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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 6, 1905)
tfl', i. 8 ' The Commoner. vle5, number 3, MISSOURI TAKES LEAD IN PRIMARY PLEDGES In the number o primary pledges returned to The Commoner office, Missouri democrats have clearly a lead over thoso of other states. West Virginia is a close second; Illinois, third; Ohio, fourth; Oklahoma, fifth; Texas, sixth; Pennsyl vania, seventh; Indiana, eighth; Kansas, ninth; Iowa, tenth; Now York, eleventh, and Indian Territory, twelfth. Democrats from every state and territory in the union have sent primary pledges in consid erable numbers, but the work has just begun, and The Commoner calls upon its readers every where to make a special effort to obtain the signature of every one of their democratic neigh bors. Even though you make it a practice to attend primaries, don't withhold your pledge. By signing you will set a good example for your care less neighbor. This is not to be the work of a day nor of several days. It is to be the work of months and of years. The field is a large one and to cover it time and effort will be required, but if democrats co-operate the desired result will be accomplished. Every democrat is asked to pledge himself to attend all of the primaries of his party to be held between now and the next democratic national convention, unless un avoidably prevented, and to secure a clear, hon est and straight-forward declaration of the party's position on every question upon which the voters of the party desire to speak. Those desiring to be enrolled can either write to The Commoner .approving the object" of the organization and asking to have their names entered on the roll, M or they can fill out and mail the blank, pledge, which is printed on this page. Extracts from letters received at The Com moner office follow: M. S. Ray, Cassville, Mo. Although I am not old enough to vote in the primaries of my party, I have signed the primary pledge, and gotten sev- eral of my friends to do so with me, which was no trouble at all. If I had time I could get very nearly every democrat in this county to sign it. I think the plan a good one, as is everything else The Commoner does. For instance, if the demo crats of this county and state had listened to The Commoner, the Hon. Francis Marion Cockrell would be in the United States senate, Sam B. Cook, one of the best democrats that ever voted would bo secretary of state for Missouri, and the Hon. Thomas Ruby, lieutenant governor, and sev eral other good democrats, too numerous to men tion. I am a strong believer in the words of the late Richard Parks Bland, "Put the cause above the man"; and work for the strongest ticket from .constable up, regardless of friend or foe. I am of the opinion that great good will be done for the democrats by 1908. Jay A. Haight, Syracuse, N. Y. Enclosed please find my primary pledge. Mr. Bryan is doing a good work for a noble cause in promoting this primary pledge and all true democrats hope the majority will rule on primary days and not enough floaters be bought to change the will of the people for the benefit of the corporations. George H. Bell, Fowlstown, Ga. I enclose a pledge with 11 signatures. S. P. Moore, Jefferson City, Mo. Please find 20 signatures to the primary pledge. I could get many more if I had the time. As this is the capi tal of. the state, everybody is more or less a poli tician. Nearly every one attends their party pri maries. I hope that the democrats everywhere may get together and in 1908 we may be able to nominate a true democrat on pure democratic principles. And if we have to die let us die with democratic boots on, and not as we did in 1904, with a democratic boot on one foot and'a republi can boot on the other. C. Brant, Hillsboro, Ind. I send you the names of 52 democrats who signed your primary pledge. I have been a little slow in getting this list made out, but as I am close to 78 years of age I am not very spry to get about. All whom -I approached willingly, signed except two. D. B. Williams, Brenham, Texas. You will find enclosed primary pledge list filled out. These men live in Brenham and near by, and always work for our party. The first vote I ever cast was for a democrat, and I have never failed to vote for the nominee of the party, and I hope to live until the next democratic convention and have the pleasure of voting for some good democrat. F. B. Barrick, Holland, Ore. Find enclosed 24 signatures to the primary pledge. They are all good, loyal democrat. Caught two silver re publicans who are now democrats. I ran across a few who would bo democrats if they had a little training. I hope I will be able to get more, yet this is a mining town and a bad season of the year to find people at home, as most of them are in the hills prospecting. Sucess to The Com moner and Mr. Bryan. T. McNeely, Duncombe, Iowa. I am an old soldier and used to vote republican ticket when that party endorsed Lincoln's principles. When they began to stand for the rich lords in this country, I voted the democrat ticket. I voted for Mr. Bryan both times. I am a strong silver democrat now. I send my pledge to do all I can for the democratic party. A. H. Simpson, Orogrande, Idaho. En closed find my pledge. I am now and always have been a follower of the principles advocated by The Commoner. J. M. Cory, Kingman, Ind. Enclosed find pri mary pledge with 35 names. Could get plenty more if I had the time to work. All democrats are loyal in this part of Indiana. I am 58 years old today, and am growing gray, having cast my vote for the Bryan principles since Peter Cooper was candidate for president.. I hope to live until I can see our government restored to the principles of true democracy. Yours for victory. Isaac R. Strous, Editor Tribune, 'Rockville, Ind. I send the enclosed pledges, including my own. We are about five years later in getting down to this kind of business than we ought to be; but let us try to make up for lost time. It would have been different at Indianapolis and al together different at St. Louis, had the primary pledge been in vogue last year. George B. McClelland, Greenfield, 111. Enclosed find list of 36 pledge signers. Our town here is very largely republican, but the democrats rep resented in this list are loyal and they also be lieve in the party standing up for true Jefferson-Jackson-Bryan principles and adhereing strictly to them without compromise. O. G. Law, Santa Anna, Tex. I send you some primary pledges. Send me another blank and I will try and get it filled. I wish The Commoner success jn its efforts. Owen W. Bastian, Wescoesville, Pa. "Enclosed please find eight primary pledges sighed, all Bas tian's but one, and we all heartily endorse the plan of Mr. Bryan in waking up the democratic voters to vote and work for the true democratic principles. k " J. D. Herron", West Monroe, La. Enclosed find my primary pledge. I am now and always have been a supporter of the principles advocated by The Commoner. W. C. Garner, Holly Grdve, Ark. Find en closed nine primary pledges. Dallas H. Bastian, Wescoesville, Pa. I take great pleasure, with a number or other voters from my district, in endorsing your printed pri mary pledge. It should ever be the treasured privilege of every American citizen to exercise his influence and power at the polls to the end of bringing into more customary practice those democratic principles .symbolized 4in true demo cratic faith and represented in term by the truest citizenship. One of the greatest instruments in the hands of the common people is the right to vote and to install such men and measures which see and "mean in and by the country's honor the honor and welfare of each private citizen. May The Commoner and all such life giving organs live in continued and unblurred hope and glory is the humble, but sincere wish of an earnest dr. cratic voter. ' cmo" Numa Goche, Ponchatoula, La. Sorry to that I can not or dare not enlist mvself m Sy primary pledge on account of my infirmities bP ing an old confederate soldier, 68 years old I can not promise to attend every primary eler tion, but propose myself to support democracy from beginning to the end for 1908. Advise me if I can sign the pledge. Having been a Jack sonian and a radical democrat since I860, I feej myself compelled to propose three cheers for Bryan, Hearst, Folk and Tom Johnson. If yoa judge proper to add more names to your list send me some blanks and I will have them signed (about a dozen). Of course you can sign. Your name has already been placed on the list. Ed. Commoner. J. J. Jack, McNeil, Ark. Enclosed please find my pledge with 20 other democrats, true and tried and we trust that every democrat in the Union will not only sign the pledge, but do everything in his power to carry out the pure principles, as set forth and advocated so earnestly by Mr. Bryan. I. R. Frank, Mt. Zion, Ky. Find primary pledge signed by me. I hope that your efforts will result in great good in your primary plan. I will be 79 years old the 7th of next April, not able to run around and get other names, but I am one of the old-fashioned democrats. L. M. Penwell, Topeka, Kan. The Common er's article on free railroad transportation was a hummer. I 'like such stuff. John H. Henton, Spiro, I. T. Enclosed find primary pledge signed by 50 democrats. George W. Hudson, Jamesville, Va. En closed find my primary pledge. Success to The Commoner in its good work. M. M. Parks, Sharon, Oho. Enclosed find pri mary pledge signed by 10 of my neighbors. They all believe that this plan of organization is an effective way to "get together. W. J. Karrick, Cynthiana, Ky. Enclosed you will find 20 signatures to the primary pledge. I am a poor man and didn't have the time, or could have sent more. W. A. Toler, Ullin, 111 Enclosed you will find the primary pledge signed by myself. G. W. Johnson, Tiptop Ky. I send you pri mary pledge with a number of signatures. Benjamin Cramer, Cedar Run, N. J. Pleaso find enclosed primary pledge signed by 27 demo crats who can be depended on. When the time comes, for the roll call they will answer "here." The Commoner is doing a great work. I would lie to see every democrat buckle on the armor. and help in the work. I believe if they would do so that with the aid of The Commoner we would redeem this state from the party that has disgraced the fair name of New Jersey. Emmet N. White, El Paso, Texas. I send you primary pledge with 20 signatures. A. G. Caumley, Wet Glaize, Mo Enclosed find a list of names who signed the primary pledge. You may send me another lot of five sub scription cards and I -will do my best to sell them. E. I. Milan, Gill, W. Va. Enclosed find pri mary pledge with 35 signatures. THE PRIMAFLY PLEDG leans E 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's position on every question upon which the voters of the party desire to speak. Street. Signed. Postoflice.. State. County. Voting precinct or ward:. mm Fill out Blanks antd,maU to Commoner Qfflce, Lincoln, Nebraska ' v 'O'lCUMJirt,." - ' 'J2JJL?'rute&&brf ., 4kaa&.iUM -, ,f m