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The Commoner
WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR
Vol. 5. No. 41
Lincoln, Nebraska, October 27. 1905
Whole Number 24P
CONTENTS
Mk. Bryan's "Advice"
' Mk. Roosevelt's Plain Talk
Inside View of Pketentious Men
Memory's Mystic Chords
When "Will Bankers Gut Enough?
Louise Butler and "Abide With Me"
foraker and the rate blll
- - The Ohio Campaign
Grain Trust Exposed
To Fight Rockefeller Influence
Comment on Current Topics
The Primary Pledge
News of the Week
A MONSTROUS DOCTRINE
Referring to contributions to campaign funds,
the Chicago Chronicle says: "They are good
or bad, according to'Jthe motive with which they
are given' and thols to which they are nut."
And then-referring particularly to insurance con
tributions)" the republican campaign""fund, the?
Chronicle adds: "The' money Used to defeat
William J. Bryan and the democratic party was
obviously put to good use."
Then, we presume, it is of no importance
that these particular contributions were stolen
from the policyholders. A great raj'ny desperate
efforts have been made to support j "e end justi
fies the means" doctrine; but n, papers of
character are not as a rule bold enough to sup
port that doctrine as bluntly as the Chicago
Chronicle does. v
Carried to its logical conclusion the Chron
icle's doctrine would mean that a Chicago pick
pocket could purgo himself of sin by contribut
ing a portion of his ill-gotten gains to tlie Sal
vation Army; or, to draw a more complete par
allel with the instance under discussion, by ex
pending a portion of his stealings in the effort
to secure the appointment of a chief of police
who would permit him to continue his bad
practices.
JJJ
PROFIT BY EXPERIENCE
A Churchville, New York, reader of The Com
moner writes: "If the funds stolen by life Tnsur
ance companies are 'given back,' can the votes
they purchased be 'given back' also? America,
American politics and the will of the people are
today changed fraudulently by this purchase.
Where Is- the remedy?"
The remedy lies in the people profiting by
experience. If as a result of all the crimes and
frauds committed in the name of "national honor"
the people shall become aroused to their re
sponsibilities; if as a result of these experiences
the people insist upon an honest and equitable
administration of public affairs; If aj a result of
these exposures the trusts are destroyed, special
privileges are abolished and popular government
actually restored? the ends attained will be worth
all the sacrifices required.
CAN IT BE?
The Los Angeles Times, a republican paper,
says: "The price of meat in Germany is reported
to have risen to famine figures.! But it will rise
higher when the new German - tariff gets In its
perfect work."
Can it be possible that any republican paper
will deny that under a protective tariff the for
eigner nays the tax? ,
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PADDED: A REVELATION
SNEERING AT MR. BRYAN'S "ADVICE"
That fine old republican newspaper, the' Chi
cago Tribune, says: "Mr. Bryan can give more
advice and see less of it followed than any man
now before the public."
It is not necessarily a reflection upon a man
that his advice is not followed; but Mr. Bryan
cannot complain on that score just now; and
-certainly the Chicago Tribune is not justified In
a boast.
Mr. Bryan has lived to see many of the' poll-
cies ho favored warmly advocated by those who, '
a few years ago, as warmly opposed them.
Mr. Bryan has advised the election of sen
ators by the people, and today men of all parties
are committed to that plan.
He has advised arbitration in the settlement
of labor difficulties, and in one notable instance
the gentleman elected to the office of president
as a republican rendered dictingulshed service to
his countrymen by acting upon that plan.
Ho has advised that the free pass is a great
and growing evil, and today men or all political
parties condemn the free pass system.
He has advised that public sentiment set
itself rigidly against campaign contributions by
corporations, and today that question occupies a
conspicuous place in the attention of the Ameri
can people.
He has advised that the quantitative theory of
money is correct'; and this, the foundation of all
arguments made in behalf of bimetallism Is now
conceded by the very men who vigorously con
demned it in 189G.
Ho -has urged the enforcement of the crim
inal clause of the Sherman anti-trust law, and
after many years of waiting the government's
law officers, acting under the president's instruc
tions, caused the arrest and prosecution of tlfe
members of the beef trust.
He has urged the enactment of stringent
laws providing for publicity In the affairs of cor
porations, and tho president, elected as a re
publican, has had much to say In advocacy of
that method.
He has advised that corporations be required
to show clean hands before being permitted to do
business outside of the state ofthelr origin, and
that before such corporations could engage In
interstate business they be required to obtain a
federal license The republican administration
is now squarely on record in favor of that plan.
Ho has urged that tariff laws be amended by
putting tho products of trusts upon the free list
in order to prevent monopoly under the plea of
protection; and a considerable number of dis
tinguished republicans are today pu&'"ly advo
cating that plan, while the rank and file of the
party, if permitted to speak, would unquestionably
give their sanction to it.
He has advised- the enlargement of the powers
of the interstate commerce commission to the
end that individuals and communities might be
protected from discriminations and from unjust
transportation rates; and today that is the most
conspicuous reform for which the president,
elected as a republican, stands.
Republican editors tread on dangerous ground
when, in the light of present-day happenings,
they undertake to call Mr. Bryan to account for
the character of "advice" he ha3 given.
M
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