. i .YOLUME 4, NUMBER j,
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Opposition " to Roosevelt.
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K..ft.
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' tho cliolco between a republican senator and a
populist senator, a committco of democratic United
States senators, among whom wore Arthur .
Gorman and Jolin G. Carlisle, sent telegrams to
tho democratic mombcrs of tho Nebraska legisla
ture, urging thorn to unite with tho populists in
tho olcctlon of Senator Allen.
It will bo seen that tno democrats who voted
for tho Weaver electors in Nebraska In 1892 did
so at tho request of tho democratic national com
mittco, and aro not at all chargoablo with having
bolted tho national tickot when they acted on
lines presumable at that timo to bo favorablo to
tho tickot. A , ,
Tho chargo that Mr. Bryan went to Chicago
- In 1890 at thS head of a bolting delegation is also
preposterous.
Tho split in Nebraska camo in 1894. Tho cor
poration domocrats woro then in control of tho
party machinery in this state. Democrats who
had grown weary of corporation domination in
democratic party affairs organized for tho pur
pose of wfcBting tho party from corporation con
trol. Thoy succeeded and won tho democratic
utato convention by an overwhelming majority.
That convention was called to order by tho re
tiring chairman of tho state committee, who was
ono of tho gold contingent. Tho convention was
permanently organized, a platform was adopted,
and thon when tho convention, by a largo ma
jority, nominated for governor Silas A. Holcomb,
who had provlously been nominated by tho pop
ulists, a dozen men walked out of tho convention.
Th.oy repaired to a hotol room and on their way
gatherod up a half dozen nion, none of whom had
boon oloctod as dologates to tho convention. These
oightoen men, two-thirds of whom had bolted
tho democratic convention, and somo of whom
had novor oven boon dolegates, proceeded to or
ganize1 what they called "tho democratic party of
Nobraska."
Upon that organization these people held a
convention in 189G and chose delegates to the
democratic national convention.
Tho delegation which Mr. Bryan led was
vchoscn by tho regular democratic organization,
from which those pretenders had bolted.
The pretensions of these bolters were so
absurd that their claims woro promptly rejected
,, ,by tho democratic national convention, and that
was tho last heard of the organization built up
by thoso pretenders. It went to pieces, a few of
Its followers voted the regular democratic ticket,
while others went over to the republican party.
Many newspapers, notably the Cincinnati En
quirer and tho Now York World, have reproduced
tho falso accusations mado by tho Chronicle.
These and othor newspapers whoso editors claim
to have no disposition to misrepresent, ought to
see to it that tho truth with respect to these ac
cusations Is laid bofore their readers. The Com
monor does not, howovor, expect tho Chicago
Chronlclo to toll its readers tho truth. No false
hood is too absurd for tho use of the Chronicle iu
Its light against thoso whose views antagonize
tho special plans of tho great financier who hap
pons to own tho Chronicle.
JJJ v
Some "Hints" Omitted.
Cablegrams from London, under dato of Jan
uary 25, announced that Colonel Arthur Lynch,
who commanded an Irish brigade against tho
British forces during tho war in South Africa, and
who was afterwards convicted of treason and sen
tenced to imprisonment for life, was liberated "on
license."
Tho Associated press takes the pains to say
that
"The liberation of Colonel Lynch is tho
outcome of an interesting series oi! events
Wheu Michael Davltt was last In tho United
States, ho saw Presidont Roosevelt, who
mentioned Colonel Lynch to him and said ho
had ouco ontortained him at Albany Tho
president expressed interest in tho case and
regretted he could not suggest clemency with
out laying himself opon to a palpable snub.
On his return to England Mr. Davitt men
tioned his conversation with President Roose
velt to Sir Thomas Lipton and to Mrs, Lynch
who has suffered bitterly since her husband's
arrest. He also mado a pathetic appeal to Sir
Thomas, who thon personally Interceded with
King Edward on behalf of tho condemned fel
low Irishman. Without any hesitation his ma
jesty promptly iuformed tho homo secretary
of his wishes In tho matter, ana Lynch was
released,"
Many Amoricans will bo highly gratified be
cause of tho liberation of Colonel Lynch. Colonel
bynch was a British subject and while he fought
The Commoner.
with the Boers, becauso of his sympathy with tho
men who were fighting for constitutional govern
ment and against the impositions of a great pow
er, he was, nevertheless, guilty of treason to nls
own government. While wo may all be gratified
that Mr. Roosovelt gave a hint which resulted in
tho release of Colonel Lynch, we cannot forget
that Mr. Roosovelt failed to take tho several op
portunities to give a hint on tho side o2 the re
publics of South Africa that wero struggling for
existence. , . .
If Mr. Roosevelt could, with propriety, give a
hint in the caso of a man charged with treason,
could he not with even greater propriety have
said ono word in behalf of tho brave Dutchmen
of South Africa at the time they wero fighting
for their own government. Ono word at that
time from tho president of the United States
would have been of enormous value to thoso
people.
Even though he could not summon the cour
age to give a hint to tho British ministry at that
time, ho might have stood up in the open and
given a hint to his own subordinates, particularly
at the port of New Orleans. Ho mig&t have hinted
to those subordinates that the exportation of
horses and mules for tho use of the British army
in its warfare against the republics of South
Africa would no longer be tolerated.
But ho not only failed to give a hint that
America's sympathy was with the South African
Dutchmen in their fight for their own govern
ment, but he failed to discharge his duty in pro
hibiting tho exportation of horses and mules for
the use and benefit of tho British army; and it is
believed by many today thai without the horses
and mules which the British army obtained from
America, the warfare against the bouth African
republics would have failed.
JJJ
Monopoly on Monopoly.
A mining expert, said to be close to tho offi
cials of tho Standard Oil company, declares that
Rockefeller now controls the copper supply and
the copper markets of the world. The Chicago
Record-Herald, a republican paper, explains that
as a result of the litigation over the Heinze prop
erties in Montana and the "disturbed condition of
the market,', it is averred that. the Rothschilds,
who control the European copper agencies and
properties, have formed a combination with the
Standard, Oil company, which it is claimed hag se
cured "or intends to secure" the American pro
ducers and agencies.
Assuming that the copper supply and markets
have actually passed or aro about to pass into the
hands of the Rockefellers, the Record-Herald says
that "it is interesting to speculate for a moment
on tho colossal holdings of tho head of the great
Standard Oil trust." That republican paper adds:
"How much does tho 'silent czar Of Wall
street' own anyway? Financial experts and
authorities say 'Mr. Rockefeller's wealth is
about $250,000,000 yet when he first em
barked in the oil business ho was so poor ho
could not get credit for a carload of oil.
Rockefeller is a director in only four cor
porationsso -far as the world knows and
yet it is claimed that he dominates a hundred
and fifty. For twenty years the Rockefellers
have been putting their enormous dividends
from Standard Oil into railroads and other
properties. In addition to being the control
ling factor in many railroads John D. Rocke
feller Is heavily interested in Western Union,
United States steel, in New York elevated
roads, in iron mines in the northwest and in
lake transportation. No ono at this time
would undertake to mark the boundary lines
of his control in tho industrial world.
" 'The finest organizing brain of this gen
eration,' said the late Jay Gould in character
izing Mr. Rockefeller. Ho has not only ac
cumulated millions, but it Is said of him that
he never worked for a salary and has mado
a hundred men millionaires."
ft mIsM. also, be Interesting for the Record
Herald to speculate for a moment on the situa
tion, serious to public welfare, involved 'n tho
fact that ono man is ablo tc pile monopoly upon
S!!PSly ?S tt.accorita a former statement
made by the Chicago Record -Herald, it will bo
hut a few years when at tho present rate Mr
Rockefeller will count iho United States of
America as "merely one of his appurtenances."
n ; republican paper might also undertake
to toll the people what the republican nartvS
taone and what tho republican party proposes to
?nViPli ft checH Vpon th0 RockefellL tendec?
toward tho proprietorship of tho world and tho
complete domination of tho people .
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Tho San Francisco Chronicle claims that
among thoso who are opposed to Mr. Uoosevelt's
nomination aro "a largo number of active and
unscrupulous promoters and speculators who
thrive by the manipulation of stocks of doubtful
value, and who viciously oppose tho president as
an apostle of publicity in corporate affairs." Also
"Many of this class are rich and Influential. They
are important contributors to the campaign fund
of any paity whese candidates they approve, re
gardless of the platform on which they are run
ning." Also, "Unfortunately for them, the people
are for Roosevelt and determined to have lim,
and their reasons for wanting him are tho pre
cise reasons for which the opposition object to
him." Also, "The nature of the influences op
posed, to the president are so perfectly under
stood that they are regarded as J he strongest
evidence of his fitness for the great office. Tho
fact that Wall street gamblers refuse to contribute
to his campaign will bring to his support ton
times more voters than would be atttacted by the
fireworks and spell-binding which" -Wall street
money would pay for."
It will require considerable evidence to con
vince many people that these same influences will
not be found supporting Mr. Roosevelt in tho
event of his nomination; but it is interesting to
recall tho fact that in 1896 and in 1900, these samo
muuences were lined up In support of the re
publican ticket; we do not remember then to havo
heard any protest from the San Francisco Chron
icle or, indeed, from any other republican paper.
Men representing these influences were im
portant contributors to the campaign funds of tho
republican party in 1896 'end in 1900. Thoy were
lined up defiantly against the democratic party,
and we do not remember to have heard the San
Francisco Chronicle or any other republican paper
say that the reasons these men had for wanting
the democratic party defeated p'roided reasons
why the people should support that party.
The nature of the influences opposed to Iho
democratic party in 1896 and in 1900 are perfect
ly understood; but we do not remember the San
Francisco Chronicle. then to have said that that
provided evidence why the people should support
the democratic ticket.
The Chronicle need not, however, be aim mod,
If the democratic party remain true to its prin
ciples, if the democratic national convention shall
nominate a man upon whom the people may rely,
the Wall street gamblers will not refuse to con
tribute to Mr. Roosevelt's campaign fund. The
fireworks and the spell-drindirig will bo in evi
dence and the bill will be paid by the Wall street
gamblers.
';:w. jjj
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JJJ
The Only Answer.
' ?? e1NS? 70JF Worla W8 tnat Mr. Bryan has
iJ&a th thQ democratic platforms of i89G
and 1900 only "pretended to ho democratic, but
. wore framed not primarily to please democrats,
but to catch tho votes of populists 'and free silver
republicans." This recalls the conundrum pro
pounded by the little boy: "That girl's father
is my father, and her mother is my mother, but
she is not my sister. What relation is Bhe to me?"
The only answer to the conundrum is that tho
;boy told an untruth. Tho. -World's statement l
very similar to the boy.' oonundrumin . ,
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'mSksf. .: t. .-. most.
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