtedly he believed the end sought justified the
means he employed. In the heat of the struggle
there may have been some things said by Mr.
Bryan, as well as by hla opponents, which probably
would not balance the scales of equal and exact
justice, but the Nebraskan was fighting for party
liberation from any symbol or camp fire sign of
control by Interests which profit from privileges
and favors of government. The convention was
wholly free from any such taint. This is true not
only of Its conclusrion, but of its beginning as well.
Because It Was so, ther haa been read into Mr.
Bryan's position at Baltimore a personal ambition
and selfishness which we believe he did not possess.
For Instance a current number of Harper's Weekly
in comment on the attractive features of-the Wil
son nomination, says:
"It removes the blight of Bryanlsm. Mr. Wilson
owes nothing to the marplot who schemed to
obtain the nomination for himself."
Bryan'i? greatest strength in the convention came
from tho assumption that he was looking for
nothing for himself. For four months prior to the
convention, he had had under consideration the
suggestion that he become the temporary chair
man of the convention. He had the assurance of
tho chairman of the national committee that the
members of the committee on arrangements would
support him for the post If he would, indicate a
willingness to serve; In fact, there would have
been no opposition to Mr. Bryan for temporary
chairman, either in the national committee or the
convention Itself, if he had desired the place and
made known his desire prior to tho meeting of
the arrangement committee in Baltimore which
decided the temporary chairmanship In -favor of
Judge Parker. But Mr. Bryan slated long before
that meeting his disinclination to serve. About
a month before the convention he sent a letter to
the chairman of the national committee, of which
tho following is a copy:
'rr., xr .., 1-incoln, Neb.. May 17, 1912.
lion. Norman E. Mack, Buffalo, N. Y:
3u.?r Mc,Ic J wrote you the other day sug
gesting that the committee should ask the two
i 1 "; candidates I suppose they will be Clark
SH.H. t "1 ?r"to asree upon the temporary chair
man. I believe it would be conducive to harmony
lnhcl,id BCt &JTfin wh0 would b agreeable to
both of these candidates. I neglected to add that
Jn?u de,fl,re ihP P3,Hon myself. I think that
under the circumstances It Is better for. me not to
tako a prominent part In the organization of the
SSmmuV0"' 8UN?0H.C x will be a member of thl
committee on resolutions from this state I have
hut OVISTS ?Vlth ll, "jcnibers of the delegation.
hl Ltali !t toS granted from the personnel that
hfmnn!HS of , the delegation will favor me tor
tha.t. position. Very truly yours, W. J. BRYAN."
Nothing could be more conclusive of Mr Brvan'n
desire for self-elimination In the bestowa of Con
vention and party honors at Baltimore. Although
2i?r,nff, w,,th h,m' :as to selection of ho tem
porary chairman, and tho substance of some of hla
opecchea in the convention, wo believe it untrue
5f iH" niht0fp.ut a l"""! ambition at the base
or his light for a progressive chairman to sound
tho convention keynote, a progressive candidate
aiftr pro? rc"8lvc Platform. That ho was not plot-
frIend7knewWthant0rnTr,aiVOn la clcar,y evlflJnt. PHIb
irienuB Knew that. If there are some who do nnt
believe it to be true, the foregoing letter oucrht to
be a convincing argument. ougnt to
Mr Mack assumes that Mr. Bryan could have
been temporary chairman if he had desired the
honor and he, no doubt, would have urged Mr
Bryan s name had the latter been willing to he
a candidate for the position; and Mr.. Bryan, in
talking to Mr. Mack, assumed that he would
have no opposition in case he desired the .'place,
but subsequent events have raised a .d'ptijbt in
Mr Bryan's mind and he is glad that he decided
not to be a candidate before ho learned; that he
could not got the place even if he wanted it. He
was not offered the place Mr. Mack could not
speak for the full committee and the matter
never came before the committee. Mr. Bryan
appreciates Mr. Mack's statement. , '
A TRUST MAGNATE'S CHILDREN
, T1l? Berot iB out Mr Perkin's attachment
or Mr. Roosevelt has been explained by the
trust magnate himself. He is interested in his
children; ho wants to leave them a hea'lthful and
wholesome environment and ho declares that Mr
Roosevelt is tho only man in public life who is
in good faith, supporting hia views. Now what
are Mr. Perkins' views? He made a large sum
out of the organization of the steel trust the
Morgan syndicate collected sixty-nine 'million
dollars for Its services in putting it upon' its feet.
Ho is still interested in tho steel trust and a
director. He is also interested in'antt'a high
official of tho harvester trust. He believes in
trusts and does not want them subjected to re
straint by state laws. Neither doe's, lie want
them arinoyed by criminal prosecutions. He
and Mr, Roosevelt have devised a plan'b'y which
the trusts will be recognized as permanent and
bo placed under tho supervision bf a bureau
vhbse' members will be appointed by tie presi
dent'. This plan suits a trust magnate 'and will
be good for tho trust magnate's children but
what about other people and their children? Is
it possible that the plain, every day man, who
works for his living and who can not hope to
leave his children much except a good govern
ment is it possible that such a man will follow
the leadership of George W. Perkins and create
an industrial system for the exclusive benefit of
the children of trust magnates. It can not be.
THE BALTIMORE PLATFORM
August 19, 1912. Mr. Ernest H. Abbott; Tho
Outlook, New York City. Dear Sir: Have just
found your letter on my return to the city. If
this is not too late you can say:
"The platform adopted at Baltimore is the
most progressive ever presented to the country.
It speaks out plainly and strongly on every
important question. It puts the party on record
in favor of a tariff for revenue only, to be ap
proached gradually; the popular election of
senators; an income tax; presidential primaries;
the election of national committeemen by popu
lar vote, service to begin immediately; a single
term for the presidency, and labor legislation.
It opposes the principle of private monopoly;
the Aldrich bill, and any central bank and im
perialism. These are only a few of the subjects
treated. In Governor "Wilson we have a presi
dential candidate who inspires confidence among
progressives of both parties, and whose fighting
qualities have already been tested. His election
seems assured. Governor Marshall, his running
mate, is a strong personality and has also shown
his courage in political battles his greatest be
ing his successful effort to secure the selection
of a United States senator by popular vote.
The Baltimore convention made a record for
progressiveness, and has set the pace for the
campaign." Very truly yours, W. J. BRYAN.
MR. WATTERSON ON ADVERTISING
Mr. "Watterson his venom not finding adeq
uate expression through legitimate criticism
now accuses Mr. Bryan of being actuated at Bal
timore by a desire for publicity with a view to
Chautauqua attendance and Commoner circula
tion.. Mr. "Watterson has taken an active part
in conventions, as. he will, if pressed, blushingly
admit, but he probably never had an etfemy
mean enough to attribute it to "advertising;-".
Mr. Bryan's enemies seem to be of a lower
grade. But, speaking of money making, what
a mistake; from a pecuniary standpoint Mr.
Bryan made In not allying himself with Mr.
Watterson's friends! "Wall street is a good pay
master while one is in a position to serve it;
Mr. Morgan, Mr. Ryan and Mr. Belmont, for
instance, have many interests to look after.
Then there are the breweries and the distilleries
who need men to speak for them. There are
lots of ways of making money when one can
get rid of his conscience, but lecturing, though
somewhat wearing, is, after all, more enjoyable
in spite of Watterson's criticisms.
All of the democratic platform that Mr. Roose
velt did not take, according to his interview
was only fit for the insane. The ex-president
seems determined to conduct his campaign
against the democrats, on the same high plane
onwiiich he pitched his campaign against Presi
dent Taft.
Mr. Roosevelt "sees" bosses everywhere ex
cept in his own select company, but he is hav
V?g h?rd time t0 convince even himself that
Mr. Wilson owes the bosses anything, and if
he has such trouble convincing himself how can
he hope to convince the 'public?
Mr, Roosevelt opposes Mr. Taft because the
hitter still is what the former was, and Mr
Taft opposes Mr. Roosevelt because the latter
Is, what the former promised to bo. A small
matter to fall out over.
Usually the guarantor suffers when his prin
cipal fails but Mr. Roosevelt claims a third
term as a reward because Mr. Taft, whom he
guaranteed, did not make good.
It ,was supposed that Mr. Taft would repre
sent the standpat element but from his speech
of acceptance it looks like he is catering to the
go-back vote.
Mr,. Roosevelt continues to discuss questions
not subjectively or objectively, but adjectively!
Its a poor state that can not get up two re
publican conventions this year.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEMOCRATin
CAMPAIGN FUND
Democratic campaign contributions sent tn
The Commoner for week ending Aug. 23 1919.
A. B. Bryan, Tenaha, Tex -i ;
E. Sheets, Alcony, Ohio . J " Jj
P. J. Bryant, Aromas, Cal 5'0q
Otto H. Boyesen, Bowman, N. D 5'0q
L. H. Harrell, Grandview, Tex I'o'on
T. M. Hodgman, St. Paul, Minn 5 qq
W. E. Ambler, R. 1, Mt. Pleasant, la. . . 400
D. T. Boone, Elkins, Ark 2'.ll
J. S Harris, Weston, Ore... 2 00
Clark Wood,JWeston, Ore. i'qq
L.-1. O. Harra, Weston, Ore qq
L. R. Van Winkle, Weston, Ore 100
E. E. Binfield Prosser, Neb 50
Jos. J. Culbertson, Ashland, 0 200
C. M. Hermens, San .Luis Rey, Cal ioo
W. C. Gorgas, Ancon, Canal Zone io!oo
E. E. Moran, Whitman, Neb 50
G. W. Fitzpatrick, Snohomish, Wash 200
Stephen Koch, Snohomish, Wash o!oo
Jas. S. Williams, BlBbee, Ariz 00
Raymon Moore, Cucamonga, Cal i!oo
R. M. Johnson, Islitas, Tex. ... ........ 3.00
R. M. Shoemaker, Islitas, Tex 50
J. F. Buchanan, Islitas, Tex 50
J. P. Bradberry, Islitas, Tex 50
J. G. Wilson, Islitas, Tex. 50
A Friend, Duluth, Minn 1.00
Morris Vincent, Chelsea, Mich ......... 1.00
Thos. Huselby, Hobeetie, Tex 3. 00
Patrick J. Toohey, Sparta, Wis 1,00
F. W. Swanson, Alamosa, Colo ,00
S. L. Merriman, Anglin, Wash 1.00
W. S. Paton, Foster, Ala 1.00
J. A. Kuykendall, Royse City, Tex 1,00
F. F. Plouf, 403 N. E. 4th St.. Minne
apolis, Minn 1.00
F. D. Hornbaker, Darlow, Kan. .'. 1.00
J. A. Bane, Saybrook, 111. .' 1.00
C. L. Smith, Toledo, O., 622 Federal St. 2.00
Evan Edwards, Appleton, Wis ' 1.00
Milton Richardson, Dorris, Cal. ...... . 1.00
Will Hankins, Dorris, Cal! .......... . 1.00
George Otto, Dorris, Cal ....' 1.00
Dorfman V. Rosenthal, Dorris, Cal 1.00
Mlnnell Evans, Dorris, Cal..' :,.... 1.00
Dorris Hardware Co'., Dorris;' Cal' Vi'..' . 1.00
Thomas Powell; TJorrfsJ Cal'. '. ?VVT. .:'. V?- ' ' 1.00
E. X. Herr, Dorris, Cal '", .25
J. N. DyaV,- Dorris, Cal. .' .'. ?:4. . ; .i;.i:; ' 1.00
A Democrat, MoundsviUe W... Va. 2.00
John Kokole, Red Bluff, Cal 1.00
Thomas Nugent, Cabery, 111 5.00
$11S.75
NEW DEMOCRATIC CLUBS
New clubs reported to The Commoner since
the last published list, up to and including
Friday, August 23rd:
Wilson and Marshall Club, St. Johhsburg, Vt.
- R. A. Cramer, president; George W. Caldheck,
first vice president; J. O. Droum, second vice
president; James A. Impey, secretary.
Wilson and Marshall Club, Burr, Neb. H. S.
Hurst, president; Jacob Frey, vice president; W.
Scott Holden, secretary and treasurer.
Wilson-Marshall Club, Wheaton, Minn. Rev.
H. G. Gaunt, president; J. T. Erickson, vice
president; George G. Allanson, secretary; Judge
E. J. Fortune, treasurer.
Woodrow Wilson Club, Eureka, Utah. W. E.
Evans president; Hall Gear, vice president; T.
J. bullivan, secretary.
a y8n and Marshall Club, Eureka Springs,
Ark.Wade H. James, president; S. A. Deihl,
secretary.
Wilson and Marshall Club, Whitefish, Mon-
.7"Dr- J' A- Tiett, president.
Wilson and Marshall Club, Farrell, Pa. R.
H. Johnson, president; Phillip Charles, secre
tary; S. P. Bryan, treasurer.
Wilson, Marshall and Lewis Club, Williams
port, Md. C. J. Davis, president; W. J. Taylor,
vice president; W. S. Steffey, secretary.
A GOOD MOVE -
William H. Thompson, chairman of the demo
cratic state. committee for Nebraska has called
upon the democratic editors of the state to
gather in their respective congressional districts
August 30th for the purpose of consulting as to
the campaign in progress.
This is a good move and might well be fol
lowed in other states of the union.
A London dispatch states that Lloyd's are
insuring some persons against loss in case Gov
ernor Wilson is elected but this Item does not
state in what form of grand larceny those desir
ing insurance are engaged.
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