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AUGUST 25, 1905
The Commoner.
9
TAKING THE PARTY "BACK TO THE PEOPLE"
gone too far to retreat, so with silent chagrin
it received his famous gold standard telegram.
The rank and file of democracy became disgusted
at the temerity of this self-constituted apostle of
such unknown quantities of democracy. To ac
cept this anomalous situation was more than
many of our ablest supporters could do. More
than two million democrats refused to lay down
their manhood and self-respect to support Judge
Parker, as his infamous telegram was a direct
indiscreet flaunt, if not an open Insult to the
intelligence of the party. It would have been
better for the -party if the St. Louis convention
had pulled downs its nominee and adjourned
without nominating rather than to have gone
before the people with a candidate whose first
act was to repudiate the principles which have
always been recognized as fundamental and
reaffirmed in our national platform in 189G and
1000. If the democratic party intends to command
self-respect, it must not choose for its standard
bearers men whose garments are musty with the
cess polls of special interest, but it must
produce a candidate in full sympathy with the
people, who will dictate a platform to him that
will be so clean that we will be sure of reform
if we succeed in electing our candida.e. But the
hand writing is on the wall and its interpretation
is that the masses of democracy will not tolerate
another 1904 convention. It will have no dallying.
But it is ready and anxious to do battle for prin
ciple. Ben A. Bouldin, Millsville, Okla. With all
the patriotic ardor and devotion to my country's
cause, that a boy, southern in principle, habits
and education, yet, national In the broader spirit
of 'democratic institutions and popular govern
ment,! pledge my fidelity and ardent support to
the great democratic party, whose shattered col
umns are to be reorganized for the next great
national conflict. We feel that justice - is the
one great cause for which we battle, that right
between man and man is the principle we wish
for and hope to establish. In this great democ
racy, we know no north, no south, but only native
land. We still march, not under a southern ban
ner, but under the banner of common interest to
the common people.
W. P. Lowe, Sr., Falling Springs, W. Va.,
Please find enclosed my primary pledge. Salt it
down for keeps.
J. Polk Hughes, Carlinville, 111. I was always
belonged to the democratic party. I want a
change I want to join a party of democrats with
emphasis on the word; a party that will meet in
primary elections and conventions and select a
ticket of democrats of good sound democratic
principles.
F. W. McComas, Concord, Fla. Enclosed
find my primary pledge signed. 1 believe G-cent
cotton has caused the gold democrats and re
publicans to forget who is president of the United
States or who has control of our government.
Anyway, I can't get a talk out of them on politics.
But as they walk away I take great pleasure in
telling them it is good old republican times,
G-cent cotton and their votes that gave us those
good things. I think Roosevelt needs some good
truL-made bumpers to wear when he goes to
purchase material for the Panama canal, as he
will come in contact with pointed facts that it
is much worse for the masses to be compelled
to purchase their supplies at home under a high
protective tariff, at high prices all the time than
it is for the present administration to go to a
foreign market to purchase canal supplies that
could be manufactured by home industries and
sold by home merchants under a lower tariff,
thereby giving more business to industries, mer
chants and laborers. I would say that it would
bo good of President Roosevelt if he would in
vite his cabinet officials and all tariff barons
that would accept an invitation to go with him
shopping. Now that the tariff barons have their
business "jammed" by the howl of their pet to
purchase canal supplies in foreigh markets to
avoid high prices imposed by- sheltered monopo
lies, what will they say in vindication of the fact
that it is the republican party that has sheltered
and built them up, until even our president sees
the advisability of .a purchase elsewhere. If this
is. the land of the free, why are a' few allowed to
enslave the many?
Skidmore Munsy, Lashmeet, W. Va. I want
you to know that I am as true a. democrat as
you are. I never scratch my ticket. I like your
paper and expect to take it as long as I can
raise a dollar. It has so much sense in it. I
am almost eighty-two years old. Put mo on the
primary, list. I will do all I can for you and the
democratic party. I think the party has a great
work before it.
A. W. Miller, Hartland, MaineI herewith
send primary pledge. This has been my life-long
custom and meets with my sincere approval. I
would suggest that the young men Just approach
ing the voting age, bo induced to attend primary
meetings and conventions so that the principles
of democracy will bo fully understood and im
pressed upon their minds while young and
honest. My father used to take mo to conven
tions when I was a boy and the democratic knowl
edge acquired and the impression thus formed has
enabled me to resist all the influences to waver
or be unfaithful which in our state are very strong.
Yours for. the safety of our country.
Rev. W. T. Spencer, Drew, Mo. Enclosed you
will find my primary pledge properly signed. I
think every democrat ought to wake up and help
to marshal the democratic hosts under the flag
of equal rights to all and special privileges to
none.
Henry Traners, Woodstock, Wis. Pleas6
find enclosed list of fourteen signatures to the
primary pledge. These are all good, square demo
crats. H. C. Cowarden, Martin, Tenn. Enclosed
find thirty pledges. I sent in a list a month ago
with about twenty names. My business is such
that I haven't the time I would like to devote to
this, for I feel there is a vital importance to the
rank and file of. democracy in this move. I will
do all I can to further the cause.
J. W. Fassett, Flat Creek, Ky. With this
you find thirty-five signatures to your primary
pledge. Not one showed any reluctance about
signing, and all seemed to think it a move in the
right direction. I was born in Montgomery,
August 10, 1829, therefore am an old man. I
am a farmer, nine miles from town, and spend
most of my time at home, therefore have been
slow in gathering the names of these good demo
crats. I heartily approve of your plan of improv
ing and purifying the party.
Jonas McClintock, Harnedsville, Pa. I send
you primary pledge. I heartily approve of the
'plan of the primary pledge. If the people had
attended the primaries, traitors like Hill, Bel
mont, Cleveland, and the editors of papers like
the- Brooklyn Eagle and New York World would
not have been able to dictate the platform and
choose the candidate against the will of the peo
ple, as they did last fall. If the democratic party
.eve.' expects to win it must be democratic. I
walked fifty miles in 1896 in order to get a
chance to cast my vote for William .7. Bryan.
I r.:.i one of those democrats who believe that the
ills which afflict our industrial and commercial
life are attributable to the unnatural distribution
of earnings, growing out of undue concentration
of capital and monopoly; that the unnatural
distribution results in periodic "over production"
with the over prosent accompaniment of Indus
trial doprosslon and "hard times;" that the na
tural distribution of the products of industry aro
to bo secured by such remodeling of tho taxing
system as will prevent undue concentration of
industrial interests, and the fostering of monop
oly; that tho naturnl law of competition Is tho
trro and only medium in which success may bo
achieved In tho various departments of Indus
trial life. I am in favor of a graduated property
tax.
Charles Townscnd, Woedsport, N. Y., I en
close primary pledge. Every democrat should
sign and koep this pledge. Wo must start at the
source tho primary If we are to win out. Thore
is no doubt that the present Infallible will hob up
as tho "logical" candidate in 1908. The Wall
Street Journal calls him an "idol," and If Wall
street wants its idol to run, that ends It. And
there is good salt In Wall street's hall. Mr.
Roosevelt has taken good care of plutocracy and
greed. The Merger case was a cheap fizzle.
None of tho Merger criminals we;.r stripes. Mr.
Knox plainly said that they should not, and his
reward was a purchased seat In the senate. Mr.
Root, the Merger lawyer, Is now the Infallible's
chief advisor. In tho Panama humbug Mr. Rooae
velt again proved his love for plutocracy. The
railroads opposed the canal for years. When
they saw that the people were bound to have
one they declared loudly for the Panama route,
because they knew it could never be built. And
behold! Mr. Roosevelt's melodious voice join 2d
in the cry; and the cowardly crime against a
sister republic followed. And so Mr. Roosevelt
te the Idol of the railroads. A Panama employe
loft his job for a better one, and Mr. Taft abused
him for so doing. Paul Morton left his cabinet
job to become president of the corrupt and rot
ten Equitable company. Was he abused? Never.
Mr. Roosevelt not only praised him in a fulsome
letter, but refused justice a chance to punish Paul.
Morever his act prevented any of Paul's fellow
Jpw-violators from being Jailed. And so Mr.
Roosevelt Is the Idol of the big law-violators.
If a man lets slip a government report or steals a
fo dollars, then Mr. Roosevelt gets busy. Eyes
flash, the big stick Is flourished and a rancous
voice demands a "square deal." His henchmen
shriek In their papers, and there Is a great
how-d'-do. And he Is the idol of the set, backed
or controlled as it is by Wall street. Mr. Roose
velt talks and talks and talks; but not one big
criminal, not one of the scoundrels in oil, coal,
railroads, not one member of the tariff-bolstered
trusts is behind the bars and Mr. Roosevelt will
fake care that none ever get there.' And so lie
is the idol of these people. Roosevelt's big talk
is merely much wind. This fact must be kept
in mind. Ills words and his deeds must he closely
compared, or, barring accidents, this man will
be the republican candidate in 1908, despite his
strenuous declaration to the contrary. So let
us be up and doing. And this primary pledge ia
a long step in the right direction.
THE PRIMARY PLEDGE
I promise to attend all the primaries of my party to lie 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's
position on every question upon which the voters of the party desire to speak.
Street.
Signed.
Postofiice..
Statt
County.
Voting precinct or ward.
&T Fill out Blanks and mail to Commoner Office, Lincoln, Nebraska.
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