The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923, April 07, 1905, Page 5, Image 5
$V" TUL, 7, mob; The Commoner. emocrats Everywhere Taking Hold of The Coftt- Jq ft T!vfrv niflll hrlnfra f rm n . .-.. .OKt wv xuo uwmuner omce iany letters In which the writers express, not nly their approval of the primary pledge plan but their determination to co-operate in tho Afpnrf fn make the democratic party representative of tho iWiii or tne masses. Extracts from these letters follow: Rev. M. S. Murphy, Monticello. Iowa I hnnr- tily approve this plan of awakening the people and j preventing me paciung or national conventions by political heelers and office-seekers. I hope the late national convention has taught tho neonle tho B lesson that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. ii not, mey are nopeiessiy asleep. S. S. Clevonerer. ftonfprvnio Tnri t -tm . tonly attend the primaries but I will work and do all l can to neip the cause of democracy and bring about reform. Colonel David S. Husted. Greenvilla. Ob In .t j? hereby signify my desire and willingness to sign i or have my name on roll of primary pledee as r outlined in The Commoner. I most heartily ap prove tne pian as it is in. narmony with democracy. The democratic party had its birth in the intense Americanism of the Jeffersonian era, when by the patriotic hands of true democrats this government was shaped contrary to the monarchistic views of the party of money and monopoly, which, under various names, has always opposed it. When its leaders are men of honor, men of the people, men faithful to the political creed which they profess, in short, men who are democrats, it is a good enough American party for any patriot who ever lived. The great national trust is American im perial federalism. All these aggregations of capi talized industry, swallowing up the wealth of tho nation and enslaving its citizens, are but side is sues of the arch-conspirators whose puppets (by the grace of these slaves) are pulling .the wires at Washington. The object is to further enrich the combinations and increase their power over a nation of slaves. Who is to blame? The specula tors? Nay, the people themselves. The strong arm of the sword is brought to bear to enforce this unjust domination and criminal commercial ag gression, and they willjnake the ruin complete, unless the stronger arm of the sovereign will of the people is exerted, and exerted without delay. Strike at the root. The country is yours, run it in the interests of all the inhabitants thereof. You are a party to 'the crime of the age if you do not act. It is not whining and servile petitions, but enforced demands that will break the shackle of the slave and destroy the power of the knave. Strike at the ballot box! Strike! Strike! Strike! E. D. Whittington, Clay City, 111. I promise to attend all the primaries, though I am in my sev enties and a confederate soldier. H. P. Burruss, Birmingham, Ala. I will do all I can fo call the attention of democrats to this pledge and to the advantage of being a subscriber to The Commoner. Public sentiment is growing in our favor steadily. I believe from my observa tions in this section of the country, many who were against us before- the last election are with us now. B. A. Brown, Bachelor, Mo. With pleasure I sign and send your pledge. I heartily endorse every good work you propose and I have long since taken notice that you advise no other than good reforms. I am one that has been taking your, paper since the very first copy. Thurman Chaney, Myrtle Creek, Ore. Your announcement in The Commoner of March 17, urg ing democrats to begin organizing now for the battle of 1908, is in harmony with my" views. It occurs to me that there has been no period in the party's history when united efforts were more necessary, or the opportunity for good results more favorable than now. The rank and file of the republican party seem to be struggling in a stage of unrest, and the great problems of pro gressive civilization seem to rest with the demo crats for solution. Will the democracy retain the cause of the common people? If so, now is the time for action, Never was our country in greater need of a trust than now. She needs a great democratic trust whose capital stock is figured in. American citizens. This would be a righteous trust, and if each democrat will but contribute his pledge to "keep the faith," the capital stock will be large enough to crush the other great combines to dust. Let us begin this great combine at once, dear democrats. The fight is on, we must enlist at once and go into training if we expect to win. I pledge myself to attend upon all the ordinances of the party. Every democrat should. If you love your country serve her faithfully by pledging your service to the party which stands out holdly for the interests of the common people. moner Towline Samuel A. Cary, Cloyds Landing, Ky. I am glad to enclose herewith the primary pledge duly signed. Much good can bo expected from this, for pure democracy must spring from tho masses of the people. With a platform in 1908 emenating from the common people, wo will havo a platform of pure democracy, aggressive democracy, a de mocracy that will demand the support of the Amer ican people. Push this hard and much good will result. " Robert Mastin, Marsailles, Ky. I hereby subscribe myself to tho primary pledge. I am com mitteeman in my precinct and I havo always been in favor of primary elections, believing it to bo the only fair way of voicing the peoples senti ments, Adam Q. Fradle, Pocono Lake, Pa. I wish for the editor of The Commoner the very best suc cess in his "primary pledge" way of getting true and loyal democrats to be firm supporters of their party's principles. The old maxim, "A stitch in time saves nine," holds true in politics as well as in everyday affairs. James H. Houston, Grady, Ala. I have heard the plan outlined by The Commoner for the or ganization of the democratic party for 1908 read, and' I think it a good one. I sign the pledge and wish to go on record as endorsing it, and I promise to do what I can to carry the same into effect in my community. Patrick Woods, Brooklyn, N. Y. I am very well pleased to havo the opportunity tp go on record as one who will try to attend all primaries from now until the next democratic national con vention. This great work started must bo kept up for, in my opinion, a man is never useless until he is dead, or he loses his courage, and there are very few of the loyal supporters of 1896 and 1900 dead, and not one that I know of has lost his courage yet, so that they are still all loyal and faithful. "For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, - For the future In the distance, And the good that we can do." Dr. Osier to the contrary notwithstanding. H. H. Hamilton, Superior, Wis. Your plan for organization is good and I am with you heart and hand. I do not believe there is a county today but feels the same. The trouble is they don't at tend the primaries. In our county, the so-called leaders were all for Parker or Wall street. It was thought impossible to heat them, still it was done and done nicely. When they found out where they "were at," they pleaded for harmony and wanted half the delegation and got it "nit." This happened in Green Lake county, Wis. My home is in that county (Berlin). But what puzzles me is why some of these old-time democrats fight every move toward honest democracy. Thurston Daniels, Vancouver, Wash. I am enclosing you my pledge, and consider the propo sition a good one. The true democratic spirit i3 very much alive in this part of the country. I notice that since the last election there are few democrats who believe it pays to sacrifice prin ciple in the hope of securing loaves and fish held in the clutch of republican officeholders. There seems to be a determination to at least deserve success in 1908, whether we achieve it or not, so that instead of being totally bankrupt, we will at least preserve our self, respect. George C. Nelson, Goldfield, Iowa. I send you herewith the blank which was in The Com moner of March 17, signed and would say that I fully endorse the primary pledge, as I believe in the rule of the people, and would like to see hon esty and sincerity in politics, so the citizens can have justice and fair play. Frank Stafford, Fredonia, , Wis. Enclosed please find primary pledge. -I also wish to say that I would like to have Mr. Bryan's article on government ownership of railroads, which ap peared in The Commoner last fall, republished. Would also like to read Mr. Bryan's address before the Wisconsin legislature; it would be of special interest to Wisconsin people. D. B. Prather. Find enclosed my primary pledge. I think you hit the keynote in this pledge, and I am willing and anxious to do all in my power to aid the democratic party to succeed. I also believe in eliminating all corruption from politics, and think the democrats should take the lead. I am at your command. C. E. Sisley, Ohio, 111. It is with much pleas ure that I send herewith my primary, pledge. I earnestly hopo that democrats cvcrywhoro will do tho same, and that it mayprovo an Incentlvo to all to more faithfully attend to that duty. Tho primary is certainly one of tho strong pillars of democracy and every member should help support it to the best of his ability. Hoping your efforts on this lino may tend to help strongthon tho cause of true democracy, in that tho voico of tho people may bo heard more in its councils, I am as .ever. E. J. Money, Chilton, Wis. I not only promise to attend all the primaries of my party but like wise to work and do all I can towards gotting moro subscribers for Tho Commoner in which tho principles of true Jofforsonian democracy aro sd correctly, fearlessly and oloquontly advocated. Hoping to sco tho day tho pcoplo of our great country will fully reallzo and appreciate your serv ices, I am yours with great respect. A. Wangemann, Chicago, Edgemoro Station, 111. The primary plodgo plan is a good one, be cause, in tho last resort, our civic and economic destiny is soaled at tho primaries, which are the modem form of tho Now England town meet ings. To be effectivo though, tho above plan must be accepted not only by tho politicians but by tho rank and file of the progressive citizens. Joseph Combs, Frankfort, Ind. Enclosed find my primary pledge. I am heartily in favor of be gining tho work of organization for tho next cam paign, and it ought to begin now. I like the plan suggested in your paper and if carriod out It will be tho means of accomplishing great and lasting good for the success of the democratic party; and this means much for tho rights of the people. In making this pledge there aro a fow things I would like to suggest as to what we should stand for and advocate at these primaries, amongst others, tho following: 1. First of all wo should stand for honest pri maries. Primaries at which every xnomuor of tho party, bo ho poor or rich, humble or oxaltod, shall havo the right to express his views upon all public questions at issue, and especially the right to vote and to have his vote counted. All "snap" pri maries. and "log-rolling" methods of selecting dele gates must come tp an end the primary must rep resent the entire body of voters belonging to tho party, and then tho delegates selected to register tho decrees of the party in the party conventions will represent and speak tho wishes of tho ma jority of the members of tho party, honestly ex pressed at tho primary. Unfair primaries In the last campaign cost us many thousands of votes in Indiana, and perhaps hundreds of thousands in tho whole country. 2. At tho primary is the place to begin the work looking to tho selection of thoroughly com petent and reliablo candidates, and the making of party platforms and pledges which will honestly and plainly set forth tho principles for which we stand. The platform should take strong and ad vanced ground on behalf of tho great cause of the people, and this should be set forth at every county, congressional, or state convention, and every candidate for every office should bo of such character that ho will unequivocally stand upon and honestly do all within his power to carry out the pledges made therein, in case of election. C. L. Cockelnas, Irving, 111. Enclosed you will find primary pledge duly signed and I desire to get every democrat in this township to sign same, but a good many get this Commoner, read It and lay it aside and overlook tho importance of signing the pledge, and the papers are finally used or destroyed, and tho result is that a great many will fail to sign. I am greatly interested In tho work that is before the democratic party in tho future, along the lines that you outline in The Commoner and am willing to do all I can to help unite the party for the battle in 1908. Wo havo in this township between 150 and 200 democratic voters, all stalwart for the principles you aro ad vocating, without a single exception,' and I think the signing of your pledge will help to unite us more completely than we are. Chester C. PJatt, Batavia, N. Y Enclosed please find my signature to the primary pledge. ' In no state in the union Is it more important that the rank and file of the democratic voters shall control the party action than in New York state. The history of the last ten years show this very plainly. The democratic party should be demo cratic. By which I mean that political power should have its origin with the Individual voters who compose the party, and from the election dis trict primaries, this power should flow, up from the county, congressional and state conventions to K (Continued on Pago Seven.) fli 4 I Hi iJlW;Ja y&ji.i -w.rfB.?t. 4a.J-: MiZvmJ.Jna. . ajcaj l Kl4HkrfW4Wfet, j k.. t4j'.MU . liJwl'.V. -i-