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The Commoner
VOL. 16, NO. 8
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Hughes Would Have
Recognized Huerta
"When tho adminintration (Wilson's) camo
Into power, Huerta wan exercising authority aa
provisional president of Mexico. He was cer
tainly in fact tho head of tho government of
Mexico. Wo make no defenso of
Huorta. Dut tbe administration had nothing to
4o with tho mural character of Huerta if in fact
lie represented the GOVERNMENT of Mexico.
Wo shall novor worthily prosecute our unselfish
alms or servo humanity by wrong-headeduess."
Thus, in tho language quoted above, does
Candidate Hughes assail Presidont Wilson for
refusing to recognize Huerta. According to Mr.
Hughes, Huerta represented tho GOVERNMENT
of Mexico and therefore ho must bo recognized
regardless of his moral character or the methods
employed to secure tho placo. Hero is an issuo
which tho peoplo can easily understand, and
when they understand it thoy will support the
Prosidopt.
Huerta was tho head of the army un
der Presidont Madoro. Felix Diaz wanted to
ovorthrow Madero and install himself as presi
dent. Ho mot Huerta by appointment at tho
American ombassy, THEN IN CHARGE OP ONE
OF THOSE "EXPERIENCED" REPUBLICAN
DIPLOMATS OF WHOSE REMOVAL MR.
HUGHES COMPLAINS. There a program was
arranged whereby Huerta was to SEIZE AND
IMPRISON PRESIDENT MADERO (assassina
tion followed) and becomo provisional president
and Diaz was to bo pormitted to bo a candidate
at tho following election.
Tho conspiracy was carried out by an act of
high troason on tho part of Huerta, and then he
elthor caused or pormitted tho assassination of
Madoro and tho vico-prosidont, so that tho way
was open for his capture of tho presidency. He
wired Presidont Taft, "I have overthrown this
government." Ho then proceeded to coerce tho
congress into going through tho farco of select
ing him provisional president, and later deposed
congress and assumed and exercised as complete
a despotism as wns ovor sot up. Afterwards ho
wont throughf)the form of conducting an elec
tion and electing himself.
THIS IS THE RED-HANDED TYRANT
WHOM MR. HUGHES WOULD HAVE RECOG
NIZED AS THE HEAD OF A NEIGHBOR RE
PUBLIC. Huerta represented tho "GOVERN
MENT," but not THE PEOPLE, just as a horso
thief may represent a Btolen horso, but not right
or Justice. And who desired tho recognition of
Huorta? Tho EXPLOITERS, MEXICAN AND
FOREIGN. Thoy wore as indifferent as Mr.
Hughes to tho bloody and traitorous methods
mployod, and as indifferent to tho interests and
wishes of tho pooplo whom both Huerta and tho
exploiters ignored.
Tho American pooplo will prefer the so-called
"wrong-hcadedness" of tho Presidont to com
placency of a candidato who would overlook
both morals and tho principles of representative
Covornraont in order to glvo tho exploiters a
"strong" man to kill off all who protested
gainst tho rape of thoir government and tho
spoliation of thoir country.
W. J. BRYAN.
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HUERTA'S TmiRGRAM TO TAFT
."FORCE ACCOMPLISHES NOTHING PERMA
NENT" "Force accomplishes nothing permanent,"
ays the President, and tho Chicago Tribune
goos Into editorial convulsions. By tho way,
the Tribuno might toll its readors what effect
the Intervention which it advocates,would have
on sisal in Y,ucatan, and what interest tho
Tribune has i, he Harvester trust and binding
twine.
Mexico City, February IS, If 13.
(YUt Galveeton.)
His Excellency, the President of the
United State, Wm. H. Taft,
Washington, D. C.
I have tho honor to inform you that
I havo overthrown this government. The
forces are with mo and from now on
peace and prosperity will reign.
Your obedlont servant,
VICTORIANO HUERTA,
Commander-in-chief.
e
THOMAS. M. PATTERSON
In the death of Hon. Thomas M. Patterson of
Colorado tho nation loses one of its ablest and
most courageous public men, tho democratic
farty one of its wisest and most trusted ad
visors, the west ono of Its most devoted friends
and champions, and Mr. Bryan ono of his most
esteemed personal and political friends. Tho
passing of beloved co-laborers is tho darkest
shadow that clouds political life. Tho - Com
moner extends its condolence to tho bereaved
family of tho deceased.
W. J. BRYAN.
DH'LOMATS NOT UNDER CIVIL SERVICE
Mr. Hughes charges this administration with
appointing "inexperienced" democrats in the
placo of "experienced" republicans, and prom
ises that ho will never, no never, be guilty of
such reprehensible conduct. Let it bo remem
bered: 1st That AMBASSADORS AND MDNf
ISTERS ARE NOT UNDER THE CIVIL SER
VICE. Their resignations are constructively in
tho hands of the President. 2nd. These posi
tions can not be put under the civil service
without an lndofensiblo aping of the monarchial
system. No civil service examination will dis
close whether a man has the discretion neces
sary for such a position, and training as secre
tary does not necessarily develop it.
3d. Tho diplomatic official is the personal
representative of the President in his dealing
with foreign countries, and it is much moro im
portant that he shall bo loyal to the administra
tion and in sympathy with its policy than he
shall bo experienced in court customs. He can
soon learn tho social customs of the court to
which ho goes, but he can not soon acquire loy
alty to a presidont of tho opposite party, or
sympathy with his policy.
If Mr. Hughes is elected it will not take him
long to accept the resignation of democrats and
appoint republicans In sympathy with the new
president and his dollar diplomacy.
It must bo remembered . that after sixteen
years of republican rule President Wilson found
diplomatic service full of republicans, appoint
ed for political service rendered. Neither rea
son nor precedent required him to make these
unsympathetic men his personal representatives
to carry out his policies.
If it ever occurs to Mr. Hughes to be fair he
might give a list of the republicans holding
prominent diplomatic positions and tho reason
for their appointment, together with a record
of their diplomatic experience before appoint
ment. Why was Mr. Reld appointed to London,
Mr. Leishman to Berlin, Mr. Herrlck to Paris,
Mr. Kerens to Vienna and Mr. Guild to St
Petersburg? w. J. BRYAN.
The national publicity bureau of the repub
lican party says that If it is possible to secure
an adjournment of congress before the passage
of tho proposition Involving government owner
ship of certain lines of business "tho American
peoplo will see to it that business men are
placed in charge and that government activities
are confined to proper functions of govern
ment." Which, we assert, is a rather bald dec
laration that If the republicans are again given
the reins the old ideas of Mark Hanna will again
be in effect. How do the plain folks like that
arrangement?
If one wore to place entire faith In the in
terviews with those manufacturers who insist
that a restoration of the old Payne-Aldrich
tariffs is necessary, he would feel that their en
tiro concern was about the poor factory work
ers; but if ho heard what they say to their con
gressmen on the subject they would gain the im
pression that it was their business that was go
ing to rack and ruin because the government has
stopped subsidizing them.
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Copies of The Commoner may ho so
cured by individuals or campaign com
mittees where desired for free distribu
tion as campaign literaturo at tho special
rato of 2c per copy, and will be mailed
in bulk to ono address or to separate
addresses. ttW
0000000
The Income Tax
Amendment
The taxation of Incomes is possible because of
an- amendment to the federal constitution
adopted in 1913, specifically authorizing such a
tax, and the democratic party deserves a laree
part of the credit for securing the adoption of
this amendment. The revenue law of 1894
passed by the democratic congress, contained an
income tax provision, a flat rate of two per cent
being assessed against all incomes in exceqa nt
$4,000.00. 0I
This law was declared unconstitutional by a
divided court 6 to 4 one judge changing his
decision between the two hearings of the case
In 1896 the democratic platform declared in
favor of an income tax and the demand was re
peated In 1900 and 1908. The platform of 1908
demanded an amondment to' the constitution
specifically authorizing an income tax The re
publican platforms during those campaigns were
silent on tho subject and in ihe campaign of
1908 tho republican candidate announced his
opposition to an amendment, giving as his rea
son that IT WAS NOT NECESSARY. He con
tended that an income (ax, if needed, could be
collected by a statute properly drawn. The re
publican candidate was elected and then fol
lowed a peculiar situation which illustrates tho
Influence of unexpected circumstances. The
democrats in tho senate took the president at
his word and prepared an income tax amend
ment to the Aldrich bill and secured the sup
port of enough progressives to insure its adop
tion. To defeat a STATUTORY income tax,
Senator Aldrich prevailed upon President Taft
to. recommend the VERY CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT WHICH IJE HAD- DECLARED
UNNECESSARY, and the democrats, already
committed to an amendment, accepted this solu
tion of the situation and the amendment was
submitted.
The republican leaders did not expect the
amendment to be ratified. President Taft made
no effort to secure ratification, and the
PRESENT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE, MR.
HUGHES, THEN GOVERNOR OP NEW YORK,
SENT A MESSAGE TO THE LEGISLATURE
PROTESTING AGAINST RATIFICATION. But,
to the surprise of republican leaders, the states
ratified the amendment and it is now a part of
the constitution, its validity being attested by a
unanimous decision of the supreme court. Here
is a great reform which has made it possible to
transfer a large per cent of federal taxation from
consumption to incomes from the overburdened
masses to those who have been escaping their
fair share of the expense of government.
The democratic party, having labored to se
cure the amendment, has been prompt to take
the advantage of the opportunity it offers to do
justice to the common people in the matter of
taxation. Surely the democratic party deserves
tho gratitude of the public for its sturdy defenso
of their rights and interests. PRESIDENT WIL
SON, THEN GOVERNOR OP NEW JERSEY,
WAS ONE OP THE STATE EXECUTIVES WHO
OFFICIALLY URGED THE RATIFICATION OF
THE INCOME TAX AMENDMENT.
W. J. BRYAN.
Big business is always sensitive to profits, and
they say that big business is against Wilson. Big
Business Is now enjoying larger profits than it
has ever had before. Any larger profits will
necessarily come from the consuming classes. If
big business isn't satisfied with its present
profits, what protection will tho consumer have
if it elects its candidate for president this fall?
Thoso republican editors who were so very
sure that the President was bent upon thrusting
war upon Carranza because he believed that
such a step would be necessary to insure his re
election are now writing crisp editorials to ex
press their opinion that Mr. Wilson's peaceful
solution of the Mexican problem is traceable to
the President's belief that he could not be re
elected if he plunged the nation into war.
A progressive newspaper man in the market
for a plant with 4,000 daily circulation, doing
over $50,000 business annually, only democratic
paper in a fine county, beautiful county seat
town of 8,000 population, might find just what
he wants by addressing No. 144, The Commoner.
