The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923, November 06, 1903, Image 1
-"rriy'xrw" -- , --jTifcn--! rr-ppwm-s 5V JHPAT" 1 -n'iifi iftwyip i jjuymw - Commoner M T ., WILLIAH J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR, i ; Vol. 3. No. 42. Lincoln, Nebraska, November 6, 1903. Whole No. 146;. mmmmmmtmmmm The A SOMERSAULT. Speaking of the tariff question, Mr. Roosevelt said: "It is exceedingly undesirable that this (the protective) system should ho destroyed or that there should be violent and radical changes therein. Our past experience shows that great prosperity in this country has always come under a protective -tariff." Those who have read these remarks of Mr. Roosevelt may be interested in reading something Mr. Roosevelt wrote in his "Life of Thomas H. Benton." On pages 66 and 67 of that book, it will be fpund that Mr. Roosevelt wrote the fol lowing: "The vote on the protective tariff law of 1828 furnished another illustration of the sol idarity of the west. New England had abandoned her free trade position since 1824, and the north west strongly for the new tariff; the southern seacoast states, except Louisiana, opposed it bit terly; and the bill was earned by the support of the western states, both the free ad the slave. This tariff bill was the first of the immediate irri tating causes which induced South Carolina to go Into the nullification movement. Benton's atti tude on the measure was that of a good many other men who, in their public capacities, are obliged .to 'appear as protectionists, but who ck. his franYnessTn stating their reasonsr-Heutterly disbelieved iri and was opposed to the principle of the bill, but as It had bid for and secured the in terest of Missouri by a heavy duty on lead, he felt himself forced to support it; and he so announced his position. He simply went with his state, precisely as did Webster, the latter, in following Massachusetts' chapge of front and supporting the tariff of 1828, turning a full and complete somer sault. Neither. the one no- the other was to blame. Free traders are apt to look at the tariff from a sentimental standpoint; but it is in reality purely a business matter, and should be decided solely on grounds of expediency. Political econ omists have pretty generally agreed that protec tion is vicious in theory and harmful in practice; but if the-majority of people in interest, wish it, and it affects only themselves, there Is no earthly reason why they should not be allowed to try the experiment to their hearts' content. The trou ble is that it rarely does affect only themselves; and in 1828 the evil was peculiarly aggravated on ' account of the unequal way In which the pro posed law would affect different sections. It pur ported to benefit the rest of the country, but it undoubtedly worked real injury to the planter states, and there is small ground to wonder that the irritation over it in the region so affecte'd should have been intense." Mr. Roosevelt seems to have "turned a full 'and complete somersault." As the author of the "Life of Thomas H. Benton" he declared that "political economists have pretty generally agreed that protection is vicious in theory and harmful in practice," but as president of the United States, he insists that it is exceedingly undesirable that the protective system be destroyed. As the author of the "Life of Thomas H. Ben ton," Mr. Roosevelt said that while in 1828 the tariff "purported, to benefit the rest of the coun-, try, it undoubtedly worked real injury to the planter states and there is small ground for wonder that the irritation over it in tho region so affected should have been intense;" but as presi dent Mr. Roosevelt declares that "our past ex perience shows that groat prosperity in this coun try has always come under a protective tariff." JJJ BUT HE FORGOT MILES. When an order was issued transferring Gen, H. C. Corbin from tho W? department to the command of the eastern division, Mr. Roosevelt took occasion to pay a high tribute to Corbin. Recently Captain R. B. Bradford, chief of tho bureau of equipment of tho navy, gave up his bureau position to go. on sea duty, and Mr. Roose velt took occasion to ray Captain Bradford a high and doubtless entirely deserved compliment But when General Nelsc-i A. Miles retired from the head of the army after forty years of faithful service," he was permitted to go into pri vate lifo without one word c commendation from the president He was dismissed with a cold blooded order Issued and signed by one of General Miles' discredited subordinates. It is not surpris ing that Mr. Roosevelt is being severely criticised, even at this day for his evidently deliberate snub to one of America's greatest soldiers. It is strange nhMrrboTSftcW'so small a premium upon tho intelligence of tho American people that, after his friends had undertaken to explain the Miles' snub on the ground that the customary or der had been issued, the president goes out of his way to pay a high tribute to two other officers neither one of whom performed service at all to be compared, with that rendered by General Miles. It Is not difficult to understand the statement made by one Washington correspondent, who said: "Among old soldiers the language used in criti cising Mr. Roosevelt is bitter. They regard the Bradford incident as proof that it was personal enmity alone that prevented tho president from saying something commendatory to General Miles when the latter gave up command of the "army after forty-two years of honorable and distin guished service." JJJ The "Syren." A quotation recently appeared in The Com moner in which reference Was made to the "Syren" as "the organ of tho steamship trust." This was an injustice to the "Syren," which, as a matter of fact, is a fearless and thorough going anti-steamship trust organ and Is opposed to every other kind of a trust The Commoner regrets that an injustice was' done the -"Syren" and takes this method of cor recting the error. JJJ Time Was Limited. Tn sneaking of corruption in politics, Cleveland could not, of coi'-se, go into dotal but if time had permitted he might have explj i. nnnninttTKnf nf Mr. van Alan in return re a ma oi.fiw" - -- fifty thousand-dollar campaign contribution. He might also have mentioned the Havemeyer con tribution to his campaign fund. : THE BENNETT WILL Mr.A On another pago will be found a copy of Mr. Bonnott's lottor to Mrs. Bennett, establishing ft trust la favor of Mr. Bryan or suoh educational or charitable Institutions as he should select, to gether with a copy of Mr. Bennett's letter to Mr, Bryan on the samo subject These lettcra will be found following Mr. Bryan's argument delivered before tho probate court of New Haven, Conn., Monday evening, October 26. As he la that argument could only deal vlth the fnctii as they had been brought out in the evldenco, thla additional statement is given to the renders of Tho Comraonor in order that they may be able to co.nsidor the case on Its merits and not ba com pelled to rely on the misrepresentations of un friendly newspapers. Mr. Phllo Laerman Bennett, of the New York wholesale firm of Bennett, Sloan & Company, lived at Now Haven, Conn., and was a democrat I elector in tho presidential campaigns both of 1891 and 1900. Just before tho election of 1890 Mr. Bennett wrote a letter (which Mr. Bryan did not receive until after tho election) telling of his deep Interest In tho campaign just drawing to a closo, expressing gratitude to Mr. Bryan for his work and saying that he desired to give him $3,000 in caso-,of his defeat. Before answering Mr. Bryan Inquired whether he was Interested In any silver mines, and finding that "io was not, accepted the sum, which was paid, $1,000 In 1897, $1,000 In 1898, - and ?1,000 in 1899. In 1900 Mr. Bennett voluntar ily gave ?800 moro, of which sum $300 wa:j given at tho time of the drawing of tho will. After this manifestation of friendly interest (begun when his acquaintance with Mr. Lryan was so slight that the latter could not have Identified him on the street) they met and corresponded, and Mr. Bennett proved himself to be in full sympathy with the democratic platform of 1890 and with tho efforts put forth by Mr. Bryan in defense of tho principles set forth In that platform. The ac quaintance ripened into a close personal as well as political friendship, and Mr. Bennett always met Mr. Bryan when the latter thereafter had oc casion to visit New York. Their conversations and letters covered a period of nearly seven years. In April or May of 4900 Mr. Bennett made an ap pointment to visit Lincoln Neb., and when he ar ' rived, produced a former will and certain memor anda to be used in the drawing of a new will. He desired to incorporate in this new will a be quest of 50,000 to Mr. Bryan. The campaign of 1900 was just opening, and as it was certain that Mr. Bryan would be renominated and, as he thought that it was probable that he would be elected, he told Mr. Bennett that he would not need the money in case his candidacy was suc cessful. The latter suggested that he would prob ably need the money more if elected than Jf de feated. He was informed that Mr. Bryan did not desire to accumulate money beyond an amount sufficient to protect himself against want In old age and to protect his family in case of a break down in his own health, and knowing that Mr. Bryan would not accept the money unless at the time of his (Mr. Bennett's death) he needed it, he requested Mr. Bryan to distribute among educa tional and charitable Institutions any part of. tht .r V lVTt.t..'i