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8
The Commoner.
VOLUME 5, NUMBER 3j
GOOD EXAflPLE SET TO YOUNG MEN
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. Israel Fowler, of Madison, Ind. writes: "En
closed find 128 signatures to the primary pledge.
All democrats are pleased with it. Will use my
best efforts for the cause."
' Mr. Fowler is 84 years of age., He has set
an excellent example, for younger democrats. With,
a little effort on the part of every one who is anx
ious that the democratic party be - organized "hyt
r
the rank and file, every democrat could .be .en
rolled on the primary pledge list.
Recently the Brooklyn Eagle referring to Mr.
Bryan's "Back to the People" suggestion, asked
how to overcome the political inertness of the peo-,
pie. William Hemstreet, of Brooklyn, says
that its Inquiry "is the most timely and pregnant
of all questions that can come from a publicist,
whether national or international, foreign or do
mestic," and that "our confirmed electoral indiffer
ence in our business towns responds to Professor
Goldwiu Smith's prophecy that our doom is
gealed." Mr. Hemstreet adds:
The American people have deliberately
concluded that It is cheaper for them tp leave
their politics to the selfseekers than to bother
with it, with their occasionally voting against
their, party ticket to give the party managers
a touch of discipline.
But the folly of that is that the other
party managers are quite as bad. So the
politicians have concluded that the caucus is
their meat. As the people outnumber them
t ten to. one, why don't they also adopt the
caucus?
It has already become a question whether
tbe' American people will return to this simple
duty of the initiative voluntarily or be com
pelled to by law. Our electoral duties un-'
derlle all others; that was the meaning of the
revolution. We have got to come right down
to the caucus or give up our republic. No
, devices of the academicians will take the
place of our laziness and cowardice.
Mr. Bryan, with true old fashioned Ameri
can genius, sees the point, but does not go
quite far enough back. v
Nature and, practice have shown that the
caucus precedes the primary and, in popular
absence, rules it, so why shall not the state
adopt the caucus as it has adopted the pri
mary? The caucus is where the politicians
get their power to make and administer our.,
laws.
But the bulky people have one obstacle
that the few politicians have not, namely, "
the absence of a place of meeting in the
1 small election district. Then the people
must do j-vs the politicians do, take a private
house or office, or even the street corner as
a caucus to make up a ticket for the primary
that electa the conventions.
The countrymen have their town -hall.
The Board of Elections in the city ought to
-. provide a place" for party caucus, delibera
, tion as it -does' for the party primary. Then
let the state compel the attendance and
,. balloting there of every eligible voter on
pain of disfranchisement or fine. This -will--;
solve every civic and political problem. There
' is mot a village in this land that cannot give
this city points in civil government, be
cause their best men are in at the political
Initiatives.
: We vainly boast that we are American
sovereigns. .. Then let us be content to do
1 a sovereign's duty. It takes only two even-
ings a year of our stingy time. Until the
state adopts this coercion let r interested
j patriots get up, in their respective electoral
t districts, right about their own homes, a
caucus society. They are numerous enough
to take possession of the primaries and not
. half try. This will be a happy revolution,
', for the people are always disinterested, brave
'. public-spirited and wise. The step' Is so sim
: pie and natural that it has been overlooked.
1 , Charles Stephens, Columbus, Kas., writes:
"Believing that your plan for placing the voters on
record, by securing a pledge from each. to attend
all primaries and conventions, will be one of the
Twain factors in bringing' about a glorious victory
of the reform forces of this country in 1908, I
cheerfully send you my pledge. 1 tlo not do this
upon the theory that .1 will fail to perform my
duty in the absence of such a. pledge, but because
it will place me in touch with him whose life-
purpose is to devote his' entire time And energy in
air' effort to release the people from the grasp of
predatory corporations, which, for the want of bet
ter laws, are plundering the people of this coun
try. There is one thing that should be included
in the pledge, and that is, that each voter should
also agree to keep apace with the times, so that
he will know what to vote for when he attends
the primaries and conventions To this end, he
should take and carefully read The Commoner,
the greatest of all the great publications of its '
kind.
"After the death of my father, which occurred
when I was but a child, it was announced that
nothing had been left to me but my strength. Af
ter attaining my majority I found that I had fallen
heir to some valuable stock in the greatest cor
poration in the world; not In the Standard Oil
company, but in the corporation known as the
Government of the United States. At once
realizing that this corporation controls every dol
lar that goes into and out of my pocket, and
human liberty as well, I thereafter attended all
stockholders' meetings (primaries, conventions
and elections), in order that I might use my in
fluence and cast my vote, in the interest of the
great concern. Ever since I became a voter I
have been, unable to understand why some voters
pay absolutely np attention to these great "stock
holders' meetings," but always attend such meet
ings of another corporation, where they have ?5 or
$10 invested, and argue until they are red In the, t
face, over a matter which involves but a few' '
cents. This is, indeed, dne of the problems of the
age. I have a $25 share in a rural telephone
company, every share of the stock of which is
always represented at the annual stockholders'
meetings. When a motion is made by a stock
holder in favor of a certain plan we follow his
reasoning instead of our prejudice, and we vote
accordingly -as we see it, although we are mem
bers of different political - parties and of different
religious and fraternal organizations. We stand
by the institution instead of dividing up into differ
ent factions and standing by our respective fac-'
tions or parties, right 'or wrong. Why is it that
the business of this great country cannot be, con
ducted in the same way? Why is it that the cun
nings political manipulator can, with a wave of
the flag and a shout for "the good old party," se
cure the endorsement of a policy which puts mil
lions of the people's money into his poefcets? Why
i3 it that so many business men spend their .days
and nights trying to prevent the loss of a cent in
their private affairs and never give an unpreju
diced thought to their interest in the public busi
ness, where they are losing large suras through
the acts of their dishonest, self-serving public
servants? It is because they, look upon political
contests as they do on a baseball game and want .
their side to win, whether they liave the best man
or not. It is prejudice. . '
"By increasing the circulation of The Com-'
moner we will secure a better attendance at con
tentions, by those who have never signed the
pledge. I am offering to pay one-half of the sub
scription price on 100 subscriptions to your paper
from this county, believing that it is the best $30 '
investment that I can make in the interest of the
reform movement." ...
"
Extracts from letters received at The Com-'
moner office follow:
iiJ; B; Hi11, Gilmer' Tex. In your issue of the'
11th instant appeared a report from me concern
ing a list of 103 signatures to the primary pledce
Said communication was credited to J. Ben Hice'
when It should have been J. Ben Hill. Please let
this serve as a correction of the mistake
A. A. Hobson, Bristol, Va. I am an old man,
nearly 74 years of age, and have a large family
four boys and five girls and fourteen -grandchil-dren.
I have been a justice of the peace in this
city for about fifteen years. Am a, Virginian by
birth, and a democrat dyed In the wool. I wish
you success in your efforts.
Wm. Horchler, Newburg, W. Va. I herewith
send list of primary pledges, containing thirty-six
names. They are" all true and enthusiastic demo.
crats. I will g6t a list of subscribers for Tho
Commoner as. soon as I can. Democrats in this
cQun.ty are in a hopeless minority which makea
it hard to do missionary work, where it is so badly
needed. I will do my best. I am German, came
to this country January 3, 1855. The first voto
I cast was for Stephen A. Douglas. I have voted
for the democratic nominee ever sinceeven for
Parker but only on the advice of lue Commoner.
Grove C. Squire, Melrose, la. Enclosed find
pledge, signed by myself and a few. others. Had
every democrat taken such a pledge in 1903 tho
story throughout the country would have been
vastly different. . I am with the reform element
of the democratic party from now until 1908 in
case we can get the masses to act. Your plan is
the simplest and best I know of, and it seems to
be' reaching the body" from ocean to ocean. That
is the main thing all must be reached and all in
terested. J. A. Russell, Piggott, Ark. Enclosed find my
pledged I have always' voted the democratic
ticket. I long to s,ee the day when right, truth
and justice will rule this nation of ours. I am 59
years old. I am, a reader of The Commoner and
wish it success in the doctrines it teaches.
G. C. Spain, Weston, W. Va. I am glad to
know that I -can send you thirty-six of my neigh
bors' names signed to the primary pledge. I ap
prove the plan laid down in The Commoner so
that the truth and the right may prevjiil. I have
always voted the' democratic ticket and always
will.
George Dinsmore, Little Hocking, R. L En
closed find list of those signing the primary
pledge. This list might, be extended, as every
yqtqr who is in favc?r of democratic principles is
in favor and anxious to sign. We all realize the
importance of attending the primaries. Some
times we hardly have as many as are necessary
to do the business decidedly a lack of interest.
C. T. Reynolds, West Hamlin, W. Va It gives
me great pleasure to assist you what little I cau
in the great and good cause you are advocating.
It needs no arguments to get the democrats in this
community to sign the pledge. I enclose twenty
five pledges.
B. J.- Wilson, Selica, N. C Enclosed find a
list of signatures to the primary pledge. You
might send a sample copy of The Commoner to
each pi! them. . I wish every democrat in tho
county would take it. I am now 66 years old,
and can't get around like young people.
N. J. Pierce, Springfield, Mo. Enclosed find
primary pledge filled out. These men are all
warm friends' of The Commoner'and will carry
out this pledge.
A. T. Ferguson,: Pinnacle, N. C After con
sidering the primary pledge since March I think
it is a great plan to bring the democrats through
out the United States together. Too many men
think they should not take Interest in primary
work, and wait for a few bosses to meet at the
places appointed for conventions ahd put up such
men as suit them. The common man's voto
counts at an election as much as John D. Rocke
feller's or Morgan's, and the latter work un
ceasingly from year to year for their interest,
while the poor man should be more interested
than they, for such men as Rockefeller can live
under any administration, while the masses aro
ground down to poverty. I sign the pledge in
good faith and will work for the betterment of
the people.
J. S. McCHntoclv Deadwood, 'S. D. I am
pleased to .send in the names of twenty more
democrats from different sections of the Black
Hills, who have signed the primary pledge and
will be at the front doing all they can for the
righteous cause ,of democracy.
LaVergne Orton attorney, Humboldt, Kas.
You will please find enclosed the primary pledge,
signed and endorsed. It is a great idea, and one
whteh all loyal democrats should heartily endorse.
The time to commence the battle is. today, and
npt wait until tomorrow. Our enemies are well
organized; that is one of the essential's to success,
and, let every true democrat prepare for the great
battje that is sure vtobe fought in 1908: The prin
ciples advocated by William J. Bryan are the oniy
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