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The Commoner.
'APRIL 21, 1905
5
"I am for Democracy Because I Believe Democracy is for Me"
From every section of the United States come
assurances that democrats are in hearty sympathy
jwith The Commoner's primary pledge fllan.
Among the many interesting letters so far re
ceived is one from Wellington Hiatt of Nobles
.ville, Ind. Mr. Hiatt encloses his primary pledge
and says: "I am for democracy because I believe
democracy is for me. I always voted the republi
can ticket prior to the memorable campaign of
1896; believing that democracy had comejnto her
own that year, I cast my lot with it."
Following are extracts from other letters:
M. H. Meeks, Nashville, Tenn. "Herewith
enclosed is pledge signed. I hope the democrats
throughout the country will show their interest
in public affairs by signing the pledge, and living
up to it when signed. Mr. Pendleton also sends
his signed.
W. W. Fanner, Sunshine, Colo. It Is with
pleasure I sign the primary pledge. Believe me
interested in your every move. From the start
yours has been a battle for the uplifting of hu-.
manity. I have been a reader of your paper since
the first issue.
S. S. Momand, New York City. Enclosed find
my primary pledge. I agree with the editor of
The Commoner In the importance of the democrats
who believe in the principles enunciated in the
democratic platform of 1896 and 1900, attending
the primaries and seeing to it that real democrats
only are selected as delegates to all conventions.
Alex. H. Leitch, Dayton, Ohio. Enclosed
please find primary pledge. I have always at
tended our primaries and shall continue to do so
and use my influence so far as I can to promote
the true democracy of which you have been so
true and able an exponent.
Thomas R. Allen, Austin, Tex. While it is
hardly necessary for me to obligate myself by
signing a pledge to attend the' primaries and as
sist in perpetuating the principles of democracy, I
am willing to have my name enrolled, hoping it
.will encourage others to do likewise.
Hiram Pettey, Stewartville, Minn. Add my
name to the pledge. It is all one great campaign
to me. I never ceased to espouse the cause of
'Jeffersonian democracy. While it looked for years
as though my labors were in vain yet I can see
they are bearing fruit the tide has turned. Here
tofore unconditional republicans now confess that
existing conditions force them to accept democ
racy. Too much New York World and those of
their ilk is what ailed us in the last campaign.
Milton A. Miller, Lebanon, Ore. Enclosed
please find primary pledge filled out and signed.
I have always believed in "letting the people
rule this country," and the primary pledge plan
seems to me a step in the right direction. I
trust it will prove a grand success.
A. J. Beal, Cythiana, Ky. I have been a voter
34 years and have never during that time, missed
an opportunity of attending and voting both at
primaries and regular elections. I never weary of
well doing.
J. M. Tadlock, El Reno, Okla. I heartily ap
prove of Mr. Bryan's primary plan. The people
are intensely democratic the politicians are not
always so. I print the pledge in my paper, The
Globe, and will do all I can to see every demo
crat in Canadian county pledge himself. If
the rank and file attend the primaries, the Wall
street would-be leaders in our party would be
relegated to the ranks of the republican party
where they belong, and where they may be
fought openly. The democratic party will surely
win in 1908, If the people make the platforms and
name the candidates.
A. B. Deans, Wilson, N. C Your primary
pledge plan of organization seems to be the only
means of avoiding the wreck of the party man
agers. It is a pleasure to aid in the good work.
I trust that the record will be so kept that we
may get a list of the pledgers in this county
when needed.
John Aubrey Jones, Fruitvale, Cal. The Com
moner's pledge plan Is admirable, bringing to
gether and holding together, the democrats of
the country, as an effective political organization
to do Its part In determining the policies of the
party in consonance with the principles of true
democracy, to the end that the confidence of the
masses may be inspired in the sincerity of the
party as the party through whose administration
can and will come the much needed political and
economic reforms about which .so much is said,
but in effecting which so little has, been done.
Jacob Qhlseji, JJurant, Iowa I., am heartily In,
favor of your primary pledge plan and all Ameri
can citizens whobelieve in good government and
the welfare of the democratic party should sign
this pledge. Enclosed And pledge signed by my
self and I will do all I can for tho cause.
G. W. McBrayer, Matlnburg, Tex. I heartily
endorse tho primary pledge and encloso tho same
herewith. All true JefferBonlan domocrats should
and I think will soonor or later, by act If not by
signing the pledge, fully co-operate with us in
placing tho party demands back to tho true old
time honored principles.
F. P. Renger, Wausau, Wis. Your plan of
Organization for tho campaign of 1908 has my
approval. It should procure for us a truly demo
cratic platform, a platform that will have tho
support of every lover of justice and fair play.
Samuel Bartell, Forest City, 111. I take pleas
ure in signing tho primary pledge.
J. L. Bittle, Shiloh, Ark. It gives .me no small
pleasure to share in this great plan of organiza
tion. Let the good work go on.
J. P. Heinz, Shelbyville, 111. Your plan of
organizing tho democratic party has my heartiest
support. Find primary pledge enclosed.
J. S. Upton, Fargo, N. D. I am with you.
Please enroll my name on primary pledge. Am
but a plodding farmer but will do what I can for
democratic .democracy.
L. A. Scott, Hillsboro, Tenn. I desire to ox
press my approval of your plan of re-establishing
the principles of democracy. I consider it an
honor to have my name written on the pledge list.
Perley A. Hill, Salt Lake, Utah. Your pri
mary pledge in my opinion Is the keynote. ' What
we need out our way is organization.
Isaac McClellan, Sheridan, Arlc I gladly sign
the pledge and trust all loyal democrats who
want' to make our party democratic will sign.
John W. Berry, Verdi, Va. Enclosed you will
find signed pledge for attending primary elec
tions. I have always attended all meetings that
the party ever held In my county, and nearly
always a delegate from my county to conventions.
Am willing to aid the party in every way possible.
You can depend on me to do my best.
Walter H. Mudford, Sidney Center, N. Y.
Enclosed find pledge duly signed. I will do what
I can to promote the principles which are set
forth in The Commoner.
E. Lee Brown, Chicago, 111. I enclose Tho
Commoner's primary pledge which I am glad to
sign, thereby placing myself on record and agree
ing .to do all I can toward making tho democratic
party representative of the will of tho people.
"Tho free and uncorrupted voice of the people"
has just been heard in Chicago, and it has sounded
the deathknell of private ownership of public
utilities.
W. A. Ramsey, Wilbourn, Wis. I heartily
endorse the plan of Tho Commoner and now is
the time to get ready for 1906 and 1908. We can
look for no relief from the republicans. The tariff
and other trusts have to form a grip. See Gar
field's report.
Lewis S. Record, Bangor, Me. Am heartily
in favor of theprimary pledge plan outlined in
The Commoner.
Vincent Zmunt, Iowa City, la. It Is with
great pleasure that I sign this pledge, for "eter
nal vigilance is the price of liberty." The car
dinal principles of democracy enunciated In the
democratic platforms of 1896 and 1900 are but
the echoes of the freemen gone before, which
principles we must perpetuate .and maintain if we
are to be revered of men and ages.
B. H. Caldwell, Tyler, Tex. I pledge myself to
do all I can for democracy from now until 1908.
John Walter Tenah, -Gainesville, Fla. It Is
with much pleasure I sign and mail the pledge.
If The Commoner could be read by all the people,
the yoke of the trusts would be thrown off, legis
lators would learn that they are the servants of
the people, and not their masters. The door of
opportunity would indeed be thrown open to all
and the "square deal" in fact and not mere talk
would be established.
J. H. Parson, Wayne, W. Va. I will not only
attend the primaries, but I will work and do all
that I can to help the cause of democracy and
bring about reform.
M. C. Mann, Sumpter, Ark. I have signed the
primary pledge which came out in the county
paper. I am heartily In favor of the plan.
John W. Hull, San Francisco, Cal. I heartily
applaud your plan to arouse democracy to duty of
organizing. It's a clever idea. Every true demo
crat worthy of the name, even the most humblo
must put his shoulder to the wheel and with earn
est, energetic, personal effort and determination,
insist that the great and glorious democratic
principles of our fathers must preva.Il and con
tinue throughout the land. I take my hat off to
the wide-awake people of Chicago for their great
achiovomont on April 4. Their work was dono
In thorough and splendid style. The poworful in
fluence, great Joy and encouraging Jiopo inspired
by this groat victory of tho common peoplo Is
proudly cherished and shared In full by overy
member of tho great party your splendid paper
so. ably and faithfully represents. With ploasuro
I herewith hand you my primary pledge.
H. W. Bracken, San Francisco, Calif. Tho
grand old imperial guard will follow their leader
and -would rather suffer defeat nobly fighting for
tho right, that como out victorious In tho wrong;
true to evory trust, faithful whenever tried an
one of tho Old Guards, over struggling for public
rights, place mo in their ranks at all times, either
at tho head or hub of tho list. Let this, tho public
cause, derive its just powors from tho wholo party
and not from tho Wall street hirelings. Tho peo
plo should bo honorably used not shamefully
abused by such powerful trusts.
W. B. Clarkson, Minneapolis, Minn. I am
proud of my record as a voter, having never
missed my vote at any election where any ques
tion of principlo was directly Involved and only
two or three times havo I missed my voto at any
election in my homo precinct. I havo always
been in sympathy with the fight for pure democ- .
racy that Tho Commoner has been waging sinco
its birth, and stand ready to do anything that I
can In my limited way to help In this warfare.
Brock Ornbaun, Lowistown, Mont Herewith
Inclosed find the primary pledge, which I tako
pleasure in signing, and desire to further add: I
will not only attend all primaries, within tho timo
specified, but will employ all honorablo means
to have such men chosen as delegates to conven
tions and nominee for office placed on tho demo
cratic ticket that at heart -present tho wishes
of tl ' masses, and beliov ' ,tho enobling and
elevating principles constantly espoused in tho
columns of Tho Commoner. No thoughtful stu
dent of our country's needs can help recognizing
tho fact that that we are face to face with tho
crisis in America's fight for tho perpetuity of our
freedom and love of right.
Fred 71. Huddlestun, Arapaho, Okla. I heart
ily endorse your late move of primary organi
zation. We need strict diligence in Oklahoma
and especially among the close counties, of which
Custer is one.
J. B. Milam, Hazloton, Kans. I heartily en
dorse your method.
R. E. French, Medina, Ohio. It Is with pleas
ure that I step into the ranks of Tho Commoner's
primary pledge army. It Is an army composed of
men who are not after the loaves and fishes, but
who are willing if need be, to sacrifice as tho
founders of our government did, to maintain our
glorious republic. It is an army of God's truo
noblemen, men who dared to stand by principle
rather than party in 1896 and 190D, men who dared
to stand with their peerless leader in two cam
paigns, and dared to stand with him after his sec
ond defeat because they believe he was right, men
who dared to rebuke Wall street at the polls. I
desire to step Into the ranks and march shouldor.
to shoulder with such men whether to victory or
defeat under the leadership and council of tho
grandest leader of this present time.
A. J. Conlu, Whitehall, 111. Please find en
closed pledge and will say that I endorse tho
plan, and to every democrat will refer them to
the third chapter and 15th and 16th verses of Reve
lation: "I know thy works that thou art neither
cold nor hot I would thou wert cold or hot. So
then because thou are lukewarm and neither cold,
not hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth." Let's
all be hot and stay in.
J. L. Huffman, Gladstone, Ohio. Find my"
pledge enclosed. I heartily concur in the senti
ments expressed by tho legions of democrats. la
tho battle of 1908 on? If so, right about face, the,
race is not always to tho swift, nor tho battle to;
the strong.
A. D. Epperly, Hugglns, Mo. I wish to join all
good democrats In regard to tho primary pledge.
I heartily approve of the plan and am more than,
glad to give my support We need some plan'
to give the backslider a chance to crawl In lino.
I think all the prodigals ought to sign tho pledge.
John A. Walton, Lima, O. Please record my,
name as being heartily in accord with the pro
posed plan, enclosed with this letter. Once a
democrat, always a democrat.
F. G, Flower, Seattle, Wash. I was too ill last
week to sign the primary pledge, though my wifo
read it to me. I tried to sit up and sign it, "but'
could not accomplish it. Today Is the first la'
three weeks that I havo been able to sit up'3fn'
bed and I hasten to take advantage of my strength
(Continued on page 7.)
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