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The Commoner.
VOLUME 5, NUMBER 22
FROM HEN GROWN GRAY IN THE SERVICE
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Among the letters respecting the
primary pledge plan so far published
in. The Commoner many have been
written by men who have grown gray
in the service of their party. Doubt
less every Commoner reader who has
studiod this movement has been im
pressed with this fact. These gray
haired men arc in a position to-give
wholesome counsel and none of the
many interesting letters received in
The Commoner office are more inter
esting or instructive than those writ
ten by fine old democrats who have
pride in their party and who Hope
that it may l.rove true to itself by J
being true to the people. It is a good,
sign when the old democrat takes
the opportunity to give advice to
younger party colleagues. And it
is also a good sign when the
younger men, some of them in their
teens, manifest an int est in the or
ganization of their party. The Com
moner published a number of letters
from lads who will i 008 cast their
first presidential vote, and no letter
is more 'welcome than that written
by the young man just entering upon
a period of active party service, or
that written by the man who, having
grown too gray and Infirm for active
physical effort in behalf of his po
litical organization, gives to younger
democrats that counsel and advice
which is unquestionably appreciated
by The Commoner readers. Letters
from the older democrats , do the
younger democrats great good and
give them great satisfaction, and the
letters from the democratic lads give
the democratic gray-beards great
pleasure. For instance, J. D. Porter,
an 80 year old democrat living at
Monmouth, 111.) writes: "I am very
much encouraged by the letters of
democrats under 21 years of age,
pledging themselves to attend the pri
maries and labor to send delegates
and nominate true Jeffersonian in
corruptible men as representatives of
our party. Today I enter on my 80th
year, and am working hard -to get
all the democrats of this city and
and county to form a democratic club
or league in order to support our
county paper and endorso this pri
mary pledge. I am encouraged to
think these young patriots will havo
many years to labor for our country
wnen i am gone. They show more
patriotism than many, either north
or south, who risked their lives from
1862 to 1865, for peace is better than
war, and has solemn duties."
On the other hand, Edwin Hughes,
a Nebraska boy sojourning at Bed
ford City, Va., writes: "Enclosed find
primary pledge. I am not old enough
to vote, but will bo by the next presi
dential election. I am a Nebraskan
and am only in Virginia temporarily.
The campaign of 1896 convinced mo
that the democratic party stood for
principles, and hope the party will
nominate a man for president in 1908
who -.ill get out among the people and
express his views on the different is
sues like Mr. Bryan. I am a great
admirer of Mr. Bryan and the prin
ciples ho advocates."
A seventy-seven year o . democrat,
John A. Miller of Yountville, Calif.,
writes: "An honest and energetic in
terest in primaries is the key that
unlocks tho door for conventions, in
which tho people may express their
wishes, whether for government own
ership of public utilities, or other
needs demanding consideration, ac
cording to democratic nrinoinip
Contra: Monopoly aided bv thn "on.
hesivo power of public plunder," locks
out tho people, and selects their own
kind by invisible methods to control
conventions, whoso nominees are se
lected to promoto class legislation and
retain public utilities under private
control. The most important consid
erations are subject to fears, lest
the people combine to deprive the
predatory rich custodians of monopo
lies of the ill-gotten wealth flowing
into, their pockets. -My 80th year will
be 1908. But I have sons."
R. C. Tousley of Holley, N. Y., who
cast his first presidential vote in 1856
writes: "I enclose my pledge duly
signed. I approve or your plan. I
cast my first democratic? vote for
James Buchanan and have voted the
straight democratic ticket ever since.
In 1896 I voted for W. J. Bryan al
though holding a commission as
fourth class postmaster at the time
under Cleveland, whose last adminis
tration I could not endorse, and I sent
in my resignation of office. In 1900 I
voted for Bryan; in 1901 I voted for
Parker just to keep regular, but it
hurt my conscience to do so, as he
was far from being my choice, and
my heart was with the principles ad
vocated by Bryan."
Rev. Joseph Nichols of Musselman,
Ohio, cast his first presidential vote
in 1852. Mr. Nichols writes: "I
strongly endorse the primary pledge
movement as advocated by the editor
of The Comomner. My first vote was
cast for Franklin Pierce for presi
dent in 1852. I have voted at every
presidential election since, and voted
for democrats, except when I voted
for H. Greeley, and A. B. Parker. I
am heartily tired of compromises, and
would rath r go down in defeat with
a platform such as we had in 1896
and 1900 than to succeed with half
way democrats. I have always been
a strong advocate of 'the primary plan
and have done what I could to keep
the government, township, county,
state and national, as near the people'
as possible. I have no patience with
'cut and dried' conventions. While
I have held several offices of trust,
with some honor attached, and was
three times insisted on to accept the
nomination on the democratic ticket
for representative, and was four years
chairman of the congressional com
mittee of the Eleventh Congressional
district of Ohio, yet I realized that
being a minister of the gospel it was
not best to dabble too much in poli
tics. But I want to emphasize one
thing: I am an uncompromising Jef
ferson, Jackson and Bryan democrat,
and would be glad to live long enough
to see a pure and undefiled democrat
elected and inaugurated president of
the United States of America. In
my humble sphere I will do what
I can whilo I live to bring about this
end. Please find inclosed signed
pledge. Please send me some blank
pledges and I will try to have them
signed and will send them to you
later. Yours for a government of the
people, by the people and for the
people."
R. B. Parker, pf Birch Tree, Mo.,
writes: "Enclosed find primary pledge
with fifty-one signers. I take great
pleasure in sending them. I think
it a step in the right direction. I
have taken interest' in all primaries
and democratic conventions since old
enough to vote. Mv first vote was for
John C. Breckenridge. After nomin?
tlons are made I support the ticket."
Extracts from other letters follow:
J. B. Hill, Gilmejr, Tex. Mr. Bryan's
plan is good enough for me. He is
considered to be, by myself, as well
as all my neighbors, a sincere And
safe leader of the f miocracy of this
nation, never ceasing to battle for
tne ngnts of the common people
against unjust usurpation by the mon
ey power.
J. S. Hungate, Lamed, Okla. Peace
has duties no less than war, and as
I believe in the principles of the dem
ocratic party, I consider it my duty
as a citizen to labor for its success.
As we should use every means to
eliminate corrupt influences, I most
willingly sign the pledge.
Charles R. Glenn, Recorder of
Deeds, Lamar, Mo. Enclosed find
primary pledge with 35 signers. All
signed cheerfully and all glad to help
push the good work along. I heartily
endorse your platform of principles,
your plan of organization and wish you
abundant success in your valiant fight
against the encroachments of corpor
ate wealth. May the good work con
tinue. L. C. Harsh, Ponca City, Okla. En
closed find primary pledge signed. I
have been a constant reader of The
Commoner since the first issue, and
if I could be persuaded today that
there was biit one man left that would
stand for the right regardless of
what the consequences might be, 1
would without hesitating follow where
he leads. Believing that right finally
prevails, I predict that in the near fu
ture we will win a glorious victory for
the people.
Edward K. Ellefson, Lawyer, Ivan
hoe, Minn. I herewith enclose pri
mary pledge signed by me. I consider
this a good plan. When the voters
get together and vote at primaries a
great step towards truly popular gov
ernment has been taken. Let every
democrat sign the pledge and let us
know that we have a force of intelli
gent and honest voters in 1906 and
1908.
S. P. Trimmer, and M. H. Lind,
Baders, 111. Enclosed please find pri
mary pledge signed, believing this a
true way to get the common people
together. I have always voted the
good democratic principles and always
shall so long as the ideas of our great
leader are upheld. I do with all my
heart favor th j idea of A. J. Elias
of Elias & Bro. Lumber company,
Buffalo, N. Y., in the issue of June
2, 1905. Let every voter attend the
primaries of all parties, and vote only
for the man that believes in reform
and honest government for the masses
that our laws may be enforced and
bribers, grafters and boodlers will
have to seek other fields. Throw
away the yoke, of partyism and work
for principle and good government.
J. M. McDaniel. Lexineton. Kv.
I heartily endorse The Commoner's
plan to organize the party. Enclosed
find signed pledge.
Milton Curtis, Beckley, W. Va.
Please find enclosed 20 names to the
primary pledge. This is the best plan
to organize and make democratic
principles successful. I could get
hundreds more and I can safely say
that this county will instruct its dele
gates. I had almost lost hope, but
W. J. Bryan, The j Commoner and the
primary pledge give me courage for
another hard pull, so now all together
and the "government back to the peo
P1 " and out of the hands of plutoc
racy will be the result. Let this be
the battle cry for it is the "paramount
issue." All others are subordinate
and cannot be fairly and justly set
tled as long as moneyed aristocracy
controls each branch of our govern
ment. I wish The Commoner, W. J.
Bryan and all other reformers long
life and success.
Claude Desha, County Clerk, Cyn
thlana, Ky. I will take pleasure in
devoting as much time as I can spare
from my other duties to the work of
helping to organize the democratic
party in this community, boing satis
fied that upon the success of its or
ganization depends the perpetuity of
our republican institutions and the
maintenance of the great organic law
of this republic, which guarantees and
alone can secure equality of opportu
nity to 'each and every one of its citi
zens. And again, if we wish and e
pect to prevent a repetition of th
disgraceful occurrances at the St
Louis convention last summer-which
in my opinion brought about the most
disastrous defeat which the demo.
cratic party has ever met we must
be thoroughly organized. I send yOU
herewith the following list of names
with their postoffice address, to each
of whom I would suggest that you
send your circular letter and a cony
of The Commoner.
J. E. Dickey, Rochester, Mont.I
promised you when last I wrote you
that I would send you some names
from this place for the primary pledge.
I did not have blanks so send you
list with the form of pledge I find
in The Commoner, and if you desiro
the regular blanks form filled out in
lieu of what I send you, send me the
blanks and will see they are attended
to. We are all in sympathy witli the
move of The Commoner and bolieve
it will win. All the names furnished
are true blue and will stay with tho
old ship of true democracy.
J. D. Smith, Crawford, Colo. I here
with hand you my pledge and will
heartily support your llan. Every
voter should attend primaries as a
matter of business, and we need to
organize and do missionary work as
well as pledge. This plan well fol
lowed, would have saved to the people
of Colorado many thousands of dol
lars, and the disgraceful proceedings
last winter at our state capital.
R. B. Arnold, Lovilia, la. I hope
the way is now open that leads us to
victory in the cause of true democ
racy. Judging by the writhings and
contortions of the G. O. P. over the
Taft order it seems as if they have
it under the fifth rib and the blow
comes from the house of friends. It
Lis likely to be the death knell of the
party. Let the light go on. It Is
another case of "Acteon devoured by
his own dogs," and if Teddy should
rend the party in twain he will be
hailed as a second Andrew Jackson.
The Taft order is all right and is in
the interest of everyDody except tho
tariff barons. Wishing The Com
moner prosperity, I am yours for
progressive democracy.
O. F. Snider, Basil, Ohio. Enclosed
find pledge signed. A democratic na
tional convention should represent
the sentiment of the rank and file of
the party to the greatest possible de
gree and this can be accomplished
by the voters attending the primaries.
The government should li kept close
to the people and this cannot be done
unless the party's policies are the
voice of the people.- We should havo
no more republicanized conventions
and no more gold telegrams, but dem
ocratic democracy should be all and
in all.
John W. Tyler, Lone Wolf, Okla.
For the purpose and effect of organiza
tion I herewith enclose primary
pledge. I hope the party organiza
tion may be such as to assure a full
and complete expression of the true
democratic voters throughout the na
tion at their mass meetings and con
ventions, and that railroad attornevs
with an unlimited number of passes
at their command for the purpose of
sending plutocrats and their subser
vient tools to conventions to misrep
resent the people may be made to feel
and understand that their unholy work
will not be tolerated longer by tho
democratic party,
E. Curtis, Harper, W. Va. I do hope
that something will be done that wo
may get out a democratic ticket in
1908. I don't want to swallow such
a pill as I had to take last fall, or
I shall lie likely to go off with the
populists or something else worse.
Gus R. Voigt, New TJlm, Tex.-
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