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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (June 2, 1905)
Tf--arwi The Commoner. JUNE 2, 1905- A UNITED EFFORT FOR DEfiOCRATIC SUCCESS Now interest in. the primary pledge plan is noticeable among the newspapers. The Common er's exchange list is very largo and many news paper references to this work have doubtless been overlooked. Newspaper editors are requested to direct their readers' attention to the primary pledge plan and they will confer a favor if they .will mail under first-class postage a clipping of any editorial reference they may see fit to make. An interesting suggestion comes from C. C. (Walker, Duhring, W. Va. Mr. Walker suggests that democratic newspapers publish the names of those who have signed the primary pledge in their respective counties. If democratic editors will work along this lino and reproduce names and letters from signers in their own counties they will find that their own readers will bo greatly interested in the publication. The Gunnison (Colo.) News-Champion, edited by'Il. JF. Lake, Jr., keep, the primary pledge standing and Is urging its readers to co-operate. In a letter to The Commoner, Editor Lake says: "There is no question but if the president con sistently carries out the program suggested by his Denver speech, that there will bo a tear up in the republican party beside which the political re-adjustment of '96 will appear dwarfed in the comparison. Then the great danger to democracy will be the attempt of its erstwhile 're-organizers' to again gain control of its policies. Wo wish you God speed in this enterprise, and you may call on us for any assistance within our power." The Haskell (Texas) Free Press, J. E. Poole, editor, is., co-operating along the lines of the pri mary pledge, plan. Editor Poole sends to Tho Commoner pledges signed by himself as well as by a number of the read.--:: of his newspaper. Mr. Poole says: "I am very glad to see that Mr. Bryan's plan for democratic organization is meeting with such hearty and widespread re sponse; it portends victory for the party and its real principles. With the party organization under the control of the politicians alone, as is too often the case, many of whom are controlled by corporations and monoplistic influences, party victory, does not mean or bring what it should to the masses. But on the other hand let tho peo ple become sufficiently aroused and interested to take tho organization Into their own hands from the primary up, as they can easily do, be ing the majority, and there is then good hopo for the emancipation of the people from the op pression and extortions of the money power. That great power has grown so confident of its unshakable hold upon the country that it is grow ing reckless. But wp have the hopo of wresting the government from the spirit of imperialism which is menacing the foundation principles upon which our free institutions were erected and planting it again on the Declaration of Independ ence and the constitution as they were understood and applied by their framcrs." The Malone (New York) Forum, edited by M. B. Murphy, is vigorously pushing the primary pledge plan. The Forum has been waging a good fight for municipal ownership and it has recently scored several important victories, the democrats and citizens winning in the recent city election by 130 majority. Editor Murphy says: "Demo cratic democracy will win every time. The peo ple, both democrats and republicans, are nat urally democratic and can be united to work against the party of plutocracy and special privi lege. This last numerically small party, or coterio, has bpth feet planted on the necks of democrats and republicans alike. The latter can be induced to work and vote with their democratic neigh bors against the pirates who are oppressing citi zens of both parties. That is the way we put the matter before our Malone voters and won, , and we can win in every town or city by this method. The Forum is heart and soul with you in every move to rescue the most progressive people on earth from the thraldom of the most gigantic system of monopoly the world has ever seen. This people are bound, hand and foot to the juggernaut of monopoly and forced to pay tribute on life's necessities to as heartless a gang of freebooters and pirates as ever roved the Span ish main with a black flag at the mast head." The Nodaway (Mo.) Forum, edited by C. J. Colden, has many good words to 'say for the pri mary 'pledge plan and keeps the pledge standing in its columns. Editor Colden insists that "a clean primary is the first step i:- good govern ment," and' he ,adds: "ItUs radical democracy or irretrievable defeat. Democrats had just as well put the war paint on. Tho velvet fringe of Wall street is polluted with consciouslcss plutocracy." Following are some extracts from tho editorial columns of the Monroe City (Mo.) Democrat, edited by W. J. Rouse: "If you believe that tho people should mako the democratic platform, sign tho primary pledge and get your neighbors to do likewise. Can get blanks at tho Democrat office." "The peoplo must mako tho next platform of the democratic party. The way to do this Is to attend tho primaries or precinct conventions of tho party and there speak. In this way only can the people hope to win a grand victory." "With a' platform made by tho rank and file of the grand old democratic party, the people will bo governing the United States after tho 4th of March, 1909. The time to take up tho work of organizing is now." "Are you a democrat? Do you believe that tho party platform should bo made by the ma jority of the party? Do you bellove in a govern ment of, for and by the people? Do you believe that the best citizens owe it to their country, to their families, to themselves to do what they can for tho good of our country? If so sign a pri mary pledge, and do not stop at that, but get your good neighbor democrats to do the samo and let us begin work now for a big democratic victory at the next national election." Tho Manitowoc (Wis.) Pilot is in favor of having the platform written by thejrank and file. In an editorial entitlsd "Democracy and Success," the Pilot says: "There are too many plutocrats in the demo cratic party and too many democrats in the re publican party. If the real democracy of fho country would achieve success, they must first show that they deserve success. This can not be done by compromising with tho thousands of ultra-conservatives that are now known as demo crats. Not a few of these ultra-conservatlvo democrats are . extremely plutocratic. Theso democratic plutocrats must no longer be permitted to dictate the policy of tho democratic party. They must have no voice in state and national democratic conventions. Their principles must not bo incorporated into democratic platforms. They must have no voice in the conduct of dem ocratic campaigns. "There is no room for two republican parties. Therefore, plutocratic democrats should be in duced, by all honorable means available, to sever their connection with the true democracy. As long as they remain in tho democratic party, that party can not wield the influence requisite for the bringing about of those reforms for which there is a crying need. They constitute a dead weight of which democracy must be relieved. "Let there be an end to all paltering on tho part of real democrats. The democratic .party must not stoop to any species of cant, buncombe, finesse and chicane. These things have no placo in genuine democracy, which Is the torch-bearer of human progress which has wielded a tremend ous influence in the shaping of American institu tions and with which, in a large measure, must rest tho perpetuity of free government. "Democracy must be all that its present lead er would have it to be if it wishes to stand a fair show for success. It must deserve success. It must not endeavor to secure votes by com promising its principles. It must shua all time serving. It must show its colors and defend its . principles with unwavering zeal. "If democracy will do these things if it will eliminate tho plutocratic element it will deserve success and stand a good show to win success in 1908. Tens of thousands that are now known as republicans would speedily identify themselves with an unadulterated democracy." The Kentucky Gazette, published at Lexing ton, keeps standing the primary pledge, and calls upon Its readers to push the worlc The Southeast MIssourian, published at New Madrid, Mo., and edited by W. W. Waters, dis plays the primary pledge plan in its columns and urges its readers to get In line. Bidor tho following editorial takon from Tho Commoner on March 17, and asks those who aro in favor of carrying out tho plan ns outlined therein to sign tho plodgo below printed and send tho samo to tho Times ofllco. All pledges re ceived at this ofllco will bo forwarded, to Tho Commoner." Tho El Rono (Oklahoma) Dally Globo, edited by J. M. Tadlock, presents tho primary plodgo plan to its readers and invites thoir co-operation. Tho Memphis News-Scimitar prints the pri mary pledge and asks its readerH to sign samo and roturn to tho political department of tho News Scimitar. Tho News-Sclmltnr says: "The importance of enlisting each individual voter in the work of making the future elections satisfactory to tho people hns been taken up. by the Hon. William J. Bryan, and a movement has been started by tho statesman of the west to got every democrat in tho country to agree to attend all primaries and take proper action on all ques tions. The movement does not bind tho Individual to any particular action. It only makes him agrco to think for himself and to take part in primaries. The theory of tho Ncbraskan is that tho peoplo will do what is right If they will all act, and that a pledge for action is equivalent to an agreement to doing right. This great faith In the people is shared in Memphis, and the pledge card that is sent out by Mr. Bryan is reproduced for Memphis voters. It will bo of interest to sec how many Momphians will tako the trouble to fill out this blank. If it Is filled out and observed by a ma jority of tho voters of Memphis there is no ques tion as 'to tho great benefit that will come to the peoplo of tho city." Tho Lexington, Ky., Gazette reproduces tho primary pledge, saying: "Tho first stop in tho great battle is organization. Democracy can not succeed with any candidate unless It Is organized. Therefore wo urge upon every democrat to sign tho primary pledge." The Public, Louis F. Post's paper, says: "Mr. Bryan has happily phrased the new Impulse of which ho is urging the democratic party to tako advantage. 'Back to tho people does best de scribe, as he says, 'the tendency which is mani festing itself in tho nation and In most of tho states.' Away from centralized power, away from imperialism, away from militarism, away from special privilege, away from paternalism, and . 'back to the people!'" The Eminence, Mo., Wave says: "Wo are very favorably inclined towards Mr. Bryan's pledge, which numerous exchanges are urging, and as far as it goes it is excellent. But there Is one omls Blon that recent events prove to bo as important as that which is Inserted. We suggest that tho pledge be amended to say 'and we1 pledge our votes in tho general election to the democratic ticket as nominated.' Soreheads, bolters and traitors can harp on primaries as loudly as true democrats, but it's the ballots for democracy that count when the battle is on." The Cape May County Times, published at Sea Isle City, New Jersey , and edited by Matthew Jefferson, displays the primary pledge plan, and says: "The Times urges its readers. , to ..con- The North Platte, Neb., Independent-Democrat nays: "Many democrats are responding to the plan et organization submitted by Mr. Bryan and many are signing tho primary pledge. It is generally welcomed by tho real democrats who see in it suet a revival of pure democracy as will revivify an( reorganize the democratic party upon a basil where the rank and file of tho party would b heard in Its councils. Letters accompany man; of the signed pledges and therfe' seems to bo revival among tho adherents of that party. It ii the one means by which the voice of all democrat! can bo heard and a platform adopted that Is ii touch with the will of the people. Those who hav( grown despondent will be cheered by the purpose, ful attitude of the party. Tho fragmentary por tions of the party will be drawn together and therfi will be such a consolidation of factional forco that it will put hope and vigor in the breast o every democrat and be the precursor of futun democratic victories. It is in tho primaries when corruption must be quenched. It is In the pri marles whero the people must act to bring abotr the necessary reforms. It is in tho primary wherd they must en.graft and exemplify the democratic doctrine of 'equal rights to all and special privi leges to none.' And until the power of the people is enlarged itfis tbft.piWcpign ol vantage wMcfe . they hpjd,"; ia rt" ;., .-si '"it; ,. vmt;iie . - i,,ii-e. ,,--Ji.Jtt -. - ,. i&tfM . . iiuhM. -i- iiA i aVjA .