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jiTNBo, MOB The Commoner. ; -
THE WORK OF DEflOCRATIC EDITORS
Democratic newspapers throughout the United
States are very generally co-operating with Tho
Commoner in the primary pledge plan.
Frank A. Ells, editor of the Charlotte, Mich.,
Leader, writing under date of May 26, says: "If
I could see my way clear to identify my paper
with yours- in stimulating primary pledges, with
out stimulating the idea of what is known as
'government ownership I would he very glad to
do it I can not believe with The .Commoner in
the latter plan of administering government any
moro than in permitting tho trusts to administer
it. If tho power of our government is not suf
ficient to control, then it is poor indeed. But I
have not lost faith in either government or de
mocracy. I do not want to see either reaching
for ownership any more than is absolutely essen
tial for preservation."
If Mr. Ells has "not lost faith in democracy"
then, however much he may differ with The Com
moner on some questions, he should be willing
to co-operate in the effort to persuade every mem
ber of tho party to attend the primaries. Those
who sign the primary pledge are not committed to
any particular question. A democrat merely
pledges himself to attend all the primaries of his
party to be held between now and the next demo
cratic national convention unless unavoidably pre
vented, and to use his influence to secure a clear,
honest and straightforward declaration of the
party's position on every question upon which
tho Voters of the party desire to speak. Although
Mr. Ells can not entirely agree with The Com
moner, ho can certainly lend a hand in the effort
to secure a full attendance at the party's - pri
maries. It is to be hoped that The Commoner
will soon have the privilege of announcing that
Mr. Ells litis jeconsidered and that his newspaper
'is working i in behalf of tho primary pledge plan.
municipal and railroad corporations so that tho
common people can have 4a square deal.' Tho
people are becoming aroused at tho effrontry of
the plutocrats and think it time for tho peoplo
to make a riddance of tho common, every-day po
litical thugs. Tho conditions In this state aro
such that the people are going to act Independent
of tho party unless the democratic party becomes
democratic. Why should we keep a class of men
who are at heart political thugs in offlco when thoy
are always bertaylng tho people? Is thero any
reason why wo have to stand that, which to all
men who love decency and honor, is corrupt?.
While I am for concerted action, yet, I am not
in favor of oven giving one of those who stood
by Hopkins, even honorable mention. The time
Ik here when men love their citizenship moro than
they do their party name. The peoplo aro getting
tired of voting tho label.
"Tho primary election law makes it impossible
for an independent move to be made. There aro
many who will not go into the democratic pri-
' maries, because the law makes illegal for a citi
zen who votes In a primary to sign a petition for
an independent candidate. That one thing will
defeat many of the members of this last assombly,
for the people are getting enough of traitorism
and will see that those who are responsible for
such conditions, will be left at home.
"I think the time is bore for us to hold men
and not parties responsible for bad laws. For
when we hold parties responsible, we aro at tho
mercy of those whoso political ideals aro vitiated
by lovo of power. And we should look at It that
the people make good laws and make bad laws;
and ifjwe make bad laws wo should see to it that
we unmake them. For the time is here for us to
preserve our government and not to build- up a
party spoils system."
John Carpenter, editor of the Clinton, New
Jersey Democrat, writing under date of May 27,
says: "You have already had my cordial expres
sion of approval of your plan of primary election
redemption and reform in my. editorial comments
many weeks ago and the repeated , publication of
the form of pledge, , appealing for signatures. I
needonly add that the whole party should thank
you for your work. I heartily wish your primary
election plan to succeed in its grand purpose, for
with the party ruled by its people, they will soon
regain rule of the land and it will mean a real
and not a mere nominal democratic republic."
H. A. Whipple, editor Waterloo, Wis., Demo
crat, writing under date of May 27, says: "I havo
bean much interested from the beginning in this
experiment at organization, and believe it is a
wise move. Kindly send me a supply of the
blanks, say 100, and I will have some of them
signed. I shall print thopledg6 with brief com
ment in my next issue."
The Grant County, Okla., News published at
Pond Creek, and edited by W. A. Delzell, says:
"Copies of the Bryan pledge can be obtained at
the News office without charge. The pledge mere
ly binds the signers to take an interest -in party
affairs before the primaries and to do his best
to see that good men are selected as delegates
to the party conventions. If political conventions
are ruled by honest men the affairs of state will
of necessity be in safe hands. The place to do tho
work is at the primaries. Call at the News office
and get a bunch of these pledges, have your
friends sign them and forward them to The Com
moner, Lincoln, Neb."
Charles J. Colden, editor of the Nodaway
Forum, published at Maryville, Mo., writing under
date of May 26, says: "I amurging the-readers of
my paper to sign tho primary pledge. I am in
hearty sympathy with the movement. Mr. Bryan
is correct; democracy must root itself in the
hearts of the people. Reform must begin in the
primary."
The Radical, published at Carlinville, 111.,
carries this, motto: "Democracy is something more
than a name. It is the backbpne and groundwork
of human' liberty." Writing under date of
May 23, Perry D. Plain, editor of the Radical,
says:
"Your idea about the primary pledge is very
popular, There seems to be desire to make tho
party democratic enough to attract all who are at
heart democrats. The rank and file of the peoplo
realize that it is time to make a concerted move
ment to overthrow the power of the trusts and
..Fred M. Huddleston, editor of tho Custer'
County News, published at Arapahoe, Okla.,
writes asking for a supply of primary pledgo
blanks and promises cordial co-operation.
The Mountaineer, published "by Prlckett &
Walters at Ripley, W. Va., is urging its readers
to fall In line with the primary pledgo plan.
Writing under date of May 29, Mescrs. Prlckett &
Walters say: "Mr. Crow and others are making
an effort to get 1,000 pledgess,to the plan frpm
this county."
The Ripley Journal,, published at Osgood, Ind.,
and edited by C. M. Shockley, reproduces the pri
mary pledge plan and urges its readers to tako
hold of The Commoner's tow line.
The Missouri Telegraph published at Fulton,
Mo., reproduces the primary pledge and says:
"The Telegraph will do its part in aiding every
movement that has for its object the ascertain
ment of the will of the people and the scrupulous
enforcement of that will. This paper will also
furnish all the information that it can upon tho
questions which are before the public to the end
that its readers may be prepared to render the
maximum of assistance to every worthy cause. At
the top of this column is a pledge prepared by
Mr. Bryan, in simple and straight-forward word
ing. Neither democrat nor republican need hesi
tate to take that kind of pledge. It means much
i: politics. If it was generally obseryed-by tho
members of both parties there 'will be less to com
plain of. In Mr. Bryan's scheme, it merely recog
nizes the right of the democratic voters to control
the policy of their party, and to determine Its
position upon public 'questions. In its broader
sense it aims at honesty and sincerity in politics;
and certainly tho democratic party must stand for
such honest sincerity if it hopes to appeal success
fully to the country. It is a proposition that
should appeal to all who believe in the rule of the
people to all who are willing that the majority
shall govern in party management and in the na
tion and certainly no real democrat or real re
publican can oppose the principle of rule of tho
majority. The Jelegraph will be pleased to pub
lish letters from tho voters of Callaway county
and elsewhere upon this question."
H A. Kane, editor of the Franklin Gazette,
publishedat Malone, N. Y., writing under date of
May 2G, says: "I believe the Franklin Gazette was
the first democratic weekly in this part of New
York state to give endorsement to the primary
pledge movement; We are heartily in favor of it.
I have filled out and sighed enclosed. pledge, but
I can say that I have not missed attending a
democratic primary In Malono in tho past sixteen
years and shall try aud bo on hand when tho
next Is called."
An editorial from tho Franklin Gazette fol
lows: "Wn. J. Bryan has bogun, through Tho
Commoner, a work which must, if it proves as
successful as Its Inception would Indicate, result
in permanent good to tho democratic party. IIo
asks every democrat to pledge himself to attend
all tho primaries of tho party to be hold between
now and tho next democratic national conven
tion, unless unavoidably prevonlo&jind to uso his
influence to secure a clear, unequivocal and
straightforward declaration of tho party's position
upon questions upon which tho voters of tho party
desiro to speak.
"In advocating this action Mr. Bryan says:
'This plan does ndt involve tho writing of a plat
form in advance of tho primaries; It docs not
rost upon the paramount Importance of any one
issue. It recognizes tho right of the democratic
voters to control the policy of the democratic
party, and to determine its position upon public
questions, It also recognizes tho Importance of
honesty and sincerity in politics."
"For years tho Gazette has unfailingly urged
tho democrats of Franklin county to attend tho
primaries of tho party when regularly called, be
lieving that tho Interest thus shown in formulat
ing tho policy and giving direction to tho desires
of Individual members of tho party organization
would result in party efficiency, and in keoping
alive and potent tho principles upon which tho
democratic party rests and upon which Its very
existence depends. Attendance at primaries also
materially assists those charged with the duties of
organizing campaign work to perfect an efllclent
and aggressive working organization and stimu
lates interest in public questions with which party
platforms aro concerned. Our efforts in this di
rection havo not always been successful, and It
has frequently been tho case that at times of
importance to democracy hardly sufllclcnt demo
crats have attended tho primaries to transact tho
baroly necessary details of selecting delegates and
in some towns even this work has been neglected.
The result has been Invariably Injurious to tho
party and local campaigns have lacked the vigor
and success which might have resulted had every
democrat performed his first duty by attending tho
primaries and followed this action by earnest and
.enthusiastic work for his party and Its candidates.
In a locality llko Franklin county, whoro tho
opposing party has a largo majority, the mainte
nance of an effective democratic organization Is
difficult enough at the best, but Jt Is doubly diffi
cult where democrats have fallen into the habit
of neglecting to attend primaries and allowing
a few of their party associates to bear all tho
burdens of party work. We therefore give our
willing assistance to Mr. Bryan's effort to awaken
democrats to tho importance of performing their
first and initial duty as such, and print below a
copy of the pledge to attend primaries, which
he suggests and desires to collect and tabulate
by election districts, counties, congressional dis
tricts .and states. Any Franklin county democrat
who desires to sign this pledge can fill out tho
blank, cut It from this column and forward It to,
this office, or If he prefers, can send the blank
direct to Mr. Bryan, directed to The Commoner,
Lincoln, Neb. Those, sent to this office will bo
duly forwarded to tho same destination."
The Bellaire, Ohio, Democrat, edited by G. W.
Shields urges its readers to sign the primary
pledge. Paragraphs from the editorial page of tho
Bellaire Democrat follow:
"Mr. Bryan's primary pledgo, while not new
in principle, Is having an Immense following, and
is as essential from a republican as a democratic
standpoint. The pledge blanks, which can be' had
from The Commoner office, will more emphatically
bring to mind the primary, which is too often hold
without three-fourths of the voters giving It a
thought, though they will hustle themselves half
crazy over tho general election, which Is merely
confirming the selection made In the primary.
Whether the pledge Is signed or not, the efforts
that will result in democratic success must begin
in the local voting precinct."
"The plan of Mr. Bryan, through Tho Com
moner, to get all members of the party possible to
sign a pledge to attend the primaries, is having
not only a direct, but indirect influence. Thero
are enough good people in the party to control
the selection of candidates, If they attend, and- if
signs don't fall there will be enough support given
them when nominated to elect both governor and
legislature if dnly the best men get on the ticket."
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