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The Commoner.
AUGUST 18, 1905
9
ESPOUSES THE CAUSE OF THE PEOPLE
. -Tij, ii.ui,uiMpywaifjwfiwpwiHikWl) JP'wmw
views on public questions. He said to me this
morning that a re-organization of the democratic
party was no doubt necessary.
J. M. Massingill, Piggott, Ark., -I think the
plan and policy of Mr. Bryan to thoroughly or
ganize the democratic party is good. I heartily
endorse the movement. I am an old confederate
soldier with three long years of service.
E. E. Daniel, Poteau, I. T., Please find en
closed primary pledge with thirty-five names.
I am proud to see the democrats of the United
States responding to the call. The destiny of the
democratic party is safe in the hands of the rank
and file. This move will encourage them to re
newed activity and we will have another con
vention similar to 1896. Success to The Com
moner and the cause for which it labors.
N. E. Sharp, probate judge, Norman, Okla.,
Enclosed find five primary pledges signed. I am
convinced that your plan is a good one and
ohould receive the hearty support of all true
democrats. The selection of candidates by pri
mary Is essentially democratic and naturally
appeals to the spirit of fairness in every good
citizen. Nothing I think at this time could do
more to unite the party and prepare it to pre
sent a solid front in future battles.
Mike Burns, Iron River, Mich., I am very
much pleased with your work of primary pledges.
We need more readers of The Commoner in
this section. I will do my best from this time
on for you.
The Farmlet, published -at Saylorsburg, Pa.,
and edited by F. S. Brong, says: "W. J. Bryan's
Commoner is actively engaged in rallying the scat
tered democratic hosts. We earnestly recom
mend the primary pledge plan to our readers.
Particulars either at this office or of The Com
moner, Lincoln, Nebraska.
Ed. F. Poorman, Humboldt, 111., Enclosed
I am forwarding fourteen signers to the pri
mary pledge; also two renewal subscriptions to
The Commoner. I have been interested in the
letters from pledge signers, and I note with
pleasure the great success that Is attending the
circulation df the pledge blanks. These letters
from all over the country show conclusively that
Mr. Bryan's plan is a success, but how could it
be otherwise when it recognizes the great founda
tion principle of 'free government, the great cor
nerstone of this republic the right of the ma-1
jority to rule? A number of writers have sug
gested that pledge signers wear buttons. I won
der if The Commoner could not, when the or
ganization has been sufficiently perfected, get out
buttons and have printed on them that great
popular expression, "Back To The People." The
Commoner could charge a small price for the
buttons enough to cover expenses ind send
them to every organization. Would not this add
to the growing enthusiasm among the pledge
signers?
n. D. Curtis, Albion, N. Y. Why don't the
eastern democrats wake up as western and
southern democrats have done, and send in their
primary pledges? I wish they would. It is the
best chance they ever had to shake off corrup
tion. Enclosed I send the primary pledge signed
by good democrats.
C. R. Lewis, Milton, W. Va., In signing the
primary pledge, (herein enclosed) I take no
additional obligations or trouble, other than the
effort of writing this line. Forty-four years ago
I was born of abolition republican parentage, in
old Virginia. I am proud to say I have never,
from childhood up, advocated any political doc
trine except democracy, and have voted the
ticket straight in three states Virginia, Ken
tucky and West Virginia. I have never missed
a primary, convention or election, municipal
county or state, where I was entitled to a voice
or a vote, in my life. Judge Parker was not my
choice, but I voted for him and am not ashamed
of it. Under like circumstances, would do it
again, though we differ widely, as to party prin
ciples and policy.
Charles E. Furr, Lutesville, Mo., You will
find enclosed my primary pledge. I have ne
glected for some time to send it in, knowing that
it could not increase my faith In the principles of
popular representation. I believe that the senti
ment of every individual democrat is a unit of
the conscience of the party aggregate, and that
the outward manifestation of every true democrat
will serve to exemplify the immaculate policy
of the whole. I believe it would also bo bene
ficial to party interests if every loyal democrat
would pledge himself to keep a personal vigil
towards party purity and endeavor to eliminate,
and hold aloof from, party bosslsm and thoso
leeches and parasites that would prostituto the
sacred tenets of the party to selfish ends. The
exigencies of the times, I think, would Justify
this. I believe the stock blood of democracy was
as puro as ever ilowed through patriotic veins,
and that it will "tell," and right will prevail.
Better reconstruct on a solid foundation, con
crete of puro policy, determined action and pop
ular representation on which to build up a templo
dedicated to free government against which the
tempest of avarice, greed and corruption shall
not prevail. Best wishes for the continued suc
cess of The Commoner.
John Stuart, Whitewater, Kans., I will bo
eighty-eight years old the 14th of October, 1905.
Was a democrat and a justice of the peace In
Greenbriar county West Virginia, at the out
break of, and during the civil war. Have always
been a democrat, yet, while on account of fail
ing strength am unable to take part in primaries
and conventions, I wish to sign the primary
pledge as I believe it to be a movement in tho
right direction to bring this government back to
the people.
J. S. Arthur, Beckwith, W. Va., Enclosed
please find my primary pledge and fivo others.
I think there are others here who will sign, and
I think it their duty to do so. I heartily endorse
the plan recommended by you for marshaling
the democratic forces in 1908. If it is not asking
too much I would like for you to. send a copy of
The Commoner to those who have signed tho
pledge. Best wishes for the success of The Com
moner. George W. Hall, Noblcsville, Ind., Please
find enclosed primary pledge signed by thirty-five
democrats. The move is a good one, it is a step
in line of preparation for the initiative and,
referendum, which measure, would be a great
reform in the way of the people governing, pro
vided the masses take interest and inform them
selves, as to what the laws are, and what the
laws should be. I am pleased to see The Com
moner coming to the front on public ownership
of public utilities. That it appears would be tho
surest plan to settle the "watered stock" questipn.
Charles C. Garrison, Kendaia, N. Y. Your
primary pledge plan is certainly to be commended.
I believe I can see therein a chance in the
future for the rank and file of the party to fight
honestly for honest principles.
Mathew Hill, Golden, Mo., Enclosed please
find primary pledge with twenty-two signatures.
Every one to whom I have talked considers the
primary pledge an honest and a good plan for
organizing the party.
Robert Lee Osburn, Gower, Mo., Enclosed
find primary pledge. If time would permit I could
get every democrat in my township, as they were
never moro anxious to vote than now. Our
county went wrong last election. Tho people
were right, but tho head of tho ticket was wrong.
Put a domocrat at tho helm and sco what Missouri
will do. I had tho honor of being tho first agent
for Tho Commoner In my township.
The Lako Providence, La., Sentry, edited by
E. Wayles Brown, says: "Tho Commoner,
has taken upon itself a work which will
revolutionize to a great extent tho democratic
party. Its work, which Is already reaping mar
velous results, Is simple, but an effective anti
dote for corruption in tho democratic party. Its
requirements nre these: to sign and send tho
following pledge to Tho Commoner, where It
will bo filed along with the thousands that arc
dally received. Every democrat Is asked to
pledge himself to attend all tho primaries of his
party to bo held between now and the next
democratic national convention, unless unavoid
ably prevented and to use his Influence to secure
a clear, honest and straightforward declaration of
the party's position on every question upon which
the voters of the party desire to speak. Those
desiring to bo enrolled can either write to Tho
Commoner approving tho object of the organiza
tion and asking to have their names entered on
the roll, or they can fill out and mall tho blank
pledge which Is printed In The Commoner. It
will require time to cover tho entire field, but If
democrats co-operate, tho desired result will be
acompllshed. Send Tho Commoner your own
primary pledge and then ask your neighbor to
do likewise."
The Charlotte (Michigan) Tribune, published
by Perry and Perry, and edited by Gcorgo A.
Perry, supports tho primary pledge plan. In a
letter to The Commoner Editor Perry says: I
was born ito republican fold, and received from
republicans my first lessons favoring bimetallism.
In 189C, when Mr. McKlnley changed to gold
standard I changed to Bryan and did what I
could for what seemed to me to be the people's
cause. Repeated my allegiance In 1900. In 1904
the causes that led me to oppose McKlnley caused
me to oppose Parker and I did my level best for
Mr. Roosevelt. I do not feel that I have any
right to advise democrats, as such, to attend the
caucuses and stand up for principle, but I advise
all men who love their country and who would
wrest It from the trust manipulators to forgot
party and adhere to principles. It seems to
me that Mr. Roosevelt has been "raised up" for
a purpose to make the trust swine "get their
feet out of the trough." If he shall fail then let's
try tho next best man, no matter of what party,
with an eye single to the welfare of our national
go-ornment. The enclosed editorial will give my
idea more fully. I care not one whit for any
party except as It can be operated to save the
principles established by the founders and pre
serve ours as a government of, by and for the
people. The salvation of the nation will corao
from independent voting If at all."
V
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THE PRIMARY PLEDGE
I promise to attend all the primaries of my party to be held between now and
the next Democratic National Convention, unless unavoidably prevented, and to use
my influence to secure a clear, honest and straightforward declaration of the party'i
position on every question upon which the voters of the party desire to speak.
Signp.fl
Postoffico.
n Street.
I County
State.
Voting precinct or -ward.
63 Fill out Blanks and mail to Commoner Office, Lincoln, Nebraska.
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