VOL. 21PN0. 2
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The Commoner
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Hearing from the People
.Below wil bo found extracts from a few of the
many lottora rocolvod from Commoner readers
corhtnohtlng on -current events:
. Goo. Ji, Duis, North Dakota. I am In favor ot
i getting the Democratic voting machine ready for
service at once. It needs very little except a
change of engineers Tmmodiatoly after March
,4th. our leader fihonld get together and hoJd a
mooting in overy state, and resolve to bo i-ogres-sivo
and aggressive Domocrats and not any one
man party-Democrats. During the first Wilson
administration wo had a real Democratic pariy,
nd our presidonl appeared to have some con
iidonce in a few of our loaders. His second ad
ministration, surrounded by his socalled Republi
can frionds, was our Waterloo. The Democratic
party, including Bryan, made Wilson, and he for
got his party afid those who made him. How
over, tho Democratic party will survive. We will
come into power again; we must stand for pro
gressive principles. Thoso who want Simon Pure
conservatism are going to got it in big doses m
tho noxt two years. The big interests of our
country will bo in supremo command Wall
Street, the subsidized press, big business and all.
Any Democrat who subscribes to that kind of a
creed should join tho Republican party, and re
main there.
I have more respect for Mr. Bryan's judgment
on political questions than of any other states
man, If his advice had boon followed in tho past
four years, wo would have remained in power
indefinitely. I regret tho sacrifice of hundreds
of fine Democrats who were compelled tp go
down to defeat last November, and I want the
blame placed where it belongs. Mr. Bryan, it is
your bus'ness to put tho party on the right track
again. You are tho one man who can do it. I
am willing to lot you write our platform. The
Domocratic party has honored and trusted you.
and you have always been faithful to that trust.
Assume tho position now to which you areen
titled "Supremo leader" of the Democratic
hosts.
F. D. Iarrabee, Minnesota. In tho December
number of Tho Commoner, on the front page, in
an article, it is said: "The Commoner desires
suggestions from tho progressive, thinking people
of tho country as to what the Domocratic .plat
form should contain." I suggest that it contain
tho following:
1. A plftk favoring government ownership
and operation of public service corporations.
2.' A plank favoring a federal constitutional
amendment legalizing the taxation of the "un
earned increment."
E. W. Maxoy, Nebraska. It is needless to tell
you that I have followed your political career
with interest since your race with John M
Thurston for United States senator, and that I
have given you hearty support in each campaign
of yours since. I am anxious to see you asain
assume leadership of tho Democratic party
There may be other men in the Democratic Darty
as capable as you are but no one knows of them
vAs to tho policy the Democratic party should
pursue I cannot say how for it to map out a
policy in order to win. But-1 can tell the lead
ers of the party how they can inaugurate a policy
that will deserve to win. But the problem of
taxation is the greatest political issue before the
voters of America. Taxes may be levied so as to
"S0d rom s?ller t0 bW until they reach
tho ultimate consumer who pays all thP tnv
with an added profit on tho S in tho price
of the goods There is a tax, however, hat can
not be shifted. That is a tax on the value of
land. . Tho Ralston-Nolan Fedei a Revo m bill
K?P?8?f t(? taX land at on0 Pr cet of Ite value
for federal purposes. Exempting land owners
that have $10,000 or loss-in land values
The Ralston-Nolan bill would lessen the hnr
den on all legitimate business and therefore les
sen prices of commodities. It would put a fed
eral tax on idle city lots idle farm nii ,
and oil lands. Would enwuS'b SiTdiS S
discourage the holding of land out or use and at
the same time give a measure of justice to thn
overburdened public. juauce to tho
G. A. Kemp, Indiana.--Thin Wtoi. ?, ,
to vour inmiirv v n IB euei 1S n reply
asffisaw
tion and want to be in touch witt aVmovom
to that end in nuUon or this state I may be
of sonic service as a private in this Pipton;
county.
Wm. Matthews, Washington. Mr. Bryan has
wisely suggested that tho Democratic party s
present need is a set of sound principles- around
which it Can rally, then reorganize. Until th s is
done it makes little difference whether the de
mocacy reorganizes, succeeds or 'fails. For after
all, what tho real Domocrats siich as Mr. Bryan
want, are results! They care little 'for mere
party success, for th's alono may spell defeat tc
them. Permit me to suggest three principal
planks around which all Democrats should rally,
and with which we can accomplish great ser
vice to the country.
First And this should always be the first
proposition in all industrial and economic con
siderations a strong land plank. A land valuo
tax sufficiently heavy to prevent speculation in
natural resources, and kill land monopoly by
making it unprofitable to the holder. A tax
of i to 3 per ceni on the market value of ull
unused land, with a corresponding reduction
upon all homes and farm improvements, would
make an admirable starter.
Second Extend the public ownership of our
highways to include all steel highways, tho tele
graph, the telephone, and, in short, all ways of
communication, travel and freight traffic, in
which the principlo of monopoly now entis. -
Third Let the government assume another ot
its very important functions own and operate
all banks and control every detail of our na
tional and state financial system.
These threo simple, fundamentally sound
planks, would constitute a platform around
which tho party could confidently and enthusias
tically rally. The times are demanding a real ef
fective program, and the party that does organize
around such an anti-monopoly platform will soon
win a real subtantial victory. The Democratic
party is th.e logical party to take this stand and
by so doing will draw into its ranks all earnest,
patriotic citizens, and all third jparty movements
would quickly disintegrato.
Geo. A. Xiupton, Ohio. I notice in The Com
moner that you desire to hear from Domocrats
and others who desire to help reorganize tho
Democratic party on a new platform or'neW prin
ciples. I am willing to do ail I can to help along
in this matter and am willing for you to 'write
the platform. Am Sure you are more competent
to do it than any one else.
W. H. Hudson, Arkansas. I was wonderfully
pleased with your attitude in the presidential
campaign of 1920, even though have been a
Democrat all of my. life. The self constituted
leaders of that campaign received ample reward
for the hardships the people endured. ; The
slightest modicum of commonsense would teach
that a campaign predicated upon a foundation,
half humbug and the other half hypocrisy, could
meet with no other fate than disaster. Mr Cox
indulged in pure political buncombe and his
campaign was a flagrant offense against public
opinion. You were right when you said, "The
president laid the foundation and Mr. Cox built
the structure."
The real state of affairs in the nation are cri
tical and we must set ourselves to hunt out help
ful policies. Your suggestion "Get right and
then organize" is the last word of political wis
thT ub?i ates a sincere desire to safeguard
If the Democratic party is to bo rehabilitated
it must be done by the friends of democracy
and universal peace. Autocrats and war lords
can have no rightful place in its reinstatement
We need a leader who is a strong, vfctoriou
man, with a mind full of vigorous honefni n5
uplifting thoughts. We halo th abidrng con
sciousness that Mr. Bryan's public policy fc
nf foe "oV ovfl rlgHe ' J oC?ml
nig roe oi evil. He is the apostle of peace and
Bryan has faith in tio people and to SI . f
wmM count tor more than tne war 0ras aSS
JbteJ, the circumstances-of Ve casZy aU
and he is .one of the most nrominorif n,y . U
tial leaders of the DmStiewPty' POten"
A. C. Ruland, California. Don't von thii-
is about time for tHe millions of DenocravolS
ers, who have voted for you three -times lor tho
presidency, to oither withdraw from, tho party
and form an organization that will not bow to
tho "bosses of New York, Ind'ana and Illinois
and other oastern states dominated. 'and. con
trolled by Wall street and Tammany Hall?"
The people are ready to accept ?your leader
ship as they did in 1896, whe'n your-succeeded in
forming a platform of principles in the interests
of the people as opposed by corporations and
capitalism. We have often declared that the
same ''bunch" that "kn'fed" you in that cam
paign, werjB of the same identical gang that
"yelled" for Cox and voted for Harding. We
believe that you were "counted out" in 1896,
just as Tilden was in 1876, and Grover.Cleveland
in 1888.
The so-called leaders of tho Democratic party
in this state are too clOBely identified with tho
"false alarm" Hi Johnson to have any influence
in state or national politics. I have rjeived
circular letters from them, ever -since Johnson
has been governor and senator, advising me to
vote the "progressive" ticket. I refused to obey
their advice, but voted for Curtain, Woolwine
and Heney each time they were candidates on
ttie tickot, and I think I am capable of telling
them to please send their "dope" to "suckers" of
the G. O. P. Johnson has cast aside, every pro
gressive principle for which he stood in 1912
in order to return to his first and only love th.9
G. O. P.
Fred S. Caldwell, Colorado. The present ox
cess profits tax should be changed so as to ef
fectively control profiteering and provide suf
ficient revenue for the economical and efficient
running of the government. The following plan
accomplishes this. Classify all business accord
ing to the hazard incurred by the capital invested
therein and make reasonable allowances for de
pletion in case of mines, oil wells, etc., to the
end that a fair and reasonable return on the in
vestment may be fixed for each claBS. This be
ing done, provide an excess profit tax sufficiently
high to absorb practically all income over and
above this fair and reasonable return. Of course,
this fair and reasonable return will be subjected
to the regular income tax, as are all incomes over
and above tho minimum which is exempt. To
illustrate the operation of such an excess profit
tax: Suppose we say that a fait and reasonable
return, that is, net income, in the retail mer
cantile business is 15 per cent. Then, as to this
business, I would provide a graduated excess
profit tax which would absorb 50 per cent of the
Income above 1 5 per cent and Under 2,0 per cent,
75 per cent of the income above.20 per -cent and
under 25 per cent and 95 per cent of all income
.above 25 per cent. Since the merchant could not,
under such a law, keep any considerable part of
his excess profits, he wo'uld naturally so conduct
his business as not to make an excess profit. In
rn?!!8' ne would 0 Profiteer, For that
reason the measure would not produce a very
TS alrmXe' He,nce' !t woul(i be necessary to
impose a gross sales tax sufficient to raise the
necessary revenue, say a tax of 1 per cent. This
nnivCnn.8nmeA T?ld pay But he would pay It
only once. And he would not pay enormous ex-
Sr0"8 in ?d,dition t0 the tax,Vs heroes un
'lnYomyHenS laW' Interest demies, that is,
bSdlVSfT ?oney loaned or invested
the SL1 ! Uid aJS0 be classified according to
tomlSS fn?nvfl0,an a rsonable rate de
awaTby taxatio laS3' and 6 eXG0SS taken
crat Thf tn4f' IrVHana.I am not a Drnno
about to wrftff"16 t0 shov that What I am
want to nnmnui8 n0t a Dolitlcal admiration. I
In tLi BS ????' yU on hQins a statesman,
man w'0 hnv 5? knSrWJ you are nly states
Win? much Vf G United States That ls not
who know mna.l1,SOme persons uld say it,
JoUticiaS? t8 0Ur public I- We have
toe nlt5 n?af?fumer01!a t0 mention. More's
Oratory taOhriat n 1 y.U gave your gift or
ever do o?her wise B?t "t wUCh than you could
Ao discover tw i ut th ls a matter for you
jSst a wod of Z Ji8 n.? ultinate object in this,
just a word of admiration and appreciation.
DemotraScgpea?ty aanSPTOKte,? V"
ciple for a trV, ini ln, fra.mn a basic prin-
Bryan is th ml n??h,S' Wil1 say tbat w- J
tlJ i batt8nAmia?L h0r.. He-has fought
element that Vn i a&alnJt the reactionary
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