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8- " "'''" ' -The Commoner. - -' s "volume 5, numb,
PUSHING THE WORK FOR THE PRIMARY PLEDGE
Recent appeals by The Commoner in behalf
of the primary pledge plan have resulted in
new demonstrations of interest in that ylan by
Commoner readers. Every day the mails bring
to The Commoner ofllce a large number of pri
mary pledges, and the work is progressing at
a gratifying rate. The Commoner receives many
letters from readers complaining that their ref
erences to the primary pledge plan have not
been noted in this department. For many issues
The Commoner devoted two pages to the pri
mary pledge department, but recently the de
mands upon its space have been so large that
it has been found necessary to devote only one
page to this department. Consequently the pub
lication of many letters relating to the primary
pledge Itas been delayed. Every one will appear
in time. A few words of encouragement from
men who appreciate the importance of this plan
are desirable, and it is The Commoner's inten
tion to give publication to some expression from
every participant.
Right here, however, may be a good place
to say that Commoner readers co-operating on
the lines of the primary pledge plan will do well
to make their communications brief. The Com
moner would be glad to print every one of these
letters in full, but such a course is, manifestly,
impossible and because of the large number of
responses to the primary pledge plan it is not
possible to print oven brief extracts from the
many letters received as promptly as might be
desired. It is to bo hoped that this reminder
will not deter any one who appreciates the im
portance of tho primary pledge- plan from writ
ing a few words of encouragement, or, if he
deems best, a few words of comment on current
political topics. In order, however, that, these
communications may be printed witn any "degree
of promptness it will be necessary for those
writing letters on this subject to make their
communications comparatively brief. That course
adopted by Commoner - readers generally will
greatly help in the preparation of this undoubted
ly interesting department. m
As this copy of The Commoner may be read
by ' someone" not familiar with the details of
f IhppTmiary pledge plan, it is necessary to say
' that, according to the terms of this plan every
democrat is asked to pledge himself to attend
all of tho primaries of his party to be held be
tween now and the next democratic national
convention, unless unavoidably prevented, and to
secure a clear, honest and straight-forward de
claration of the party's position on every ques
tion 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, or they can
fill out and mail the blank pledge, which is print
ed on this page.
Extracts from letters received at The Com
moner ofllce follow:
Edward Pridal, Taunton, Minn. I send pri
mary pledge with seven signatures.
C. H. Moore, Long Beach, "Washington En
closed find primary pledge with five signatures.
M. Barman, San Francisco, Calif. I send you
thirty-five signatures to the primary pledge.
F. A. Sorrell, Peoria Heights, 111.- Enclosed
find primary pledge, with twenty-seven signa
tures. C. D. Wolfe, Lewisburg, Pa. Enclosed find
primary pledge with seven signatures.
H. Hugh Noel, Portsmouth, Ohio Enclosed
find my primary pledge, signed. Also the names
of fifteen others.
Tomy Brauza, Oklahoma City, Okla. En-
closed find primary pledge with forty-seven sig
natures. Watson Kitchen and Zachariah Miller, Cov
ington, Ind. Please enroll the undersigned names
on your list, as we agree to attend all the demo
cratic primaries in the future, when it is possible
to do so. We firmly endorse tho views of Mr.
Bryan, and all the arguments producod in The
Commoner. And we firmly believe that democ
racy only can eventually win, when advocating
such principles. We are just as ready as we
were in 1896 and 1900- to fight for democratic
principles in the presidential campaign of 1908.
F. D. Green, Freeport, Ohio I take pleasure
in sending the enclosed list of names to the
- primary pledge. I commend most heartily The
Commoner's efforts in this direction. If the
rank and file of all parties would regularly at
tend their party primaries, political corruption
, would soon disappear, and we would indeed
realize the ideal of a government of the people,
for the people, and by the people.
E. E. Seyle, Ford City, Pa. Please send me
three primary pledge blanks. I don't intent to
leave a stone unturned this fall to smash the
Philadelphia gang.
E. Gash, Windsor, Mo. You will find en
closed a few names. I am highly pleased that I
have been able to do what I have. Send me a
few more blanks.
A. Wesson, Osmond, Neb. I herewith en
close a list of democrats who signed the primary
pledge at our caucus held in Thompson precinct,
Pierce county.
J. M. Lowry, Bellefontaine, O. Please find
enclosed primary pledge signed by 70 democrats.
All are enthusiastic for the cause, and think the
primary pledge is the best plan to get democrats
in line. The democratic party was pretty badly
demoralized until this plan, was suggested. We
held our county convention last Saturday and had
a better turnout than we have had since Grover
Cleveland sold the democratic party out to Wall
Street. There was great enthusiasm. We have
the best ticket in the field we have ever had.
Hurrah for John M. Pattison and the entire demo
cratic ticket!
W..A. McCauley, Auburn, Kan. Enclosed find
my primary pledge. I supported Mr. Bryan in
1896 and 1900, but last fall voted for Debs rather
than the Cleveland-Hill combination. I hope the
good work will go on.
J I. Jeuvis, Weston, W: Va. Enclosed find
a copy of the primary pledge signed by myself
, and 35 others. When all the real believers in
democracy attend the primaries no such evidence
of general dissatisfaction with the party nominee
and platform will be possible as was the case last
year. Nothing has given us, the democrats, so
much hope as the promulgation of this pledge.
Send me more of the pledge blanks; want to send
100 more names. -
J. J. McCarthy, Keystone, Neb. Enclosed
please find 19 names of Keith county democrats;
some will not sign as they say it is not neces
sary to sign a pledge to keep the faith. In re
gard to the primary pledge for some time past I
have been' evolving an idea, but it would require
a small fund to carry it out. The play is an old
one. 1 remember my father in Ireland wearing
a medal, a simple copper one that he received
when he signed the pledge of total abstinence for
Father Mathews. Should each and all of The
Commoner pledge signers have a badge button
or medal it would be an inspiration, for the pledge
signers for greater effort and induce others to
enroll themselves in "The Commoner's army of
democratic democracy." Was on my way to the
convention via South Omaha with- some cattle
and Monday's rain stalled me within twenty miles.
Am here today one day behind time. The splen
did convention platform I am highly pleased with.
It is all right.
Edwin L. Martin, Brooklyn, N. Y. I enclose
16 signatures to the primary pledge. General In
difference and General Graft are in command of
the democratic party here, and many democrats
when asked to sign the primary pledge, said that
they always attended the primaries and they did
not think It was necessary to sign the pledge and
I could not induce them to sign. A young demo
crat, James Garrahan, whose name i.s at the heal
of this list, secured four of the sign mires.
Charles Kislig, New Martisvillp, Ya En
closed find application for subscription cards also
primary pledge duly signed. It is in lQ .rjm
ries that the voters should take an native inter
est to secure an honest platform. Tho woods are
full' of good, honest, straightforward democrats
who want a good platform to stand upon. Give
us a good platform and old Wetzel county will
roll up her old time majority. We want no more
of Cleveland-Hill-Parker safe and sane democracy.
R. L. Ready, dentist, Junction City, Kan.
Please send me about 75 primary pledges for a
starter. I am starting my work on a complete
set of poll books, and this will also give me the
opportunity to get the pledges desired. I am
acting chairman of Geary county central commit
tee and chairman of the senatorial committee of
this district, and any help I can give you in the
next two years in the way .of pledges, perfecting
an organization etc., will be most cheerfully given.
If every county would properly organize we would
win in 1908.
"Cap" Mitchell, editor Monitor, Shattuck,
Okla. Please send us a number of the primary
pledges. The plan is a good one and strikes me
as being truly democratic and the principle re
verts to the people that which rightfully belongs.
With the people in control in Oklahoma the pres
ent system of carpetbagging would be at an end.
Joseph Jewett, San Antonio, Texas. I am an
old soldier, was born in Maine, served in the Nine
teenth Maine Volunteers. Lost my left arm at
the battle of Gettysburg. I moved to Texas in
1890; am 70 years of age. My people were whigs.
I cast my first vote for Fremont voted for Lin
coln in 1860. As a soldier, I became an admirer
of McClellan. I believed then as now that he
was grossly wronged by Stanton, through sordid
partisan motives. I voted for McClellan while
in the army in the field. I voted for Seymour, and
Greeley. Poor old Greeley! His nomination was
a foolish absurdity a sacrifice to hunger for "the
loaves and fishes."t I voted for Tilden, for Han
cock, for Cleveland three times. These votes for
Cleveland wsre cast under misrepresentation. In
the light of his subsequent subserviency to pluto
cracy I would have preferred Blaine and Harri
son. I voted for Parker I regret tho vote. Had
he voiced before election day his sentiments re
garding democrats and their principles, 1 would
have voted for Roosevelt. - Knowing Parker now,
1 rejoice In his defeat. With my record of service,
have I a right to speak for the democratic party?
The trouble with tho democratic party lies in the
traitors within its ranks. Every measure of which
democrats complain, ever;- act of the republican
party the demonetization of silver, the McKin
ley bill, the Dingley bill, all measures concern
ing the Philippines all received votes of so-called
democrats. The rank and file have lost confi
dence. We must purge the party of its traitors.
If we are to have a sincere campaign in 190S, with
a true democrat as leader, I shall vote again for
the democratic ticket. If we are to have more
sham and pretense, more advocacy of republican
principles with democratic labels, more leadership
from the selfish foes of the people, I shall find
affiliation with some other political party.
. - ,- v-VV"
THE PRIMARY PLEDG
US'-'
I promise to attend all the primaries of ray party to be held between iioav ami
the next. Democratic National Convention, unless unavoidably prevented, and to
my influence to secure a clear, honest and straightforward declaration of the party1
position on every question upon which the voters of the party desire to speak.
Street.
Signed.
Postoffice.
Stately
County.
i:
Voting precinct or warcLl
B Fill out Blanks and mall to Commoner Office, Lincoln, Nebraska.