The Commoner.
WILLIAH J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
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Vol. 3. No. 9.
GORMAN'S LEADERSHIP
As an exponent of democratic principles as set
rtk in the platforms adopted at Chicago and
msas City, The -Commoner chronicles "with re-
ret what may fairly bo considered the most im-
Srtant victory thus far scored by tiie reactionary
jment fn the democratic party, namely, the se
ction of Mr. Gorman as democratic leader in the
OBnate.
The senator from Maryland is a man of great
free and extended legislative experience. Prob-
jly no other man in "Washington is so well ac-
riainted with public men and parliamentary pro-
Towiure. Besides this, he is a man of exemplary
personal habits, of indefatigable industry and
' perfect self-control. In other words, he has most
ot the qualifications considered necessary for lead
ership and if his sympathies were only with tho
people ho would be an admirable man to speak
for the democrats in tho senate, but he fails at
rthe crucial point His record shows that he is too
fclose to the corporations and organized wealth
ijo be commander in chief of the democratic forces
fin the most influential branch of the national
legislature.
There is not a single reform for which Mr.
Gorman stands, nor is there a single remedial
measure which can be said to have his earnest
r
?and hearty support When the Wilson tariff bill
was before tho senate he was ono of the senators
who, by holding the balance of power, forced the
emasculation of the bill in the interest of the
manufacturers. In the fight for tho repeal of
itho Sherman law he acted with the republicans
fand is with them, still on all phases of the money
question. He has never said or done anything
0 indicate that he desires positive ata effective
Sinti-trust legislation. On the contrary, his en
vironment is such as to make it certain that his
'great influence will be used to stifle rather than
promote legislation aimed at tho trusts.
t
The Chicago Chronicle of last Friday contained
a dispatch from Washington stating that J. Pier
pont Morgan visited the capital the day before
and "saw a number of senators,, including Messrs.
Aldrich, Manna and Gorman." It does the party
infinite harm to haye as its leader in tho senate
a man on intimate terms with the most influen
tial trust magnate and money changer in the
"United States, for it gives tho lie to the party's
u promises of reform and places our organization
on the same level with the republican party.
How can we fight the grand larceny schemes con
cocted by Morgan and his associates if he and
our caucus chairman consult together at the capi
tal? No wonder the corporation papers hail with
delight Mr. Gorman's return to power and in
fluence. Public Opinion, in its last issue, cordial-1
ly commends the selection of Mr. Gorman and
says: "Republicans have been the first to admit
that the efficiency of the senate will bo increased
by Mr. Gorman's reappearance as the leader of tho
opposition."
The republicans would not be likely to ad
mit that the senate 'would be rendered more ef
ficient by an honest, earnest fight against their
policies. The fact that Mr. Gorman supported tho
ticket in the campaigns of 189G and 19Q0 is used
to answer objections from Kansas City platform"
Lincoln, Nebraska, March 20, 1903.
Whole No. 113.
democrats, and tho argument may bo satisfac
tory to thoso who regard regularity as tho only
test, but there is an important distinction which,
must bo drawn. A man who, without accepting
the platform, supports tho ticket can urgo his
loyalty as a recommendation if ho aspires to a
position where his views will not misrepresent
a majority of the party, but it is absurd to say,
that because a member of tho minority acquiesces
in tho will of tho majority tho majority should bo
willing to put him 'in a position where ho can
thwart the will of the majority. Since 1896 Mr.
Gorman has never lost an opportunity to reward
the men who deserted and helped tho enemy. Ho
may as well bo recognized as tho most potent of
all the men who aro now trying to reduce tho
democratic party to servile support of tho pro
gram arranged by organized wealth. On all
economic questions except the tariff ho is in
agreement with Mr. Cleveland, and on the tariff
he is even worse than Cleveland. Tho statement
that ho is going to unite the party in an attack
on tho tariff and the trusts simply means that ho
.favors a sham battle on these issues without
prospect or promise of interfering seriously with
the republicans.
There are in the senate a nunlber of strong
and vigorous representatives of sound demqeratio
principles and they will find it more and" moro
galling to march under the banner of ono who
stands for tho commercialism that is corrupting
politics and making money the measure of all
things.
The fight begun in 189C was not so much a
fight between gold and silver as a fight between
the beneficiaries of class legislation on the ono
side and the advocates of equal rights on tho
other, and that fight still continues. It would bo
fortunate if that fight only manifested itself in
the contest between the democratic and republi
can parties, but we might as well face tho fact
that to a lesser degree it manifests itself in our
party, and there is tho more reason why tho
friends of the Kansas City platform should bo on
the alert Instead of retreating, the party must
go forward and meet the new questions that aro
pressing for solution. Until tho reform element
regains control of the democratic organization in
tho senate that body will not only not help, but
will actually hinder the party's progress.
Unless there has been a complete revolution
in the views of several of the democratic sena
tors there will bo a protest against Mr. Gorman's
leadership and the sooner that protest is made
the better for the party.
JJJ
Czar Grows Democratic.
. On another page will be found ai. extract from
a decree recently issued by the czar of Russia.
It is an important document and marks an epoch
in Russia's growth. The Jews have suffered most
from religious Intolerance, but all religions will
bo beneficiaries of the liberty now allowed.
It is a great compliment to the United States
that the czar has copied our ideas of local self
government Here is a victory for our ideas a
peaceful victory more glorious by far than any
victories a colonial policy can bring us. The
czar's peace proposition indicated- a democratic
tendency and this decree shows that he is growing
as rapidly as his environment will permit
MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP
Municipal ownership of public utilities is rap
Idly growing in favor. A bill has been Introduced
in tho Now York legislature providing that at tho
next general election voters shall have tho oppor
tunity to pass upon tho question as to public
ownership of all municipal transportation llnca
and public ownership of municipal gas and elec
tric light plants. While it Is not generally be
lieved that this bill will pass at tbc present ses
sion, its introduction shows that a considerable
sentiment along this lino exists in New York and
it may bo depended upon that sooner or later
thoso who aro opposed to tho municipal owner
ship proposition will bo required to defend their
position before tho people.
Carter H. Harrison, mayor of Chicago, has
written for tho Record-Herald a vigorous and in
structive article on the subject of municipal own
ership. Mr. Harrison contends that municipal
ownership of public utilities contains the only
real solution of adequate service to the people. Ho
points out that many of tho cities of tho old
world havo adopted this plan and it ha3 proved
satisfactory. Mr. Harrison says that while a few
years ago this proposition was pronounced im
practicable, its correctness from tho, practical, as
well as tho theoretical, standpoint cannot now bo
soriously disputed. Ho maintains that in this day
municipal ownership is opposed only by thos.o' who
are prejudiced by ownership of stocks, bonds and
ether securities, and to all others than these mu
nicipal ownership presents the only common senso
method of handling a vexatious problem.
Referring to tho fact that after all other
efforts to distract attention from this plan havo
failed its opponents havo resorted to the cry of
"anarchy," Mr. Harrison says: "Whenever through
some attempt to glvo fair treatment to tho plain
citizen, the wallet of tho financier is touched, ho
flaunts tho red flag in an endeavor to frighten tho
innocent-minded."
Mr. Harrison well describes the situation when
he says:
"The franchise-holder has gone on enjoy
ing the untramraeled use of tho property of
the public so long that ho seems to have be
gun to look upon his title as tho king or em
peror looks upon his right to rule. For gen
erations the guileless public has made a small
handful of its fellows the beneficiaries of theso
franchises, either altogether without reciprocal
obligation or with obligations quite incom
mensurate with the advantages they have en
joyed. Public privileges have been used so
long for private gain that apparently to tho
franchise-holder's way of thinking the title
sprang originally from some species of divine
origin. The magnates of the street railways,
gas plants, telephone plants and other public
service utilities seem to claim thoir franchises
through a kindred grace of God. In short,
these grants have become the patents of no
bility of our moneyed aristocracy.
"For many years tho whole public has ac
cepted these conditions without a murmur.
Tho explanations can only be, it seems to mo,
that these franchises are held by the first citi
zens of the community. Their general re
putation for uprightness and fair dealing haa
served as a cloak behind which the schemer
and promoter havo worked secretly and In
perfect security. The slightest public clamor
has been stilled by the cry that to deny the
justice of tho claims amounted to inciting to
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