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The Commoner.
WILLIAil J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
91
Vol. 3.- No. 33.
Lincoln, Nebraska, September 4, 1903
Whole No. 137.
1.
Nebraska Convention
The democratic state convention hold at Co
'lumbus, Neb., August 25, was an enthusiastic
gathering. The Kansas City platform was reaf
firmed and state issues were met- and dealt with in
true democratic spirit Judge John J. Sullivan,
now chief justice of the Nebraska supremo court,
was renominated.
Judge Sullivan has made a good record and
has adhered to the rule which in his speech of ac
ceptance he laid down for the guidance of all
judges that the one thing above all others that
should characterize the conduct of a judge is "in
dependence absolute judicial independence."
The nominees for regents of the state uni
versity, "William 0. Jones of Adams county and
Dr. E. 0. Weber of Saunders county, aro good men.
Professor Jones is well known as an educator, al
though he is not now actively engaged in educa
tional work. He is a man of large experience and
an energetic student. Dr. Weber is a young man
who stands high among his neighbors; and should
these gentlemen bo elected, it may be depended
upon they will contribute materially to the wel
fare of Nebraska's great university.
Fusion between the two parties was accom
plished without difficulty. Indeed, the populist
convention had nominated Judge Sullivan before
the democratic convention at Columbus had
reached that order in the proceedings.
So far as the public welfare is concerned, no
comparison is to be made between the ticket
chosen at Grand Island and at Columbus and the
ticket chosen by the republican party. Several
weeks before the republican convention nominated
Mr. Barnes, for judge of the supreme court, it was
generally understood that Mr. Barnes was the
choice of the railroad lobby. Judge Sullivan did
not ask, indeed, did not desire a renomination;
but ho could not avoid the honor and it came to
him because the democrats and populists of Ne
braska recognize that it is important to the peo
ple of this state that Judge Sullivan be re-elected.
He owes his renomination to the good record he
has made during six years of faithful service on
the supreme bench of the state, and if the people
of Nebraska fail to indorse that record at the
polls, the people will in the end be the losers.
JJJ
A Cheering Sign, Indeed.
In an address delivered July 24 before the
Chautauqua assembly at Long Beach, Cal., Senator
Dolliver, republican, of Iowa, said:
"Our two charters of luerty, the Declara
tion of Independence and the constitution, are
more secure in the love of the world than
they have ever been. BotL have had to "fight
for mere existence through almost every year
of national life. The strength ' the notion
today comes from the very fact that these
lights have been made and they were well
made. For years slavery put to shame the
sublime declaration of human equality be
fore law, and now our attitude toward the
Chinese, the Indian and the negro puts it
to a new shame. I cannot believe that the
fathers intended to exclude any man or any
race. To do so I must disparage their minds
or hearts."
Commenting on and approving this statement,
the Des Moines Register and Leader, a republican
paper, declares that such sentiments "tend to ele
vate and broaden our conceptions of the future of
the republic." The Register and Leader adds:
"Ten years ago such a sentiment as Sen
ator Dolliver has voiced would have been a
. commonplace of American patriotism. It is
a sign of the. times that It is today a note
worthy utterance. There has been a tremen
dous retrograde movement in .the democratic
ideals of the country, and the old time 'rights
6f man' that has been a sort of American
shibboleth, is now a subject for debate It
is a cheering sign that a young and eloquent
champion like Senator Dolliver does not hesi
tate in the midst of tho present day clamor
about 'inferior races,' to recall tho people to
tho sturdy convictions of other days, and to
raise without hesitation tho standard of Abra
ham Lincoln."
When Senator Dolliver refers to tho Declara
tion of Independence as "a charter of liberty," ho
challenges tho attention of thoughtful citizens to
tho policies of tho republican party with respect
to "our new possessions."
When Senator Dolliver says ho cannot be
lieve that "the fathers intended to exclude any
man or any race" from "tho sublime declaration
of human equality before law," then Senator Dol
liver condemns tho republican policies.
Tho Des Moines Register and Leader says
that "there has been a tremendous retrograde
movement in tho democratic ideals-of the coun
try, and tho old time 'rights of man' that has been
a sort of American shibboleth, is now a subject for
debate." And yet this Iowa republican paper must
remember that the republican party is responsible
for this situation.
This Iowa republican paper says that "it is
a cheering sign that a young and eloquent cham
pion like Senator Dolliver does not hesitate in the
midst of the present day clamor about 'inferior
races' to recall tho people to tho sturdy convic
tions of other days, and to raise without hesita
tion thev standard of Abraham Lincoln." And yet
democratic orators and democratic newspapers
long ago reminded the people of the truths which
Abraham Lincoln sought U impress upon tho
men of-his time and recalled the principles to
which the American fathers appealed in tho strug
gle for their own liberties. And yet a., over tho
land republican newspapers had nothing but
sneers for these reminders and these suggestions.
It is safe to say, also, that while the para
graph quoted from tho Des Moines Register and
Leader may fairly serve as condemnation for tho
republican policies of today, if one were to ask
tho editor of the Register and Leader if ho ap
proves the war of conquest in the Philippines, if
he approves the policy of imperialism, if he ap
proves the un-American attitude which the re
publican administration has assumed toward the
people of the Orient, the editor of that Iowa re
publican paper would promptly answer that he
does approve of these things. And yet as a gen
eral proposition, he hails it as "a cheering sign
that a young and eloquent champion like Senator
Dolliver does not hesitate in the midst of. tho
present day clamor about 'inferior races' to re
call the people to the sturdy convictions of other
days, and to raise, without hesitation, the stand
ard of Abraham Lincoln!"
JJJ
Democratic Clubs Organized
Jefferson Democratic club, Philadelphia, Pa.;
membership, 49; Jas. B. Byrne, president
Democratic club, Buffalo, N. Y.; 100 charter
members; Judson B. Brown, president; Fred M.
Ferrow, secretary.
The Jefferson Democratic club of Cavanaugh,
Ky.; membership, 17.
The Democratic club, Whltesboro, Tex.; 75
members; D. B. Steed, president; W. S. Buster,
corresponding secretary.
W. R. Hearst Jefferson Democratic club, Far
go, Fla.; 46 members.
Cosmic Democratic society, New York, N. Y.;
50 members; Moses Siegel, president; Benjamin
Siegel, corresponding secretary.
JJJ
A college education is within the reach of ev
ery earnest and industrious young man and wo
man who will take advantage of The Commoner's
educational offer. Those interested are cordially
invited to write for particulars.
The Ohio Convention
The Ohio democratic stato convention mot last
weok. Tho platform adopted will be found else
where in this issue.
Tho platform contains inherent evldenco of
tho handiwork of Hon. Tom L. Johnson, tho nomi
nee of the convention for governor. It not only
puts tho party In that stato squarely on record in
favor of tho Kansas City llattorm, but commits
tho party to tho taxation reform measures which
Mr. Johnson has been urging.
Tho convention nominated Mr. John IL
Clark of Cleveland for tho United States senate.
Running qn tho platform adopto,. ho Is pledged
to the principles and policies indorsed at the last
national convention.
Whilo Mr. Johnson is tho gubernatorial candi
date lie is eyon more interested In the election of
a democratic legislature than In his own election
because the next legislature will elect a successor
to Senator Hunna and will also havo to deal with
important questions of taxation.
The McLean element endeavored both to de
feat the nomination of Johnson and to mako the
platform colorless, and in tho campaign that cle
ment will throw every possible obstacle in tho way
of success, but with a platform that is honest,
definite and fearless tho party can appeal to those
honest republicans who are becoming tired of cor
poration rule In their own party. If tho demo
cratic party expects to win tho confidence and
support of earnest men it must show itself earn
est. Every reader of Tho Conunpier will bid God
speed to Johnson and those on tho ticket with
him. A victory in Ohio this fall w.ould not only
accomplish wonderful good for th people of that
state, but it would stimulate the party all over
the country and give an auspicious beginning to
tho campaign of 1904.
JJJ
Playing For Trust Support,
Every republican who Imagines that Mr.
Roosevelt Is really determined to "shackle cun
ning as in the past we have shackled force," and
that he is willing to stand for the people's inter
ests against the schemes or the financiers and the
trust magnates, should read the interesting dis
patch printed in the Chicago Record-Herald of
Monday, August 24, from Walter Wellman, IU
Washington correspondent
Mr. Wellman says: "Tho important point
and the new point is that President Roosevelt ia
behind this currency reform scheme pushing as
only he knows how to push. He organized and
promoted the eftort" And then Mr, Wellman
asks: "Why is President Roosevelt so much in
terested In currency reform 7"
Mr. Wellman's reply to his own question Is
so interesting that it deserves the widest possible
publication. He says:
"Mr. Roosevelt's masterly skill as a poll
. ticlan has been employed so successfully that
no one suspects he is a politician tho best
test in tho world. Having become the most
popular man In the United States and having
won the enthusiastic approval of tho masses -by
his fight upon the trusts and the corpora
tions, Mr. Roosevelt not long ago began to
cast about for methods by which ho might
even up. He had the people with him, but
the trusts, tho corporations, the financial lead
ers, the bankers were hostile. This hostility
was centered in New York. It chanced that
in New York and among these very people
there was a general and earnest desire for a
reformation of our currency system. The
president has gone in for that reformation
with his accustomed ardor and energy, and
it will not be his fault if the financial people
of New York do not soon ldok on him with
more favor."
It is generally understood t&at Mr. Wellman Si
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