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The Commoner.
rsL-. -
' VOLUME 5, Number
O'
1
Uio fraudo generally that have been committed
under republican administration. They expect
the people to forgot tho deficit for the last fiscal
year and to overlook the prospective deficit for
the current year.
Dietrich, Burton and Mitchell, United States
Benators, and the several representatives in con
gress who were required to answer to criminal
indictments were elected to office by tho repub
lican party. But we must forget that fact.
Former Governor Odell, who has not clearly
explained how he happened to be paid $75,000
in tho settlement of a suit ponding against the
Equitable Life Assurance society, Is the present
day republican boss of New York. But we must
forget that fact.
Tho frauds committed by the Machens and
others, in tho postoffice department were com
mitted by men who, in 189G, were either avowed
republicans or were so zealous for the "national
honor" that they rushed to the support of the
republican ticket in that campaign, and held their
offices under republican administration. But we
must forget that fact.
The frauJs committed in Cuba by the Neelys
wore perpetrated by distinguished republicans,
and under republican administration. But we
must forget it.
Loomis, whose official transactions in Vene
zuela were so discredit-ble that, although, plain
ly, he had tho friendship of the administration,
he was required to retire from tho diplomatic
service, was one of the noisiest pretenders in
1896; and his official existence was made pos
sible by the republican party. But we must for
get it.
Depew, the United States senator lately un
masked in various ways, pleaded in 1896, for
what he called "the salvation of the country." He
was elected and re-elected to the senate by the
republican party, and with all his discreditable
conduct still holds his official position without
serious protest on the part of republican leaders.
But wo must forget these facts.
McCall, McCurdy, Hyde, Harriman and the
other frenzied financiers into whose affairs At
torney Hughes has recently inserted the probe,
were greatly exercised in 1896 lest the honor of
the United States be tarnished. They are
the men upon whose testimony the republican
party has often relied to prove that it is, in fact
and in- deed, the party of "God and morality."
But we must forget it.
Andrews, the Detroit banker who charged
the democratic candidate in 1896 with being "the
dishonest leader of dishonest men," and was
subsequently eliown to be an embezzler to the
extent of $1,600,000, was a champion of the re
publican party. But we must forget it.
Bigelow, the Milwaukee tanker who recently
defaulted to tho extent of more than three mil
lion dollars, pleaded for the election of the re
publican ticket in 18C6 in order that the "busi
ness interests" of the country might be preserved.
But wo -must forget it.
Rockefeller and every o e of his cheaper Im
itations men who seek to pile up wealth at
the expense of their" helpless fellows- not only
vote the republican ticket, but, from their ill
gotten gains, contribute liberally to republican
campaign funds. But we must forget it.
JJJ
"POTENT PROMOTERS"
Referring at length to the disclosures re
cently made concerning the so-called defenders
of national honor, and the very apparent popular
revolt against the impositions which these men
have placed upon the people, the Chicago Tribune,
a republican newspaper, says that this revolt is
not to be put down by ridicule or epithets.
Tho Tribune adds:
The people have found that there are
grave abuses, and while casting about for
remedies they are putting on record their
condemnation of the abuses. What policies
they will ultimately favorwhether they
will plunge tho country from the frying pan
of corporate graft and tyranny into the fire of
Bocialism will probably depend mainly on
the vigor and success with which the men
who are responsible for present conditions
oppose the adoption of reasonable reforms.
Tho most potent promoters of, socialism in
this country are not and will not be the
Hearsts and the Debses, but the Morgans the
Rockefellers, the Depews, the Hydes, the
jMcCurdys, and the McCalls. That there will
' r ron2,e,5Ie.S tol PrGflent conditions Is cer-
tain. Whether they will bo worse than the
disease remains to bo seen
The Tribune's statement 'is similar o that
made by tho New York World in commenting up
on the same subject. While, the World and tho
Tribune are eminently correct in saying that "the
most potent promoters of socialism are the Rock
efellers, the Depews, the Hydes, et al," may it
not fairly be said that newspapers like the New
York World and tho Chicago Tribune, which
habitually support the ticket favored by this same
element, can not entirely escape responsibility?
Of what value is it to the public welfare or,
as may be added, to the high reputation of a
newspaper that that publication shall at one mo
ment condemn tho policies of the "Rockefellers,"
charging them with responsibility for present
day unrest, and then when election day rolls
around give its support to the political party
whoso campaign funds are provided by the
"Rockefellers" and whose candidates are, at least
impliedly, under obligations to promote the
"Rockefeller" policies.
The editors of the New York World and the
Chicago Tribune must not forget that while
among "the most potent promoters of socialism
in this country" the names of the Rockefellers,
the Morgans, the Depews and the" Hydes are to
be written high, the names of those newspaper
editors who aid these representatives of special
interests in placing their favorites in office will
occupy somewhat conspicuous positions.
JJJ
DISASTER TO WHOM?
An Associated Press report under date of
Washington, November 22, referring to the de
liberations of the senate committee on interstate
commerce, says: "Informal discussions among
republican members of the committee show that
apprehension is fejt that if a bill should be report
ed by republicans and democrats against the wish
of a majority of the republican members it would
create a division in the party that will work dis
aster in the future."
Disaster to whomf Disaster to the public
"interests which the president's policy seeks to
promote, or disaster to the political organization
which, while pretending to serve the people,
makes it possible for the representatives of nlo
nopolv to abuse them?
Wo have often been told'that the sole purpose
of republican leaders is to advance the public
welfare. But now we are told that the long
sought reform must not be accomplished by a
combination of democrats and republicans be
cause such a course would result in "a division
of the (republican) party that will work disaster
in the future."
Does not every intelligent man know that if
Mr. Roosevelt and his associates are sincere in
their advocacy of railway rate regulation there
must come, sooner or later, a break with those
members of the republican party who are repre
sentatives of corporate interests. Does not every
intelligent man know that on a vital issue such
as the regulation of railroads there can be no
coraprqmise between the railroad magnate or
his representative who is determined upon retain
ing special advantages, and men who stand sole
ly for public interests?, If there is a "compro
mise" the advocates of railroad regulation will do
the yielding.
JJJ
HAVE THEY BEEN PUNISHED?
In an article written for Harpers Magazine
Grover Cleveland says: "United States senators
and representatives in congress, who, relying on
the loose Ideas of honesty pervading their en
vironment, have betrayed the trust of the people
find that no i verted sentiment and no disffuiso
or dazzle of high position avails to save them
from the fate of common, malefactors"
Has any one heard of any one of the several
senators and members of congress who have "be
trayed the trust of the people" resigning? Has
any one observed any serious move on tho narfc
of those in authority to lead Chauncey M. De
pew to the fate of the "common malefactor'"
Senators and representatives who en e in
a cheap form of wrong-doing, such as Mitchell.
Burton and Dietrich engaged in, are proceeded
against; yet Dietrich served out his term in the
senate, while Burton and Mitchell are yet holding
oince.
But there are many men in tl e senate and
house who have notoriously "betrayed the trust
of the people" and who, notoriously, are the lipS
sentatives of snecial fntArAnta. .t,o . .
champions of the public welfare. These men
hold their heads high, draw their salaries from
the government regularly and even yot snr ,
pose as the representative of all that it ?,? 4
upright in public affairs. b pure
Is it not strange that the public KPntw,,
which, unquestionably, does not IjtentinSS ?nt
sanetfon'to wrong-doing has' no FbuS
enough to force the retirement from the S
of the senators, against whom indictment, e
been brought? Is it not strange aM?pS2
sentiment tolerates the presence in the Unit d
States senaU of men who, like the Aldrlche anl
the Platte are representatives of special fiXl
rather than spokesmen for a free people?
JJJ
"VERY FAR FROM DEAD"
Several weeks ago the New York World inti
mated that the democratic party is dying
World based its reasons for that impres km Ja
the facts that a democratic city convention
praised President Roosevelt for his part in
peace conference; that Mr. Bryan supports Mr
Roosevelt in his railway rate program; that the
Massachusetts democrats commended Mr Roose.
.p?,cJornhI2 sTervIcesi? establishing peace between
'Russia and Japan; that the Rhode Island demo-
crats indorsed Mr. Roosevelt's ratv regulation
policy; that the republicans of Massachusetts
demanded a revision of the tariff.
But now the World, admitting that it "re
cently asked If the democratic party was dying"
confesses "it is very far from dead." The World
bases its present day conviction on the following
statement of fact:
Roosevelt's plurality of 505,000 in Penn
sylvania has been overturned and the demo
cratic candidate for slate treasurer is elected
by 88,000. Roosevelt's plurality of 250,000 in
Ohio Is likewise overturned. The republican
candidate for governor was elected in Massa
chusetts, but the candidate for lieutenant
governor has a beggarly 2,000 on the face of
the returns. Roosevelt had 92,000 in Massa
chusetts last year. '
The T.'orld exclaims "What a political revo
lution it was! Who would have believed that
such amazing changes could take place within a,
year?"
-Well, any one but the provincial editor of a
provincial newspaper would have known that such
changes could take place. The World
concludes: "That they could take place proves
that no party is safe, no boss is safe, no party
tradition is safe. In the face of the growing spirit
of political independence on the part of the
American voter."
The very facts upon which the World based
its notion that the democratic party is dying
should have indicated to its editor that the dem
ocratic party is "very much alive." The World
editor imagined the democratic party was dying
because representatives of that party made bold
to formally give their support to honest repub
licans who were seekin"- to put into effect policies
for which democrats had long contended.
Some newspaper editors have peculiar meth
ods of reach ng conclusions. The editor of tho
New York World concluded, a few weeks ago,
that the democratIcparty was dyint because dem
ocrats individually and in conventions, were show
ing enough independence of partv spirit to in
dorse democratic policies even where an effort
was being made by republican leaders to put
those pollcie into effect. Now the editor of the
World concluded that the democratic party "is
very far from dead" because of "the growing
spirit of political independence on the part of
the American voter."
JJJ
rat::er tall
A correspondent for the New York World
suggested the erection of a statue of Mr. Roose
velt in the attitude of Colossus of Rhodes at
each end of the Panama canal. Another corres
pondent -referring to this suggestion says:
The Rhodes Colosr s "straddled" th road
stead. Galleys passed out to sea letw n the
parted legs. With ocean steamers at their
present size a statue to bestride the Panama
canal would T ve to be over 600 feet tall.
Maybe, after all, it will be just as well not to
erect these stati.-es. .
One statue "six hundred feet tall" might not
be objectionable, but two of them of that Iieignr,
would seem to be ''spreading it on a bit Uiick.
. indeed, there are some old fashioned peopfl
who might object to the erection even of a . singio
statue "six hundred feet tali" in honor ot a aw
- man being.
4jk. i,
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