Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 24, 1902)
Commoner. 5 Oct. 3, 1903 M fM-' -j .rir ' ' - In a speech Senator Piatt of. Connecticut de clared: "We affirm that the 'tariff is the parent 01 prosperity. 11 mc aeuawk means prosperity that is con fined to a limited circle of men who refer to themselves aa "trustees of Gdd" in the monop olization of property, then feVrwill ho inclined to take issue with him. Monopoly Prosperity. A Delusion and a Snare. - r r t . Professor Zeuhlin in an address at the Min neapolis convention of mployers and employes, ' - referred to "the impudent and " Baer blasphemous and inefficient rep- " the resentative of the anthracite "Trustee. trust who proclaims himself the chosen of God." Professor Zeub lin's reference was complete and needed no dia gram in order to meet with full appreciation at the hands of his audience. The St Louis, Globe-Democrat says: "Neither the republican party nor President McKinley ever favored reciprocity on articles produced by American indus tries." Why then all this talk about reciprocity? What about Mr. McKinley 's Buffalo speech? Reciprocity Is self-descriptive, but accordfhgto the Globe-Democrat tne republican reciprocity pledge is a delusion and a snare. Eugene Foss of Massachusetts made a fight for s.the republican nomination for congress in the Eleventh district, took a bold Even stand in favor of radical tariff In revision and insisted that the riassachusetts. trusts should be deprived of tar iff protection. He declared for free Iron, free coal, and free hides. His opponent was a high protectionist and a bitter fight ensued "in the primaries, but Foss was nominated. The Washington Post has discovered that af ter all "the republican organization Is far from strength and harmony." It re quired considerable time for the Post to discover anything to the detriment of the republican or ganization, although the Post's proud boast is that it is a thoroughly independent newspaper. The Post might have discovered from the proceedings Of the republican congress that "the republican organization was far from strength and harmony." A Belated Independent." &yZy Some republican papers are indorsing the president's proposal for a tariff commission to which is to be assigned the duty Conggrcss of arranging the tariff "in ac Mlght cordance with present day neces- Act. sities." Congress is presumed to be a tariff commission. Why ,not have congress act? It is difficult to- escape the suspicion that the suggestion for a tariff commis sion Is advanced for"the" purpose of securing the delay for which the tariff sheltered trusts are so anxious. But Don't Forget History. The Chicago -Chronicle Yarn. he was authorized to mako this request by tho democratic national committee. Tho democrats who voted for General Weaver in 1892 did not do so for the .purpose of defeating tho democratic na tional ticket They did so at tho suggestion of the democratic national committee and for tho pur pose of aiding in tho election of tho democratic na tional ticket These are tho facts woll known to tho Chicago Chronicle, but that newspaper has never had the honesty to mako tho correction. Those who are acquainted with tho character of the Register and Leador will expect better con duct on the part of tho Des Moines paper. Bribe Civers and Bribe Takers. The St Louis Republic insists that tho bribe givers representing tho immense corporations of St Louis that corrupted tho pub lic service be punished. Accord ing to tho Ropubllc, tho bribe givers are "more guilty than tho brlbo-takors. It cannot bo doubtod that Circuit Attorney Folk will exert every effort to bring the bribe-givers to justice and it Is to bo hoped he will succeed, although it must bo con fessed that tho difficulties involved In tho situation-do not encourage tho hope that tho wealthy rascals will be made to suffer for their crimes. Mighty Poor Advice. Judge Wade, tho democratic nomineo for con gress in the Second Iowa district, advises tho democrats to "return to the teachings of Grover Cleveland." The democrats of tho United States have a lively recollec tion of tho disastrous results of Grover Cleveland's second administration. These things are so fresh in tho democratic mind that one must bo Impressed with the courage, to call it by. a polite name, of tho man who would advise tho democrats to return to the teachings of one who, while one of the greatest beneficiaries of the demo cratic party, proved to bo one of its worst enemies. VVNA In one of his speeches Mr. Roosevelt referred to the United States in tho plural. A Boston paper - took offense at this eminently In correct reference and the Pitts- tho burg Dispatch says: "It does not Plural. appear that the president did this intentionally, but if ho did he might justify it on two grounds. First, that the way tho constitution uses the term is good enough for him; second, that the Unitod States are plenty big enough to rival the sovereigns of Europe by describing themselves in the plural number." It will also probably appear on investigation that every lawyer who ha3 occupied the presidential chair has referred to the United States in tho plural. 'A Level Headed Democrat." The Keokuk Gate City, a republican paper, says: "It was the republican tariff law now on the books that wined out tho misery and discouragement en tailed by the Wilson bill that was enacted by a democratic congress and signed by a demo cratic president History so recent as this should not be forgotten at the polls this fall." The panic of 1893 occurred under the McKinley bill, a re publican tariff measure. The Wilson bill did not go into effect until August, 1894. "History so re cent as this should not be forgotten." The Des Moines Register and Leader, a repub lican paper that generally seems to be fair, says of Mr. Bryan that "in 1892 he voted for General Weaver, tho populist, for president rather than give his support to Mr. Cleveland." The Chicago Chron icle is responsible for this misleading statement and though the editor of the Chronicle has re peatedly been informed of his error he has reiter ated the charge. The truth is that in 1892 the democratic national committee urged democrats In Kansas, Nebraska, and other western states to vote for General Weaver, in order to insure demo cratic victory, the committee being under tho impression that the contest would be considerably closer than it was. In Nebraska James E. Boyd, then the democratic governor,- sent letters to democrats throughout the state asking them to "vote the Weaver electoral ticket and stating that Abram S. Hewitt, a man who, while having been honored by a number of offices at the hands of tho democratic party, refused to support the democratic na tional ticket In 189G and in 1900, has rushed into print on several occasions for the purpose of de nouncing the coal strikers and defending the coal barons. The Lincoln Journal, a republican paper, commenting upon Mr. Hewitt's defense of Baer and his associates, says that Mr. Hewitt is ''the most level-headed democrat In this country." In the view of republican organs the "level-headed demo crat" is the one who votes the republican ticket and cultivates republican habits. In this view, then, Mr. Hewitt is deserving of all tho compli ments he is now receiving from the republican press. ycy nurrell's Partial Atonement J. K. Murrell, the man whose confession re sulted in the expose of the St Louis boodlers, says: "I have been honest heretofore Jn all matters, and have done no man wrong, and thought I would not take a dollar from any person unlawfully, but the prac tice of the combine in the assembly in taking bribes was so frequent that I went along with the tide and did not realize the enormity of my offense and my conscience, was seared in that regard. No matter what happens to me, I will do all I can to aid tho circuit attorney in breaking up the boodle gang that has so long controlled af fairs In this city and to atone as far as I can for my awful mistake. I feel bettor and happier and my mind Is easier now 'than for months." An honest confession is good for the soul; and accept ing this statement in the spirit in which it seems to have been given, it may be said that Murrell' has done society so valuable a service that he will be justified in feeling that he has in part atoned for his great wrong. That Constitutional Amendmcn (Continued from Pago 3.) else such power in any manner not in con flict with tho laws of the United States. Sec. 3. Consress shall have power to en force tho provisions of this artlclo by appro priate legislation. It will be soon by tho language of this resolu tion that congress, by tho mere passage of a law, could havo assumed oxcluslvo power over trusts and monopolies and that states could not have ex orcised any power in that respect which in any manner conflicted with the laws passed by con gress. The bill was also intonded to strike a blow at labor organizations, and Mr. McCall, a republi can member from Massachusetts, on this account voted against the resolution. In explanation of his vote Mr. McCall said: "I Intend to voto against tho proposed amendmont to tho constitution which at most will koop tho word of promiso to tho ear, but break it to tho hope. . . . Let us not docoivo our selves about this proposition, 'iuls amondment is not simply aimed at trusts and monopolies, but it has application to every form of indi vidual combination, and In my judgment it confers upon congress a power to striko a most deadly blow at individual liberty. ... It in volves tho control of tho labor organizations of tho country, and of any co-partnorship or union of two or moro men for any business purposo whatsoever. . . . And what will be tho effect if we concentrate upon ono body of men tho control of moro than one-third of tho capi tal of the world, and all theso other tromon dous influences? Is there a gentloman on this floor who docs not believe In his heart that if this power Is conferred on congress, tho most corrupt and rottene3t place In tho universe will bo found right hero in tho city of Wash ington?" Although at tho time this measure came up for a voto there wore 357 mombora of tho house, tho measure received only 104 votes because its purposo was so plain that many republicans could not bo persuaded to vote for it s JJJ Lots of Five. The Commoner's "Lots of Five" proposition Is so familiar that it needs but little explanation. Tho plan was adopted for tho purpose of further ing the interests of democracy by Increasing the circulation and influence of Tho Commoner. The mission of this periodical is to discuss from a democratic standpoint all tho questions of public concern and to assist Insofar as possible in keep ing the democratic party true to its principles and its traditions. Tho "Lots of Five" plan has been successful to a gratifying degree. Upwards of 5,000 of The Commoner's subscribers havo ordered subscription cards, and tho Increased circulation thereby se cured has greatly widened The Commoner's sphere of influence. Subscription cards in "Lots of Five" are sold at the price of $3 per lot which is at the rate of CO cents a year for a single subscription. The purchaser of a "Lot of Five" will find it an easy matter to dispose of the cards at tho price paid. If you will undertake tlie work of selling one or more more of these "lots" you will bo un dertaking a work calculated to exert an influence for good in tho cause of democratic supremacy. You take no financial risk In ordering these cards because you may order them and remit to this office after you have sold them. If you will as sume the responsibility of selling one or more "Lots of Five" fill out the coupon printed below and mall to this office. APPLICATION FOR . "Lots of Five Sufcscripfiii Caris." Pubmbitkk Commoneh: Heaso send mo flvo uubecrlpttoa cards. I promise to use my utmost endeavor to sell theso cards, and will remltlor them at the rat ot CO cento each when sold. M Kama .' ;;..ih... rostomco ;. ;$r Count? EUto ;