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DECEMBER 27, 1912
The Commoner.
4
'S
Cheers for President-elect Wil
nson
Nashville Tennessean: -Those progressive
democrats who have stood with Goverrfor Wilson
in his fight for progressive laws, clean govern
ment, and good men in office will applaud and
approve the bold stand he has taken to adhere
to his record in resisting the efforts of objec
tionable elements to get into power.
Boston Herald: It is already apparent the
sort of president that Woodrow Wilson will be.
He will rule his party. And the country will
incline, in the main, to support him in this
attitude. Experiences prove that it likes a
dominating character, even if he is sometimes
called a "boss," or may in this instance be
twitted as a- "school master."
Pittsburgh Dispatch: Those who have been
anxiously awaiting some expression from the
president-elect by which they could figure his
probable course will probably find it in his re
marks at Trenton recently. Referring to the
attempt of the Smith-Nugent faction, which has
fought his administration in New Jersey, to
come back into power when he removes to
Washington, he served warning that whether at
the state or national capital he regarded it as
his "duty to stand back, of the progressive forces
in the democratic, party everywhere and. at every
juncture." The party, he moreover declared,
had "now arrived, at a point where it must de
cide whether it will be progressive or not."
This is in line with his pre-election utterances,
which some of the party organs have since
affected to believe were to be soft-pedaled in
tho Whito House.
Omaha World-Herald: And his speech be
fore the Southern society in New York was such
as to make democrats feel like jumping up and
knocking their heels together three times be
fore alighting. It showed the qualities of an
Andrew Jackson democrat; it was flavored
strongly of the memory of the way "Old
Hickory" talked when he talked to Nick Biddle.
In his history of the United States Woodrow
Wilson has shown that he thinks especially
highly of two great democrats Jackson, and
Grover Cleveland. His Southern society speech
smacks quite a3 much of Cleveland's sturdy
resolution as it does of Jackson's directness and
democratic simplicity.
That the machinery for the creation of arti
ficial panics exists Mr. Wilson admitted. It is
conceivable that it may be used to intimidate
the government and punish the people for mov
ing against special privilege. What has he to
say about it? Listen:
"Frankly, I don't think there is any man liv
ing who dares use the machinery for that pur
pose. If he does, I promise him, not for mysolf
but for my fellow countrymen, a gibbet as high
as Hainan's." Mr. Wilson explained that he
meant, not a literal gibbet, cut a gibbet of
public disgrace, "which will live as long as the
members of that man's family survive."
A democratic congressional committee has
been eliciting the information to justify the
assumption on which Mr. Wilson flung down his
defiance. The experience the republic was com
pelled to undergo during the Roosevelt adminis
tration has proved there are men ready to preci
pitate a panic to further their own ends. At
that time they were not gibbeted. They were
honored instead, as public saviors, and given
permission to violate the law and gratify their
rapacity if only they would restore peace and
confidence.
The 'progressives of Woodrow Wilson, we aro
emboldened to believe, will be of a different
quality from that of Theodore Roosevelt. His
courage will be of a finer texture. His Ameri
canism will be more like that of Andrew Jack
son. St. Louis Times: There will bo cheers in
both political camps for the declaration of
woodrow Wilson in his speech before the South
ern society of New York, the gist of which was
the means to keep his eyes upon all or sundry
individuals or organizations who attempt arbi
trarily to create a panic in the United States
during his administration.
The president-elect realizes fully that there
s such a thing as an inevitable panic or at
'east a panic based upon conditions from which
stringencies in tho world of trade may be ex
pected to follow.
But he knows also that there is the wholly
arbitrary panic, brought about by unscrupulous
wen for their private gain, or for the purpose
or discrediting those who disagree with them In
matters of publio policy.
fet. Louis Republic: There is little to choose
Between the criminals of organized labor and
the criminals of organized capital. Tho bomb
tnrower and the panic manipulator aro morally
in the same class. Both wantonly destroy
property to serve their ends. The destruction
m me is an incident to their plans.
Everybody understands how vitally important
it is for organized labor to renounce tho mur
derous violence which has been done in its name.
But it is just as vitally important for organized
capital to renounce its evil doings. The Stand
ard Oil's certificates of deposits to representa
tives and senators aro as vicious and loathsome
as the bombs of tho McNamaras are terrifying.
Dynamite and bribery are equally venomous
enemies of good government. Tho man who
would wreck a nation's prosperity with a panic
is the big brother of the bomb-thrower. There
should be "gibbets" for both of them.
CHEEKS AND SNHNRS
Special dispatch to the Denver News: New
York, Dec. 18. Warm praise and some icicles
is the editorial reply of tho Now York news
papers to President-elect Wilson's warning to
panic makers. Of tho four Now York news
papers, the Herald, Press, Times and Tribune,
which comment on Wilson's "gibbet" speech, the
Press is warm in admiration, while the Herald
asks: "Have we in President-elect Wilson a
new Jackson?"
"His threat to hang 'as high as Haman any
man or men who may be discovered plotting to
cause a panic has a familiar ring.
"Governor Wilson ia wholly right in his
statement that 'honor and integrity breed pros
perity.' His dictum that 'panic is merely a state
of mind,' has found frequent, if not continuous,
verification.
"There may be no need for hanging anybody,
but it is just as wcM to have the country know
how squarely Governor Wilson stands for pros
peritv. aYso that he 'has his feet on tho ground.' "
"The Woodrow Wilson who has stood up to
shake his fist in the face of stock market ma
nipulators is not tho Woodrow Wilson wo
thought he was in tho campaign.
"He is a bigger and better Woodrow Wilson
than the American people knew in the contest
for the presidency. Ho may even bo a bigger
and a bettor Woodrow Wilson than he imagined
himself to be. A man's courage suddenly
demonstrated in trying emergencies, often as
tonishes himself.
"In carrying out progressive measures Wilson
needs the sentiment of the whole country solidly
behind him, for he will have to fight tho big
powers of his own party on some issues. He
is going about getting the people behind him
in a way that will help him to win. Yet win
or lose, if he follows the line indicated by his
address to the panic makers ho wil leave a
record of which tho American people will be
ThoNow York Tribune asks: "A gibbet for
a man who would start a panic? No, Governor
w son A gibbet, literal or metaphorica is
Stlre inadequate. If the president-elect is a
statesman; ho will do something better than tie
hangman's nooses. The country requires not
mmfshment of the starter of panics eo much as
the preeStloQ of tho starting of panics. Bryan
a problem to the president-elect. But he can
lint nolo that prohlem with any credit to h ra
se! f or any advantage to the country by trying
Tr YTimsrys, reprovingly:
Sle?
Uo,H m?Yh suppositious gentleman referred
TrPAmAl mind of tho pro.-
dent elect."
A GREAT DEMOCRAT
,. niP Cox of Ohio is a great demo-Governor-elect
Cox oi statement,
crat. There are m any , Pr ory energy
but one wHl suffice Qho legIs atUre and
for an effor t0 v, t tne executive depart
bis own administration or t
ment carry out the P'eu? Tn0 measures to
during tho cent campaign. q a
IrVX what ho designates his
administration program tIon during my
people of the state, and I shall Iittint that this
program bo carried out, cvon to the minutest
detail," ho wild.
"One of tho thing 1 regard of ttupromo Im
portance," he continued, "in tho organization
of tho general assembly In a way that will
obviate many of tho dllficultlos wo would other
wise encounter in carrying our contemplated
program Into effect.
"It will not bo possible- in fact for uh to ac
complish what is our wish unions wo got tho
right aort of an organization."
Tho Cincinnati Enquirer says: Among tho
nuMiHurcH to which ho will attach chief impor
tance and which ho will uhq every means to havo
placed upon tho statuto books during tho early
days of the session of tho legislature aro tho
statewide primary law, recall of all public offi
cials who aro found dorclict in tho dlschargo of
tho duties coming within their respoctlvo pro
vinces, physical valuation of all publio utilities,
income lax, improved highways, antllobbylnt
laws, a now penitentiary located on a sultablo
tract of land with appropriate surroundings, a
liquor license law, a "bluo sky" law to protect
investors, judicial reform legislation, inheri
tance tax, short ballot, homo rulo legislation and
a number of othors that will dovolop as a
natural sequence to these.
"It is my desire that tho atatc-wldo primary
law shall provldo for tho direct nomination of
all state, county and municipal officers, direct
nomination of United States senators and presi
dential preference primaries," added tho governor-elect.
Referring to tho proposed recall of public
officials who' are found guilty of malfeasanco or
misfeasance In office, or who neglect to por
form properly tho functions that como within
range of their official Jurisdiction, Governor-elect
Cox stated that ho expected to find a substan
tial support, in Attornoy General Hogan.
In this connection ho expocted that ho had
asked the attorney general to havo incorporated
in the recall measure a provision that would
enable him to removo from ofllco Ihoso proso
cutlng attorneys who had not tho moral stamina
to removo ofllcials In their respective counties
regardless of how grievous may bo tho dffonso
with which they aro charged unless they aro
practically forced to do so.
To Judge Dennis Dwyer, of this city, who was
one of the most commanding figures in the ro
cent state constitutional convention, will bo
largely entrusted the duty of drafting a moasuro
embodying tho recall provisions. Tho removal
of ofllcials who fail to perform tho duties of
their respective offices In an effective way and
neglect to give to their constituents what may
reasonably be expected Is one of tho most effec
tive means of obtaining an efficient government
in the opinion of the incoming executive, and
he will co-operate with the venerable Dayton
jurist to the end that this measure may bo what
he believes will best produce the desired
results.
UKST WIS1IKS TO IIELKN GOULD
It is truo that "all tho world loves a lover,"
but this Is particularly truo in the case of Miss
Helen Gould, daughter of tho late Jay Gould.
Miss Gould's engagement to a St Louis railroad
man was recently announced, and Americans
generally, will give their best wishes to this
American woman who has devoted her efforts
and her money to tho sorvlco of society. A
New York dispatch to tho Denver News says:
Miss Helen Gould Is not a genius. She is not
a beauty. She is not a society sensation. But
you would not havo her any of theso. For she
is more than all of them. She is the reincarna
tion of an old ideal that made womanhood akin
to Godhood in Its simple creed of service. Other
women may bo great; she is content to be kind.
Sho bears a name that men spoke with a curse
when they mentioned tho worst-hated financier
of his time. Now they breathe It with benedlo
tlon for his daughter Helen, whoso perpetual
philanthropy would make atonement, if It might,
for a vast fortune rolled up too rapidly to be
right.
If you turn the pages of "Who's Who" today,
you will find entered Helen Miller Gould, philan
thropist, the daughter of Jay and Helen Day
Miller Gould, born in New York, Juno 20, 1868,
distinguished for her services to her country.
Two older brothers, George and Edwin Gould,
and two younger brothers, Howard and Prank
Gould, are all recorded as capitalists with a
enumeration of railroads, telegraph lines, steam
ship lines, banks and corporations In which they
are officers and directors. The younger slater.
Anna, now "Mme. Gould," as the Countese of
Castellane, has had her name enrolled anion
tho list of international marriages.
The fortune of ?100,000,000 that Jay Gould
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