Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 17, 1905)
-" '"'''yu'UfTfrWWW WTynWfHfciyi w The Commonere '' r WILLIAM J. BRYAN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR Vol. 5. No. 44 CONTENTS HavU You Heabd Feom Ohio? Democrats TV ill Take Courage Significance of 1005 Elections Knox on Railway Rates "Electioneering Engine" Foraker's Ciiallkngk Accepted Some Stories From Real Life A Splendid Monument Home Department Comment on Current Topics The Primary Pledge 'News of the Week Lincoln, Nebraska, November 17, 1905 Whole Number 252 DEMOCRACY WILL TAKE COURAGE In a brief autobiographical sketch, Amos Luck, who represented a New Hampshire district in congress some fifty years ago, describes the growth df the cayse with which he identified him self and the success of those who espoused that cause. In? -the. course of his. comments he giy.es expression to a sentiment which deserves to be emphasized at this time. He says that these men had "some title to he considered far-sighted, though," he adds, "they simply had faith in the wisdom of doing right." This truth has been expressed before, but it is doubtful whether it has ever been expressed as concisely, as simply and as forcibly. The dictionaries ought to define political foresight as "faith in the wisdom of doing riht." What a contrast between this candid recognition of the triumph, of the truth and the miserable, short-sighted doctrine of ex pediency! There is no basis upon which one can calculate expediency; there is a standard of morality and conscience by which one can measure every public question. One seeks for expediency as the hunter searches fpr game, uncertain where he will find it and fearful that even when discovered it may yel escape him, but as the farmer follows the plow, confident that sun and soil will reward his industry and that in spite of local food or drouth the earth will yield its Increase, so he who attaches himself to a truth knows that he works in harmony with immutable and irresistible laws. Let the democracy take courage from the results of the recent elections; let the democracy of all the states and the democracy of the nation, like the democracy of Ohio and Hie democracy of Pennsylvania, appeal to the honest and the conscientious, even if in doing so they risk the alienation of the selfish and the sordid. Let them put their trust not In corruption or deception, but in that sense of.justice which is at once the source and the guarantee of good government. JJJ MUNICIPAL OWNERSHIP It is apparent from the recent election re turns that the municipal ownership sentiment is growing in every section of the country. There can be no doubt that there Is. today an over whelming sentiment- in- -favor' of the collective ownership and operation, of 'What are called na tural municipal monopolies. It is Impossible to nave competition In lighting, in heatine: or In s reet car service, and the private ownership of inese franchisesnot onlv leads to corruDtion in Jity government, but results in high rates and jae accumulation of great fortunes on..which the people at large receive no adequate return. "" i1 I r" if- -i. y i Mi 'if ' if m NOTICE! Ill Jj RAILROAD REGULATION J j II ISA DEMOCRATIC MEASURE !j tip 5,""P ENDORSED! HaVe You Heard From Ohio? Respectfully "Dedicated to the "Standpatters Have you heard from old Ohio? Don't it fill your soul with glee? Scooped it clean from Meigs to Fulton, from Scioto to Maumee! Cincinnati to Toledo, from Defiance to Monroe! Honest voters gladly rallied to deal graft a fatal blow. t And they landed good and lusty on the rotten Cox machine Till -the buckeyes popped with laughter at the long awaited scene. "I've retired," said Cox next morning. But the statement isn't true Cox was shoved, and shoved forever don't it look that way to you? "That's a democratic measure I'll have none of it in mine!" Shouted Foraker in frenzy as he pranced along the line. ''Stand by Roosevelt!"' he shouted, " "but don't vote the way you stand; Vote for railroad domination they have, made the country grand;" Had he boosted Mr. Herrick back to place and power again He'd have claimed a vindication Joe's the foxiest of men. ''.. But the people have grown wiser in. the past decade or two, And they're "onto" Joseph Benson don't it look that way to you? "Don't go back upon the party!" pleaded Dick in tearful tones. But the answer of the people was to walk upon his bones. "Don't bo fooled by public clamor stand up for the G. O. P.," Shouted Dick and then the people smote him on the neck with glee. "Don't do railroads an injustice," pleaded Dick with plaintive cries, And the people for an answer smote him fair between the eyes. Cox and Dick and Joseph Benson air are feeling mighty blue, But Ohio is rejoicing don't it look that way to you? Have you heard fronTold Ohio? Don't the figures make you smile? Beat the railroad combination, seven furlongs in a mile. Have you heard from old Ohio? Notwithstand ing Shaw and Taft Honest Buckeye voters rallied and knocked out both greed and graft Have you heard from old Ohio? Don't the flg- ures loom up fine? Got the "stand pat" fellows locoed all along the voting line, Have you hpard from old Ohio? Pattlson just fairly flew, ' And boss rule is more than busted don't It look '. that way to you? ' O. B. JOYFUL' - i i i jr, jL- J . .: -&'- 4 1b, K JJWUI liM-