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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (April 5, 1901)
MTy.'-t i" ft? ' I'WTPSfw ' The Case of Mr. Wells. In order that tho readers of Thr Commoner may bo fully informed as to ilio paper's position iu tho St. Louis fight, tho following letter is given in full: Mr. S. M. Ryan, Chairman of tho Executive Com mittee of tho Workingmen's Bryan Club, St. Louis, Mo. Dear Sir: I am just iu receipt of your invitation to address tho meeting to be held by your club tomor row evening'. It would be very inconvenient lor me to leave homo at this time, oven if I felt justified in mak ing speeches in your municipal cumpaign. As editor of Tins Commonkk, and as a democrat believing in the Kansas City platform, I thought it my duty to point out the scheme of which Mr. Wells' nomination is a part. After stating tho facts and giv ing to thoso facts the only construction which seems reasonable, 1 am willing to trust the democrats of St. Louis to exercise their own judgment as to what should bo dono. TuiB Commonkh in its issue of March 15th charged, first, that Mr. Wells had left the democratic party in 1800 and had opposed tho national ticket of that party in 1800 and 1000 and, in addition thereto, had opposed the Congressional ticket of the party in 1808; second, that Mr. Wells had never, since his desertion in 1800, announced his purpose to return to tho democratic party or to give support to the platform or candidates of tho party. Those charges have not been denied by Mr. Wells or his supporters. Tho only answer made by tho Re public is that the present election is a local one, and that local candidates should not be judged by their opinions upon national questions. In its issue of Saturday, March 33d, tho Republic says: Mr. Wells was nominated in St. Louis, in order that independent friends of good, government could unite with democrats in rescuing that municipality from the reckless rulo of selfish and incompetent gangsters. Democratic loaders met in conference with inde pendent leaders. After canvassing the situation tho two sides agreed that Mr. Rolla Wells, known to all citizens as a man of incorruptible in tegrity, flawless courage and absolutely inde pendent judgment was tho best candidate. It seems from this that the nomination of Mr. Wells was pre-arranged at a conference of certain "democratic leaders" (names not mentioned) and 'cer tain "independent leaders" (names not mentioned). If tho names of: these independent leaders were known the public could better decide whether they insisted upon Mr. Wells because of his personal qualities or because of his views upon national questions. It would bo unjust to tho democracy of St. Louis to assume that no real democrat was "known to all citizens as a man of incorruptible integrity, of flaw loss courage and resolutely independent judgment," and it would be equally unjust to the "democratic leaders1.' to doubt that they preferred a democrat of conviction to a republican like Mr. Wells, with democratic antecedents, It is plain, therefore, that the "independent leaders" (names unknown) refused to support a democrat and that tho "demo cratic loaders," after much hesitation of course, were compelled to accept Mr. Wells in spite of his well known antipathy for democratic principles. My contention is that whenever it becomes neces sary for democrats to assist in nominating a candidate who is not a democrat, ho should bo nominated upon an independent or uon-partizan ticket and not upon a democratic ticket. As the "independent leaders" (names unknown) captured tho conference they ought to have nominated Mr. Wells as an independent candi date and then tho democratic convention could have endorsed him as an independent candidate or could have made a nomination of its own. Tho "independent leaders" (names unknown) first captured tho democratic leaders and then captured tho democratic convention. If Mr. Wells is elected they will have captured tho city, and with that as a base can proceed with their contemplated work of capturing the state. If the democrats of St. Louis think that their narty is dead, they, of course, have a right to turn The Commoner. the assets of the party over to the nameless independ ents if they desire to do so; but if they believe that the democratic party must be relied upon to restore the government to its old foundations and to protect the- people generally from the encroachments of or ganized wealth, they cannot afford to entrust the city government to a man who, unless entirely reformed, would use the patronage of the office to advance re publican policies. Just as long as democratic voters march up the polls and endorse the bargains made by conferences between "democratic leaders" and the enemies of tlie democratic party, just B0 lon& wiU democratic principles be assassinated and tho pur poses of tho party frustrated. It is unfortunate that the democrats of St. Louis have no opportunity to voto for a democrat running upon a democratic ticket. If they are not willing to vote for a republican running upon a democratic ticket, they can vote for a democrat running upon a munici pal ownership ticket, or they can follow the example set by Mr. Wells and his political associates and vote for a republican running upon a republican ticket. If Mr. Wells is elected, his victory will not only encourage the "reorganizes" throughout the country, but it will make it impossible for a democrat to be elected to office in St. Louis for years to come, for the "independent leaders" (names unknown) will then be in control and they will point to their succe'ss as evidence that it is necessary to nominate those who are not democrats. If Mr. Wells is defeated the "democratic leaders' will learn that it is more important to confer with democratic voters openly than it is to confer with "independent leaders" secretly. I have not discussed your local issues because I have no faith in tho sudden yearning of the "inde pendent leaders" (names unknown) to secure a good, honest and economical city government. At the con ference they demanded the nomination of a republi can as the condition upon which they would support the ticket, and the democratic leaders seemed more anxious to find a man whom the "independent leaders" (names unknown) would support than to secure a man whom tho corporations could not control. One of the most important duties of acity gov ernment is to make franchise holders, corporations and large property owners pay their just share of the taxes, and there is no reason to believe chat Mr. Wells, with his present environment, is especially fitted for this work. Yours truly, W. J. Bbyan. crt day opinion of Jefferson with tlic opinion ex pressed by liis detractors of one hundred years ago. The New England Democrat, published at Montpelier, Vermont, has resurrected the follow ing lines, written by a Phi Beta Kappa poet of Dartmouth College and printed in 1803: Cimmerian goblins brooded o'er the hour When here a wild projector rose to power; Delusive schemes distend whoso plodding brain, Whose philosophic robe debaucheries stain. He, weak in rule, inskilled in moral lore, In practice infidel, in spirit poor; Despised in person and debased in mind, At once the curse and pity of mankind; Pleased with his simple garb and atheist lore, Reviles the God his countrymen adore. Refined in insult, there we see him shed Theatric sorrow o'er the mighty dead. O then, then Heaven's indignant thunders slept; The shade was wounded and the virtues wept. No president, with the possible exception of Jackson, ever received so much abuse as Jeffer son, and yet what harm did it do either? If free dom of speech and freedom of tho press subject tho virtuous to undeserved criticism, there is some compensation in the fact that history is just. In the long run the victim of slander and malice is exalted rather than-injured by his enemies. Why Not Prosecute? One of the glass companies, in a letter written last February, says: "We are members of the National Window GlasB Jobbers Association, all of whom are selling at an agreed price, the only difference allowable to dealers being quantity of glass purchased, as a result of which dealers have the assurance that prices are being maintained by the various members of the association." Here is a trust that confesses that prices are "agreed" upon and "maintained" by the asso ciation. Why is this trust not prosecuted? Does it not violate the anti-trust law? Here is an un lawful conspiracy against the people of the "United States, why does the Attorney-General fail to bring suit? If a mail carrier opens a letter the whole force of the federal government will be employed, if necessary, to punish him although but one person is injured by his act; why are the authorities passive when an injury is dono to tho whole country? The republicans are amend ing the commandment so as to make it read: Thou shalt not stealon a small scale. Abuse of Jefferson. In another column will be found an estimate of Jefferson from the pen of Dr. Howard S. Taylor of Chicago. It was written for a Jeffer son day banquet, and is inoluded in his volume of verses. It is interesting to compare tho pros- Th Light of Jfferso. By H. S. Taylor. With bare, bowed heads and standing up "We lift a loyal loving cup And give tho name of ono "Who was the light of Freedom's host, Our father's pride, our country's boast, -A name we love, the name we toast, s " The patriot Jefferson! ' - , He came like Moses, sent of God, His pen, the wave-dividing rod That opened Freedom's way Out of the ancient, dark domain Of violence and fear and pain, Whore bigots rage and tyrants reign, - ' l Into the better day I Wide-minded, wise, and wisely good, --:' His lucid spirit understood The villainy of spoil; V That God Almighty never gave jj. One man, however wise and brave, The right to call another SLAVE - 4 And fatten on his toill ... He leveled up, he leveled down; The beggar's clout, the monarch's crown, He held as equal things; The children, playing by the door . Where dwell the unknown, humble poor, He knew might do and count for more Than any line of kings! His reverent eyes could always trace God's image in the human face; - .. And each man, great or small, Ho judged, alone, by moral worth And claimed for each, by right of birth, A chance to live on. God's green earth And share the hopes of all! ' Ho knew tho bulwarks of the State, The things that guard and make it great Lie not in brutal might; But in the force of free consent And honest statutes framed and meant -To foster labor, peace, content, Equality and right! Thus from his heart he sagely drew In lines of light, forever true, Our Nation's august Chart. Tyrants and robbers hato and fear That beacon thought so bright and clear, I'hat time and trial make it dear, To every freeman's heart! And so, we lift the loving cup With bare, bowed heaJs and standing up We give the name of one Who is our democratic boast, ', The Moses of our marching host, Whose name w love, whose name wo toast, The name of 'Jefferson! H If ffl - in V '' jiSh K u Jj-'Ui &!9t it