Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 27, 1905)
& ir y& t a I' r. - (?WV ' 2 ttttontion of tho peoplo away from economic ques tions. But tho plutocratic Influences grow and flourished with republican success. Now privileges wcro granted and now methods of exploitation in vented, with tho inovitablo result-an awakening of tho public to tho dangers ahead. Tho "stand pnt" element in tho republican party was strong enough In tho last convention to prevent tho adoption of a platform protest, and tho reactionary-element In tho democratic party was strong enough to eliminate, for tho time being, some of tho radicalism in tho democratic paltform. But noithor convention could stay tho growth of sen tlmont among tho people, and as a result tho democratic candidate, believed to bo oven more conservative than his patform fell a million and a quartor below tho democratic vote of 1900, and tho republican candidate, believed to bo more radical than his platform ran somo four hun dred thousand vo, s ahead of his party's vote four years boforo, while tho socialist party tho most radical party In tho held gained more than three hundred per cent in its vote. As comploto returns of tho election camo in, it bocamo evident that a great deal of independent voting was done. While Massachusetts and Minne sota went strongly republican, they elected dem ocratic governors. Peabodyism was overthrown in Colorado, and Folk carried Missouri in spite of the fact that tho electoral voto of tho state was given to Roosevelt. LaFollette, tho pioneer re former, was ro-olected governor in Wisconsin, in spito of tho opposition of tho corporate clement of his party, and in Michigan, Rhode Island, Ne braska, Kansas and Wyoming, tho democratic and fusion candidates ran far ahead of their national tickots. No aoonor was tho election over than signs of tho coming awakening began to multiply. One of tho most encouraging, was tho message of re tiring Governor Durbin of Indiana. Ho pointed out tho political corruption In Indiana, and called for a romody. Governor Adams of Colorado called attention to tho corruption of tho franchise in his state, and asked for remedial legislation . Governor Folk of Missouri, Governor Hanloy of Indiana, and Governor Moado of Washington, in their inaugural messages called attention to tho practices of tho lobby and to the evil of the rail road pass. LaFollotto of Wisconsin, Folk of, Missouri and Doneon of Illinois urged the passage of primary laws for tho purpose of giving tho "voters' in each party absolute control over tho party organiza tion, and Governor Folk went even farther and advised a return to home rulo in cities, pointing out the ovil effect of legislation which takes tho control of municipal affairs out of tho hand3 of tho people of tho city. Whilo theso recommendations wore being made in tho states, tho presidont signalized his olection by announcing his determination not to bo a candidato for another torm, thus putting him self in a position to act with independence and to prove his independence of party organizations ho recommended legislation to make public tho campaign contributions received, and ho also urged legislation onlarging tho scopo of the in terstate commerce law. In addition to this, ho has put himself on record in favor of a reduction of tho tariff where it shelters monopoly, and has given indications of an Intention to proceed more vigorously against the trusts. Whilo these things are going on in official circles, privato individuals have been pointing out tho excesses and ovil practices of tho Wall street financiers. Mr. Lawson, in his articles on "Fren zied Finance," In Everybody's Magazine, has shaken conlldenco in tho honesty of somo of the principal stock operators and has given tho pub lic needed Information in regard to tho methods omployed. Mr. Beardsley, in tho Era, has uttered a warning note against tho manner in which tho large insurance companies manipulate, for their own advantago, the .assets which they hold in trust. Miss Tarbell has given us a history of tho criminality of tho Standard Oil trust, and Mr Bridge has rovoaled tho inside history of tho steel trust. Court Investigations have contributed to the general information upon the subject and cast suspicion upon tho integrity of some of tho chief promoters. All of these disclosures tend in tho samo direction-namely, toward tho purification of politics and the bringing of tho government nearer tho people. "Back to tho people ta expression that is being heard with more and more frequency, it is evident that the d ocrati party, cured by soro experience of its IncSnn SUSSTTSS TeLcmSnetdobby ? rod of a" ttht for the supUo(J IVXVT The Commoner. management and in public affairs. Renewing its trust in tho masses, as taught by Jefferson, and acknowledging tho spirit of democracy as exem plified by Jackson, it will in tho next campaign bo in position to do yeonian service in behalf of tho common people. Tho republican party, on tho other hand, is entering upon tho struggle through which the dem ocratic party has passed successfully. There is a reform element in tho republican party, a3 well as a plutocratic element, and this reform element is now marshalling behind the president. Let no ono imagine that tho contest is going to lack ex citement. Just in proportion as the president at tempts to protect the rights of tho people will ho bo called a demagogue, a disturber of tho peace, and, possibly, an anarchist. Those who support him will bo accused of taking up with populistic doctrines, democratic doctrines, and socialist doc trines. Let them not be dismayed. This is tho path which all reformers must travel; these are tho obstacles which all must meet The demo crats ought to support the president in every at tempted reform. They ought to do it because it is right to do so, and they ought also to do it be cause party expediency requires it. The republi cans may resent this support, and use it as an argument to keep republicans away from him, but they may as well recognize that the trend is now back to the people. The corporations can delay the movement. They can for a time defeat those who join the movement, but the movement will succeed. There is more virtue in the people than ever finds expression through representatives, and the time is ripe for the summoning of this virtue to tho country's rescue. The primary law takes the party out of the hands of bosses and corporate repre sentatives, and puts it in he hands of the voters of the party, and these voters, whether they be republicans or democrats, or members of somo other party, want good government. The people trust themselves, and when they understand tho situation they trust those who trust them. Gov ernor Pingree once declared that the reformer must como from a long-lived race, because of tho patience demanaed of him and the length of the struggle through which ho must pass; but happily reforms do not depend upon any one per son. As in an army, so in political warfare, the death of a leader is simply a summons to tho. one. next in line to take his place. The conflict goes' on and the great fighting force i3 not made up of leaders, but of tho rank and file. The reformer Is abroad in the land, and "Back to the people" is his inspiration. The reformer must necessarily appeal to tho people for he acts in their interest, and can secure help fro: no other source; At last the people rule. Let democrats take courage; they have passed through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Let republicans as they enter the Valley remember that they, too, may ultimately emerge from it, if they will but make their party the champion of human rights and popular government, rather than the tool of corporate greed and predatorv wealth. JJJ An Independent College The press dispatches have called attention to the fact that Mr. Bryan has just been chosen presi dent of the board of trustees of his alma mater Illinois college, located at Jacksonville, Illinois' The dispatches have also announced that at the same session of the board of trustees at which ho was thus honored a resolution was adopted pro viding for a termination of the agreement entered into a few years ago between Illinois college and the Chicago University-the institution which Mr. Rockefeller is backing. This agreement gave the Chicago institution a partial supervision over the studies taught at the college. Believin- that his alma mater ought to bo independent of tho Rockefeller influence and free to teach economic truth without fear or favor, Mr. Bryan oppSTho agreement and declined to be officially connectpS with Illinois college while the objectionobS "re Na tions continued. It goes without saying that ho X gratified to have his college freed from any sus picion of plutocratic influence and ho hopes that those who are opposed to the subsidizing of our nstitutions of learning by the monopolists wS lend encouragement to this splendid old colleee wheh has had the courage to put its trust in the Plain people. It deserves well of the public I? you have a boy to educate you can send im to II nois college with the assurance that his mind will not be biased in favor of organized wealth bv teachers who receive their daily bread fnmtK hands of the beneficiaries of the trusts No col lege can do Its full duty to the rislngatTon .VOLUME 5, NUMBER 3 so long as it tries to so shapo its course of Instruo tion as to plea3o tho unscrupulous exploiters who infest tho commercial highways and plunder tho passersby. In the great struggle between the neo pie and intrenched privilege the people are entitled to the championship of college bred men, and it la a pity that more of our colleges do not take the in. dependent position which Illinois college has as" sumed. On another page will be found a picture of the campus and some of the buildings of the college. JJJ "An Open Mind" The editor of the Daily Soliphone of Para gould, Ark., quotes one of The Commoner's edi torials on government ownership, and announces that while he is not an advocate of the public ownership of railroads he approaches the subject with an open mfnd, and 13 ready to consider argu, ments upon the subject. He says: Therefore, let Mr. Bryan show us somo things, among them these: How will the gov ernment come into possession of the rail roads? If by purchase, how many million dol lars will it take to buy them? How can wo reach a proper valuation? Shall their value bo estimated upon their earning capacity or upon the cost of their rolling stock, roadbeds, etc.? Would all the railroads of" the United States under government ownership be consolidated into ono vast system or wpuld there be di visional systems each having its own presi dent, traffic manager, passenger agents, etc.? Would there be increased or diminished 'activ ity in railroad construction under govern ment ownership? Would the liability for dam ages for negligence be the same against tho government railroads that it is now against corporation railroads? Would the government railroads be liable for punitive damages? Would a fellow-servant's law apply to govern ment railroads tho same as it does to corpo ration railroads? These questions are not prompted by idle jest nor curiosity. We sincerely hope that Mr. Bryan will give the people a- series of strong educational articles on the question. There is not one man in a' 'thousand in this country who understands it.' Mr. Bryan certainly does or he would not champion tho cause of government ownership of railroads. The Soliphone is committed to municipal . ownership of public utilities. Its blessings have been demonstrated all over the coun try; but when it comes to government Owner ship of the railroads some loud thinking is in order. We'd like to hear from Mr. Bryan fre quently through his Commoner, which is a part of our weekly mental diet. The editor of the Soliphone is right in regard ing the quesuon as one of the first magnitude and one upon which education is necessary. He says that his paper is committed to "municipal owner ship of public utilities" and declares that the bless ings of municpal ownership have been demon strated all over tlu country. Tho arguments which are used to defend municipal ownership are re lied upon to defend the public ownership of tho railways. While the railroad is not so complete a monopoly as a street car line, or water plant, it has many of the features f a monopoly. A rail road line between two points, while it does not exclude the building, of another line, makes it impossible for the second lino to be built as ad vantageously as the "first v a3. Ono line between two points can carry tho traffic at a less expense than two lines, and the building of ono line to a large extent hinders the builders of another line. A person living along a railroad line must neces sarily use that line. The cost of carrying his goods to another line makes him patronize the nearest line. If lie lives at a competing point, the rail road rate is generally the same on all the lines. He is thus at the mercy of the railroads unless there is supervision, and heretofore tho attempt to supervise has been thwarted by the influence exerted by the railroads over congress and state legislatures. The readers of Tho Commoner need not be told how this Influence is exerted: the story la too well known in all the states apd we are just now hearing something about it from Wash ington. How the government is to obtain possession of tho railroads is a matter of detail. It can con demn the roads, or buy them at an agreed price, or build new ones. It can buy them by .piecemeal or all at once, and it can determine the proper ttzsx&mmmmmmm